EJ Obiena, mom open up about mending ‘strained relationship’

From left: EJ Obiena, Jeanette Uy and Boy Abunda —“MY MOTHER, MY STORY”

After narrowly missing out on a pole vault medal at the Paris Olympics, a despondent EJ Obiena was consoled by his mother, Jeanette Uy.

“Pick up the pieces, learn from them and move on,” she was quoted as saying in the upcoming Sept. 29 episode of the GMA 7 talk series “My Mother, My Story.”

“That was what she told EJ when they finally had the chance to talk after he lost. She was a former hurdler and now a coach. Those are the same words she tells her young students,” host Boy Abunda told reporters in a pocket interview.

EJ and Jeanette opened up about different topics, like money matters, love life and fame. But the most telling conversation they had, Abunda said, was about how they overcame the embezzlement allegations made against them by the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association in 2021.

The issue was eventually settled and their names were cleared the following year, but the controversy put a “strain” on EJ’s relationship with his mother, Abunda said.

“EJ was fascinatingly honest. He was angry and it hampered his performance. He was in pain because he didn’t commit anything wrong,” he said.

“But in the end, EJ said, ‘She’s my mom,’” added Boy, who described Jeanette as someone who exudes “quiet dignity.” “She was always present. But the athlete that she is, was very no-fuss. She didn’t want her presence to be felt.”

EJ and his mom weren’t always expressive, but that has since changed. “It was only recently they made the decision to tell each other, ‘I love you.’ They weren’t accustomed to it,” Boy said. “The dynamics are different now. The thing here is that it’s never too late to start something nice and good.”

Mother figures

After EJ, “My Mother, My Story”—which puts out an episode once a month—will feature Alden Richards and how losing his mother at a young age affected him. Boy also hopes to have Marian Rivera, Jennylyn Mercado and their respective mothers or mother figures.

What about his good friend Kris Aquino, who recently returned to the Philippines?

“Having her and her son Bimby would be nice. But I’m mindful of Kris’ condition. We’re in touch, texting and calling each other almost every day, but I won’t know how she really is until I see her in person, which I’m about to soon,” he said.

The most fulfilling part of telling such stories, the veteran TV host said, is when people go up to him and say the show inspired them to rethink their relationships with their mother or parents.

“There’s this debate about whether or not it’s our responsibility to take care of our parents. But it all comes down to this: “Let’s just take good care of each other,” Boy said.