Heroes' Welcome for Yulo and PH Olympic Team

A Heroes’ Parade for members of the Philippine Olympic Team is set today (August 14) from the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) ground to the historic Rizal Memorial Sports Complex (RMSC) along Vito Cruz, St, Malate, Manila – just a stone throws away from the Leveriza neighborhood of double gold medal winner Carlos ‘Caloy’ Yulo.

Contrary to the earlier report, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) clarified that the 7.7-kilometer motorcade was set on Wednesday afternoon not Tuesday to give the Olympians enough time to rest.

Yulo and members of the Philippine squad arrived in Manila Tuesday afternoon via a chartered flight from Paris-Dubai to Villamor Airbase in Pasay City. They went straight to Malacanang to personally receive the cash incentives from President Ferdinand ‘BongBong’ Marcos, Jr.

The parade with close coordination with the City Government of Manila will begin just outside the Aliw Theater, then pass through the stretched of Roxas Boulevard, then Padre Burgos Avenue, Finance Road, Taft and Quirino Avenues, and Adriatico Street before it ends at Philippine Sports Commission ground inside the famed RMSC.

Yulo made history for the Philippines becoming the first Filipino to win two gold medals in the gymnastics event in the Olympics dubbed ‘The Greatest Show’ on earth. Weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz was the first Filipino woman to win an Olympic gold in the post-COVID 2021 Tokyo Games.

Boxers Nesthy Petecio and Aira Villegas added a bronze medal each for the Philippines.

“A job well done,” stressed Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) Chairman Abraham ‘Bambol’ Tolentino.

“We’re the best performer in Southeast Asia. “We wanted more but with two gold and two bronze medals, should we ask for more from Paris?” he added.

For his part, PSC Chairman Richard Bachmann hailed Yulo’s performance and the rest of the Philippine Team as ‘the greatest ever’.

“These medals are just one part of the legacy we've built. With our recent performance in Paris, we have proved that our sporting success is sustainable and expanding,” said Bachmann.

“Our agenda has proven effective, as shown by the global victories we achieved.  We can support the rise of new talents to reach the highest levels and produce world-class athletes which will continuously connect our country's name within the international sporting limelight,” he added.