ARRIVING via a chartered flight this afternoon direct from Paris, the triumphant Philippine Olympic contingent, bannered by Paris Summer Games double gold medalist Carlos Edriel Yulo, will be whisked off to Malacañang to meet with President Marcos Jr.
Marcos will present the cash incentives and other awards to the country’s medal winners.
Aside from Yulo, among those who will be on the flight touching down at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City at 4:30 p.m. are boxers Aira Villegas and Nesthy Petecio, who won a bronze medal each in the women’s light flyweight and featherweight divisions, respectively.
Top sports officials led by Philippine Olympic Committee President Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino and Gymnastics Association of the Philippines chief Cynthia Carrion, the POC treasurer, will also head straight to the palace, according to the Philippine Sports Commission.
PSC chairman Richard Bachmann was set to arrive from the French capital last night after witnessing the exploits of the Filipino athletes. He is expected to be in Malacañang to greet the Olympic contingent.
Under Republic Act 10699, the revised incentives law, Yulo will receive a bonus of P10 million for each gold medal he won in Paris on top of a Medal of Valor for his heroic efforts that highlighted the country’s centennial jubilee of Olympic participation in the French capital.
Based on the same law, Yulo’s coach, Aldrin Castaneda, will receive P10 million, or P5 million for each gold his prized ward won.
Villegas and Petecio will each receive P2 million for their bronze medal.
From Malacañang, Yulo will proceed to the Hilton at the Newport World Resorts in Pasay City for another victory party where he will receive the title to his P32 million fully-furnished condominium unit at McKinley Hill in Taguig City and P3 million from Megaworld chief Kevin Tan.
As of yesterday, the cash incentives coming Yulo’s way have breached the P150 million mark.
Tomorrow, it will be Manila’s turn to fete Yulo, who was born in a crowded and cramped home in Leveriza just behind the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.
Organized by Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna, the parade will start at 3:30 p.m. from the Philippine International Convention Center to the RMSC.
Lacuna has pledged P2 million to the ace gymnast, who will likely get a key to the city as well.
