Cover EJ Obiena with Ersu Sasma (Turkey), Menno Vloon (Netherlands), Thibaut Collet (France), Ben Broeders (Belgium), Austin Miller (USA), Piotr Lisek (Poland), Oleg Zernikel (Germany), Matt Ludwig (USA) and Hokett Delos Santos at the Pole Vault Challenge at Ayala Triangle Gardens (Photo: Rolly Barayang)
EJ Obiena with Ersu Sasma (Turkey), Menno Vloon (Netherlands), Thibaut Collet (France), Ben Broeders (Belgium), Austin Miller (USA), Piotr Lisek (Poland), Oleg Zernikel (Germany), Matt Ludwig (USA) and Hokett Delos Santos at the Pole Vault Challenge at Ayala Triangle Gardens (Photo: Rolly Barayang)
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Ayala Foundation president Tony Lambino, former national swimmer turned programme director Jasmine Alkhaldi and champion pole vaulter EJ Obiena share how Atletang Ayala is redefining success for Filipino athletes by bridging elite sports with long-term careers
When people picture athletes, they often see podiums, medals, national anthems and fleeting moments of glory. But behind every win is a longer, often uncertain journey that continues long after competition ends. This is the reality that the Ayala Foundation has chosen to address through Atletang Ayala, a programme designed not just to support Filipino athletes at the height of their careers, but to prepare them for life beyond sport.
The initiative sits within the Foundation’s broader mission of nurturing young leaders. For Tony Lambino, president of Ayala Foundation, the approach is two-fold: provide resources for elite training and competition, and create career opportunities within the Ayala Group. “The idea is to give athletes the stability they need, so they can focus on becoming excellent in their sport without having to worry about what comes next,” he explains.
See more: Team Philippines enters ‘Physical: Asia’ with Manny Pacquiao at the helm—meet the athletes
Above Atletang Ayala programme director Jasmine Alkhaldi (Photo: Edwin Hermoso)
Above Ayala Foundation president Tony Lambino (Photo: Edwin Hermoso)
Atletang Ayala programme director Jasmine Alkhaldi (Photo: Edwin Hermoso)
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That long view is at the heart of Atletang Ayala’s philosophy. It acknowledges both the high-pressure nature of elite competition and the often-limited support systems available to athletes once they step away from the field. It also recognises the unifying power of sport in the Philippines. “We’re not just investing in individuals,” says Lambino. “We’re investing in the impact they have on communities and on the country. Sports inspire, and when our athletes wear the flag and compete globally, we all rally behind them.”
From athlete to mentor
What makes this programme even more meaningful is that it’s now led by someone who knows the path first-hand. Jasmine Alkhaldi, a national record-holding swimmer and Olympian, was part of the first batch of Atletang Ayala athletes. Today, she leads the initiative, drawing from her own transition from the pool to the corporate world.
“I was unsure where I’d go after sport,” she recalls. “But through this programme, I had access to education and part-time work in the Ayala Group. I realised I could have an impact beyond swimming, that I could belong in a professional community.” That discovery fuels her passion today. “I want to give other athletes that same opportunity—to dream beyond sport, and to see themselves as more than just athletes.”
Above Obiena with the winners of the National Pole Vault Competition men's division: Hokett Delos Santos (gold), Janry Ubas (silver) and Mejen Sumbongan (bronze) (Photo: Edwin Hermoso)
Obiena with the winners of the National Pole Vault Competition men's division: Hokett Delos Santos (gold), Janry Ubas (silver) and Mejen Sumbongan (bronze) (Photo: Edwin Hermoso)
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Building careers alongside competition
Unlike traditional national pools or sponsorships, Atletang Ayala focuses on the whole journey of an athlete. It collaborates with associations and government bodies to complement, not compete with, existing support structures. What’s unique is how the Ayala Group mobilises its assets, from banking to real estate to telecoms, to support both athletic excellence and career development.
Athletes are matched with Ayala companies, from BPI to Globe to Ayala Corporation, where they work part-time while training, supported by a team that helps them balance these demanding roles. “We mentor them on time management, career planning and competition preparation,” says Alkhaldi. “We make sure they can succeed at both.”
This vision also drove the Pole Vault Challenge at Ayala Triangle Gardens, the first World Athletics-sanctioned event of its kind in the Philippines, one that will count towards global rankings. Conceived by EJ Obiena, Asia’s top-ranked pole vaulter, it was realised through the Ayala Foundation, the MVP Sports Foundation and other partners.
“This was EJ’s dream,” Lambino says. “It shows the world that the Philippines can host high-level international sporting events.” For Alkhaldi, it’s personal. “I remember swimming at the SEA Games in 2019 before a home crowd. It felt like all my dreams had come true. So when EJ came to us with this idea, we understood. It’s not just about one athlete’s goal, it’s about national pride.”
More from Tatler: Mikee Romero on being the first Filipino to play in the US Open Polo Championship
Alyana Nicolas is the gold medallist in the women’s division of the National Pole Vault Competition (Photo: Edwin Hermoso)
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A showcase of rising talent
The two-day event opened on September 20 with a national meet at Ayala Triangle, where rising Filipino pole vaulters competed on a world-class stage.
In the men’s division, Hokett Delos Santos won gold, with Janry Ubas taking silver and Mejen Sumbongan bronze. Delos Santos, mentored by Emerson Obiena, had competed across track and field, while Ubas is a SEA Games medallist in long jump, heptathlon and decathlon. Other competitors included Sean Harry Narag, John Philip Villar and Filipino-American Enzo Sison.
In the women’s division, Alyana Nicolas claimed gold, Amy Christensen silver and Jia Kawachi and Jessa Marie Libres shared bronze. Nicolas, coached by Olympian Ed Lasquete, also competed in the 2023 SEA Games. Other participants included Khrizzie Ruzol, Isabella Louie Sta Maria, Riezel Buenaventura and Christensen, who flew in from the US.
Above Alyana Nicolas began pole vaulting in 2012 (Photo: Edwin Hermoso)
Above Amy Christensen began her pole vaulting journey in 2015 (Photo: Edwin Hermoso)
Alyana Nicolas began pole vaulting in 2012 (Photo: Edwin Hermoso)
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On September 21, the spotlight turned global with the first World Athletics-sanctioned street vault in Philippine history.
Obiena led a lineup that included World No 5 Ersu Sasma (Turkey), No 6 Menno Vloon (Netherlands), No 12 Thibaut Collet (France), No 13 Ben Broeders (Belgium), No 14 Austin Miller (USA), No 15 Piotr Lisek (Poland), No 16 Oleg Zernikel (Germany) and No 23 Matt Ludwig (USA).
Obiena delivered gold before a home crowd, with Collet taking silver and Lisek bronze.
The competition marked a milestone for Philippine athletics, proving the country’s readiness to host elite sport and inspiring future generations.
Read more: It takes a village? These athletes open up about their most crucial pillars of support
Above Winners of the Atletang Ayala World Pole Vault Challenge: EJ Obiena (gold), Thibaut Collet (silver) and Piotr Lisek (bronze) (Photo: Rolly Barayang)
Above EJ Obiena was the first Filipino pole vaulter to qualify for the Olympics, competing in Paris 2024 (Photo: Rolly Barayang)
Winners of the Atletang Ayala World Pole Vault Challenge: EJ Obiena (gold), Thibaut Collet (silver) and Piotr Lisek (bronze) (Photo: Rolly Barayang)
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Above Thibaut Collet’s journey in pole vaulting began early, with his first jump at just three years old (Photo: Rolly Barayang)
Above Piotr Lisek first trained as a high jumper, but at the junior level, his coach encouraged him to shift to pole vault—a sport he had long admired (Photo: Rolly Barayang)
Thibaut Collet’s journey in pole vaulting began early, with his first jump at just three years old (Photo: Rolly Barayang)
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Playing the long game
Atletang Ayala currently supports athletes in seven sports: archery, wrestling, fencing, shooting, taekwondo, judo and para taekwondo. The programme is open to other disciplines, with athletes training at the Ayala Vermosa Sports Hub in Cavite, which includes an Olympic-sized pool, a certified track and a soon-to-open multi-sport space. The hub is also open to the public, giving fitness enthusiasts a chance to train alongside elite athletes. On site, an athlete’s house provides accommodation and fosters community.
For Lambino, success is measured in three ways: progress in global rankings, advancement in corporate careers and the growth of strategic partnerships. The recent tie-up with the MVP Sports Foundation is only the beginning. “We are playing the long game,” he says. “We want to help more Filipino athletes compete at the highest levels, and we want to give local fans the chance to experience world-class sport right here at home.”
Above Janry Ubas began pole vaulting in 2011 while he was still in college (Photo: Edwin Hermoso)
Above Hokett Delos Santos began pole vaulting at the age of 15 and has been competing in the sport for about seven years (Photo: Edwin Hermoso)
Janry Ubas began pole vaulting in 2011 while he was still in college (Photo: Edwin Hermoso)
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Asked what message they’d like to share with aspiring athletes, Alkhaldi is quick to respond. “Dream big. Don’t let your circumstances define you. Opportunities are out there, but you need the discipline and resilience to pursue them.” Lambino adds, “We’re here to support you. Whether in sport or in life after it, you are not alone.”
Atletang Ayala is proving that the finish line is not the end. It’s the start of a new journey—one where Filipino athletes are empowered not just to win, but to lead, inspire and thrive long after their final competition.
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Jessica grew up writing letters for everyone, on every occasion. Little did she know that her hobby would eventually turn into a true passion. She believes that content should be relatable yet factual, engaging yet straightforward.
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A journalism graduate, Jessica never stops learning and honing her craft. She began her career as a Global Content Editor for a travel company, inspiring readers and travellers to explore the world. Currently, she writes on topics ranging from entertainment, health, sports and travel to in-depth stories about influential and impactful personalities.
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