00:00Welcome to Fast Talk with Boy Abumcar.
00:30To everyone watching on Facebook and YouTube, to everyone listening to DZEW, welcome to the program.
00:37Thank you very much. Take care. The weather is not good.
00:42Take good care of yourselves and there are a lot of people here in the studio.
00:46From different parts of the Philippines.
00:49There are more than 10,000 people here.
00:54Just kidding.
00:56Our guest this afternoon is one of the top poll voters in the world.
01:05Please welcome, Olympian EJ Obiena.
01:13Thank you very much, EJ.
01:17Thank you very much.
01:19How are you?
01:21I'm okay.
01:23You're not nervous, are you?
01:25Yes, a little. This is my first live show.
01:29Let's start here.
01:31Mom and Dad are both track and field athletes, right?
01:35You have to correct me if I'm wrong.
01:37Andrea, you started in track and field.
01:39Yes.
01:41First question, how did you end up in the poll vote?
01:44How did you fall in love and how did you love the poll vote?
01:47When I was 3 or 4 years old, I was already with my dad.
01:52At that time, he was still an active athlete.
01:55He was still competing in Southeast Asian Games.
01:57So, as a kid, you look up to your parents.
02:03I wanted to try it.
02:06It was like a playground for me.
02:08Actually, my parents have a video of me pulling grass beside the training area.
02:17So, that's where I grew up.
02:20I got used to the facilities, hanging out with the national athletes.
02:25So, from track and field, how did you end up in the poll vote?
02:29My dad was a poll vote specialist.
02:33So, your mom wasn't really in track and field?
02:36Yes, my mom was hurdles.
02:38So, I started as a hurdler.
02:40Then, I went to the poll vote because at that time, the level of competition was lower.
02:46Better chances to get a scholarship in college.
02:49So, in simple words, EJ, what is a poll vote?
02:55It's a guy jumping over a stick.
02:59It is?
03:01It is a guy using a stick, jumping over a stick.
03:03There are no women in this?
03:05There are.
03:06Do we have a sample?
03:08Yes.
03:10So, we can understand better.
03:14You know, EJ, during the Olympics, this was the only event I watched live.
03:20And since then, I became interested in the poll vote.
03:24It's not true. It's really beautiful.
03:26Okay, so the poll vote isā¦
03:29Of course, this is just a sample.
03:31Yes, sir. It's a shorter version.
03:33How long was it?
03:34It was 5 meters.
03:37I used 520.
03:39So, around 17 feet.
03:4117 feet.
03:43So, there is no rule that it should be like this?
03:46There is none.
03:48Yes, sir.
03:50It also has different flexibility.
03:52This is very soft.
03:54Don't let it fall.
03:56Yes, sir.
03:58It's made out of fiberglass, the one I'm using.
04:01But it has different materials.
04:04It has carbon fiber, it has a hybrid.
04:06So, that's it.
04:08But it has a different set of rules.
04:10So, the poll can't be extended.
04:12It can't be like two pieces.
04:14It's all one piece.
04:16Just one?
04:18Yes, sir.
04:20How hard is it to learn the poll vote?
04:22It depends on the level.
04:24I think it's easy.
04:26It's not easy, but you can learn it in one sitting.
04:28If you're physically able-bodied.
04:31If you're taking it seriously, as a career, as an athlete.
04:34How hard is the training?
04:36How hard is the life?
04:38Or how easy?
04:40I mean, conversely, the life of a poll voter.
04:43It's hard because the poll won't collapse.
04:46So, when we travel, it's always hard to check-in.
04:49But, kidding aside, the training side,
04:52it's a mix of running, gymnastics,
04:55and then weightlifting and sprinting.
04:57So, I think it's a very unique sport.
04:59And, yeah, it takes time.
05:01My coach, when I went to Italy,
05:04he said, you need to give me five years
05:06before you get to even feel comfortable
05:09with the new technique we're applying.
05:12Strength, speed, they say, is the technique.
05:15Yes, sir. And guts.
05:17A lot, right? A lot of guts.
05:19I just have a question.
05:21I said, I watched this during the Olympics.
05:23You're doing something.
05:25I was a bit annoyed with Latvia.
05:27Forgive me. Latvia, is that the way you pronounce it?
05:29Yes, sir.
05:31How do you say it, EJ?
05:33Like this?
05:35Yes, sir.
05:37Before Latvia ran,
05:39she was like this.
05:41Because there's a cone in front, right?
05:43Yes, sir.
05:45And when you remove it, you have 60 seconds before you run.
05:47I looked at the coach, like this.
05:49I looked at him.
05:51Did you notice? His long hair?
05:53Yes, sir.
05:55I just looked at him.
05:57What was he doing?
05:59Why were you looking at him?
06:01What did you want to see?
06:03He has a pre-bend.
06:05He has a curve, then a soft side, then a stiff side.
06:08So I was looking for that.
06:10If it's like that, I can see that the bend is just right in front.
06:13All right. So you check that.
06:15Yes, sir.
06:17It's like in tennis, right?
06:19Yes, sir. It's like a routine.
06:21Every time you jump, you have that.
06:23Yes, sir.
06:25Are you affected?
06:26There are track and field, there are runners.
06:28There are pole vaulters where the crowd is telling you not to make noise.
06:34Yes, sir.
06:36There are those.
06:38What's that? What's the story behind that?
06:40You use the crowd.
06:42At least for me, I prefer clapping.
06:44Like last year in the Asian Games, I asked the crowd to clap.
06:47You like that?
06:49Yeah, even now, talking about goosebumps,
06:51you have the whole stadium focusing on you.
06:54And I think that's a very unique experience.
06:56Do you like that?
06:58Yes, I love it. I love it.
07:00You don't get bothered by the noise?
07:03No, when you're really focused, you don't hear the crowd.
07:08It's very rare.
07:10When you're zoned in, it's quiet somehow.
07:12EJ, there are pole vaulters, right?
07:16They're getting ready, right?
07:18Yes, sir.
07:20How do you do that?
07:22Yes, sir.
07:23It's very fast.
07:25Yes, sir.
07:27But when it comes to the box, you call the box, right?
07:30Yes, sir.
07:32It doesn't jump. Why?
07:34It's mental.
07:36You asked earlier about the length of the pole.
07:38The longer the pole, the faster you have to be
07:41to cross the pole on the foam.
07:43If not, you'll go back to the ground.
07:45Yes, that's right.
07:47Wait a minute.
07:49So, if you're watching a young athlete,
07:50what are the requirements to be a good pole vaulter?
07:55Well-abled body.
07:57We come in different shapes.
07:59And you need to be fearless.
08:01Yes, fearless.
08:03What do you think, EJ?
08:05Sorry, I'm just excited to talk to you.
08:07What do you think when you're there?
08:09I'm going to get there.
08:11Are you talking to yourself?
08:13Yes, sir.
08:15I'm running what I need to do.
08:17If the coach gives me a technical adjustment,
08:18then I try to do that.
08:20If I need intrinsic motivation,
08:22I think about why I'm there.
08:24If I'm a little bit overwhelmed,
08:26I try to calm myself down.
08:28Do you pray?
08:30From time to time, sir.
08:32It depends on how.
08:34I don't pray for a miracle, I guess.
08:36I pray that he gives me strength.
08:38Do you get affected by the pole vaulter before and after you?
08:43Does that affect you?
08:45I try not to, but I'll be lying if I say no.
08:48Of course, sir.
08:50How do I put this?
08:53We match the games.
08:55So that's why I pass sometimes.
08:57It's a tactic to give myself time to rest.
09:00It's okay to pass?
09:02Yes, sir.
09:04For example, who's the top guy?
09:06Mondo.
09:08Mondo Duplantis, for example.
09:10I noticed in the Olympics,
09:12he had some hikes where he didn't jump.
09:14Is that okay?
09:16What's the disadvantage of that?
09:18And if you count in the end,
09:20for example, is there something like that?
09:22If it's higher, it's closer to your limit.
09:25The consistency should be there.
09:28So you get three attempts.
09:30So it's going to be harder for you to,
09:33I mean, you can't make mistakes.
09:37Why did you say that it's painful to be fourth?
09:40Because Duplantis, Kendricks,
09:43and then Karalis of Greece,
09:46and then you.
09:48Because you both jumped 5.9, right?
09:53Yes, sir.
09:55What happened there?
09:57I had a miss on 5.80.
09:59So what I did was I passed.
10:01I made 5.85 on my first attempt.
10:03So that attempt on 5.80,
10:05that cost me the bronze medal in Paris.
10:10How painful was that?
10:12It sucks because in my sport,
10:14only three are rewarded at the end of the competition.
10:16And that's the first, second, and third.
10:18And fourth, until the last place,
10:20you're a non-medalist.
10:22For me, as a competitor,
10:25I'm aiming for that podium and I want to win.
10:27The guys around you, are they nice?
10:30Yes, sir.
10:32Like Duplantis is number one in the world,
10:34Kendricks, Lightfoot.
10:36You already know them.
10:38Lightfoot, Karalis.
10:40Are they nice?
10:42Yes, sir. All of them are nice.
10:43Our staff, Donny,
10:45he said he'll donate all of his assets to Karalis.
10:48Oh, let's call him.
10:51Let's call him.
10:53Okay, so they're nice.
10:55You're good friends?
10:57Yes, sir. We're very good friends.
10:59You talk to each other.
11:01Yes, sir. From time to time.
11:03Especially during the qualification,
11:05during my last attempt,
11:07Mondo approached me afterwards.
11:09He said, you made us all worry.
11:10Like my stomach was tumbling
11:12and I was about to, my pants.
11:14Okay. But right now,
11:16the bad news is that you got injured.
11:18After, how do you call the place in Poland?
11:21Silesia.
11:23Silesia. Where, what was that?
11:25Was that a world event?
11:27It's a diamond league.
11:29But it didn't happen there.
11:31Like I've been having this issue since April.
11:33Your back is hurting?
11:35Yes, sir.
11:37So how long will you rest?
11:38Theoretically, just three weeks.
11:40Okay.
11:42So the bone should heal.
11:44If it's okay, then I can go back to training.
11:46Training in?
11:48Italy.
11:50For example, you're jumping, right?
11:52Yes, sir.
11:54After that, you go to your coach.
11:56I'm listening to you.
11:58What do you talk about?
12:00Italian? English?
12:02I know he's from Ukraine.
12:04Italian, sir. He's Ukrainian.
12:06Do you know Italian?
12:08When you get there, you have to jump.
12:10What's the answer?
12:12How do you do it?
12:14In Italian, I will understand.
12:16How do you do it?
12:18I don't know how to do this.
12:20Because I jumped well,
12:22but I didn't feel everything connected.
12:24But you have to have more focus.
12:26You have to think about the goal.
12:28How do you do it?
12:30How do you change?
12:32How do you change?
12:34Okay.
12:35Great!
12:37And because of that, we'll do fast talk.
12:40Wow! That's fast!
12:42Because of that, we'll do fast talk.
12:45Hold the pole.
12:47Even if it's not a pole vault.
12:49EJ, you have two minutes to do this.
12:51And of course, our time begins now.
12:53Sinkit, sungkit.
12:55Tatakbo, tatalon.
12:57Lilipad, lilingon.
12:59EJ, sataas. EJ, sababa.
13:01Guapong, chinoy. Koripot na chinoy.
13:03Guapong, chinoy.
13:05Pole vaulting, pole dancing.
13:07Pole vaulting.
13:09Dare, bear.
13:11Pogi or macho?
13:13Pogi.
13:15Time check or time out?
13:17Time check.
13:19Competitive or romantic?
13:21Competitive.
13:23Sexiest part of your body?
13:25Sorry, which one?
13:27Sexiest part of your body?
13:29My legs, I guess.
13:31When are you the sexiest?
13:33When I'm vaulting, I guess.
13:35Who's the sexiest woman for you?
13:37My girlfriend, Caroline.
13:39Caroline.
13:41If you were to use a bathroom, what would you use?
13:43Soap.
13:45Biggest showbiz crush?
13:48Pass, I don't know.
13:50Guilty or not guilty?
13:52Trained in a hangover?
13:54Guilty.
13:56Guilty or not guilty?
13:58Trained in a hangover?
14:00Not guilty.
14:02Guilty or not guilty?
14:03Guilty.
14:05Guilty or not guilty?
14:07Not guilty.
14:09Guilty or not guilty?
14:11Not guilty.
14:13Guilty or not guilty?
14:15Not guilty.
14:17One word.
14:19Describe yourself as an athlete.
14:21Hardworking.
14:23As a boyfriend?
14:25Caring.
14:27As a Filipino?
14:29Proud.
14:31Lights on or lights off?
14:33Anytime.
14:35Complete the sentence.
14:37Winning is?
14:39A bonus.
14:41EJ.
14:44Caroline, your girlfriend is arriving today.
14:47Tomorrow.
14:49Okay, from Germany.
14:51A lot of people are asking,
14:53is there a proposal?
14:55That's number one.
14:57Number two, how do you handle fame?
14:59How do you handle the attention?
15:01Are you comfortable with the attention,
15:03the attention you have today?
15:05How many times have you said,
15:07handsome and handsome today?
15:09The answers to the return of Fast Talk with Boy Abunda.
15:18We're back here at Fast Talk with Boy Abunda
15:21with EJ.
15:23EJ, how many times have you said handsome today?
15:26A lot.
15:28I'm not used to it.
15:30You're not used to it?
15:31How do you feel?
15:33I don't even know how to feel.
15:35Really?
15:37It's a bit odd.
15:39Your parents don't look,
15:41they're not ugly,
15:43why are you so ugly?
15:45It's weird for me, to be honest.
15:47No, but it's a different appeal.
15:49When we're watching you,
15:51aside from representing the country,
15:53a lot of people are asking you,
15:55now that you have a girlfriend,
15:57Caroline is flying in tomorrow,
15:59do you have a proposal?
16:01No, not yet.
16:03I think we're still young
16:05and we're figuring things out.
16:07That's right.
16:09But you're starting to talk seriously.
16:11I think we're very serious.
16:13It's a very serious relationship.
16:15She's really amazing
16:17and she makes me want to be a better person.
16:20EJ, we just want to thank you
16:23for making this country proud,
16:25for making all of us proud of Filipinos,
16:26for making this country alive.
16:28And this is a promise,
16:30at least it's a promise,
16:32we will be there in 2028,
16:34we will collect it,
16:36LA,
16:38to watch you win your gold
16:40because we believe
16:42that you can win gold.
16:44Wait a minute,
16:46Duplante Simondo is right,
16:48he's a bit scared and nervous.
16:50Thank you very much.
16:52And from Donnie,
16:54how are you with Caralis?
16:56How are you with our countrymen?
16:58Thank you very much for watching,
17:00especially those who lost the game.
17:02Again, I hope you guys enjoy the show.
17:05Yeah, I would have wanted
17:07to win a medal,
17:09but such is life in such a sport.
17:11So, thank you very much.
17:13But you're a champion,
17:15maybe this time, who knows how to dance?
17:17EJ, let's try.
17:19EJ doesn't know how to dance.
17:21DJ, DJ, teach us.
17:23This only happens sometimes.
17:24Okay.
17:27EJ.
17:51EJ, thank you very much.
17:52Thank you very much.
17:54Thank you very much.
17:56And God bless you.
17:58Lola, thank you very much.
18:00To your aunt, to your cousins,
18:02to your mom, to your dad,
18:04to your whole family.
18:06And Caraline, say hello.
18:08We'll do.
18:10Thank you very much.
18:12Naytay Kapuso, thank you very much
18:14for your continued support
18:16of your homes and hearts every day.
18:18Be kind, make your mom and dad proud,
18:20and say thank you.
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