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FOR THE GOLD World No. 7 EJ Obiena headlined the very first Atletang Ayala World Pole Vault Challenge in Makati City on Sept. 21, making history in his home country and hosting other champions from across the globe at a World Athletics-accredited venue. —PHOTOS COURTESY OF AYALA FOUNDATION

For the better part of our history, we Filipinos have witnessed major sports events through our television screens, either huddling in a neighbor’s house and erupting into cheers or suppressing glee while watching inside a commuter bus on the way home.

With sports interwoven into so much of our culture, it is easy to turn any free space in the neighborhood into a basketball court or a racetrack.

In the case of Makati City, the 2-hectare Ayala Triangle Gardens presents a massive opportunity for a sports-crazed country brimming with current and future Olympians.

A month ago, the park was abuzz with excitement as World No. 7 pole vaulter EJ Obiena and his fellow athletes came together to celebrate the sport in the Philippines, this time with an actual landing pit, crossbars and uprights.

Obiena beamed with his fellow contenders at Ayala Triangle Gardens after clinching the top spot for the Philippines.

“Together with the city of Makati and all supporting stakeholders, we have wanted to explore many ways in giving this community dynamic, inspiring experiences,” Jasmine Alkhaldi, Olympian and now Atletang Ayala program director at Ayala Foundation Inc. (AFI), tells the Inquirer in an email interview.

Known as a venue for creativity, active transport and mobility at the heart of the Makati central business district, Ayala Triangle became the platform for the Philippines’ first pole vault event sanctioned by World Athletics.

This ultimately means the Atletang Ayala World Pole Vault Challenge was up to World Athletics standards, placing it beside other global sports competitions.

“This puts the spotlight on the country’s viability as a sports venue and gives us credibility as a host for international events,” Alkhaldi says. “Hosting this event gave Filipinos the rare opportunity to witness the action live, rather than just through a screen.”

Long game

With nearly three decades of their son’s life dedicated to the sport, it is no surprise that EJ’s parents, Emerson and Jeannete, were one of the main movers of the event.

“It’s heartwarming to see the kind of support they give their son and, by extension, the sport,” Alkhaldi says.

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For Jeannette, Ayala Triangle was “best suited” for the World Pole Vault Challenge, and work on technical requirements was in full swing as early as April this year.

Before they knew it, AFI and the MVP Sports Foundation were able to mount the event that drew hundreds of Filipino and international sports fans to one of Makati’s most vibrant communities.

For the Ayala Group, uplifting the sports industry is a long game. Sports, after all, is a crucial training ground not only for physical strength but also for the mental strength needed in shaping future leaders.

“This event is just one of the ways for us to give Filipino athletes greater exposure to elite-level competition, elevate the profile of the Philippines as a host country and sports tourism destination, and give Filipino fans a world-class sporting experience right at home,” Aklhaldi says.

“We are making this investment because we believe in the power of sports to uplift not just the individual athlete but the entire nation,” she adds.