Filipino gymnastics prince Carlos Edriel Yulo has made history at the Paris Olympics, winning two gold medals in consecutive days, marking a shining moment in Philippine sports history. Yulo not only received generous rewards from the Philippine government and congress but also received a plethora of gifts from private enterprises and individuals, ranging from luxury homes to free car headlights, and even a lifetime supply of free self-serve meals, ramen, and mac and cheese.
The 24-year-old athlete claimed the gold medal in men’s floor exercise last Saturday (August 3) at the Paris Olympics, and he clinched another victory in the men’s vault event the following Sunday (August 4).
When he learned of his gold medal win on August 3, he was moved to tears. “I don’t know what to say,” he said. “We are a very small country… to win a gold medal means a lot to us. I dedicate this to the Filipino people who supported me.”
Since the Philippines first participated in the Olympics in 1924, a century has passed. Hearing the Philippine national anthem on the Olympic podium for two consecutive nights for the first time in 100 years has stirred great excitement among the Filipino people, who are deeply grateful to Yulo for bringing pride and historic moments to the country.
Yulo is the second Filipino athlete to achieve the highest Olympic honor and the first male Olympic gold medalist in the country’s history. In 2021, Filipina athlete Hidilyn Diaz won the first gold medal in Philippine history in weightlifting at the Tokyo Olympics.
House Speaker of the Philippines Ferdinand Martin Romualdez hailed Yulo as a “sports hero” and a “national treasure”.
Filipino celebrities and public figures, including President Ferdinand Marcos Jr and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, have extended their congratulations to Yulo. “We can’t express our pride in words, Carlos (Yulo), you won gold for the Philippines, not once but twice! Filipinos worldwide are united in cheering for you,” said Marcos.
As celebrations sweep across the nation, individuals sharing names with Yulo are also being pampered. Coffee shops and restaurants are offering free meals or milkshakes to individuals named Carlos, Caloy (Yulo’s nickname), or Edriel (Yulo’s middle name), while a music venue is providing free entry on weekends for people with names starting with the letter C.
The Philippine government will provide Yulo with a reward of 10 million Philippine pesos (approximately $173,300), the standard reward for gold medalists in the country. Numerous private companies have also announced gifts for Yulo. A real estate company pledged to provide him with a fully-equipped three-bedroom apartment worth 32 million pesos (approximately $552,802) in the largest condominium development in McKinley Hill, Manila.
The House of Representatives also pledged an additional reward of 6 million Philippine pesos (approximately $103,676) in cash and a Congressional Medal for him.
Even medical clinics and universities are rolling out the red carpet for Yulo: a gastroenterologist promised him a lifetime of free consultations and colonoscopy exams, while the University of Mindanao offered to grant him university credits.
He can also look forward to a lifetime of free dining services from numerous restaurants, including ramen, mac and cheese, roasted chicken, and buffet meals; a car light expert offered him a set of free headlights and fog lights; a wedding photographer pledged to provide free services to the 24-year-old; and a company committed to supplying him with phone cases for life.
(This article references reports from the BBC and The Guardian.)