BEFITTING a conquering sports hero, Paris Olympics double gold medalist Carlos Edriel Yulo arrived at a royal red carpet welcome last night at the Philippine Air Force tarmac in Pasay City.
Accompanied by women’s featherweight boxing bronze medalist Nesthy Petecio and both carrying the national colors, Yulo was the last to emerge from a Philippine Airlines chartered flight from the French capital that touched down just before 7:30 on a windy night.
They were with other Olympians who came in on the same flight, among them pole vaulter Ernest John Obiena, rower Joanie Delgaco, hurdler Lauren Hoffman and boxer Eumir Felix Marcial.
The athletes were met by the PAF band, which serenaded them with the Queen song “We are the Champions” and flag-waving Grade 4 school children from the Villamor Elementary School, who presented bouquets to each athlete.
Yulo was also met by his national men’s artistic gymnastics teammates, who hugged and mobbed him with delight in a joyful celebration of his twin epic accomplishments in the Paris Summer Games.
“Itong ginto natin ay hindi lang para sa akin, para sa bayan at para sa ating lahat,” Yulo told a throng of media that came and waited for several hours just get a video and sound bite from him.
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority said it’s all systems go for today’s homecoming parade of Filipino athletes who competed in the Summer Olympics in Paris, France.
MMDA chief Romando Artes said the agency will deploy a total of 300 personnel for the parade, among them traffic enforcers, motorcycle and mobile patrol members, road emergency group, sidewalk clearing operations, and street sweepers.
The parade, set to start at 3 p.m., will begin at the Aliw Theater and will end at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila.
“The speed of vehicles included in the parade will be six kilometers per hour to give the public the chance to see the Philippine Olympic team. Stop-and-go traffic scheme will be implemented and the approximate time for the parade is about 45 minutes,” Artes said in a press briefing at the MMDA main office in Pasig City.
“There will be a celebration, and at the same time honoring our athletes who worked very hard to achieve such a historic and extraordinary achievement in the Olympics,” he added.
From Aliw Theater, the parade will turn left on Roxas Blvd., right turn to P. Burgos Avenue, straight ahead to Finance Road- right turn to Taft Ave., right turn to Pres. Quirino Ave., left turn to Adriatico St., and another left turn to the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.
Artes also advised motorists to use alternate routes during the parade.
For northbound vehicle towards R-10, Artes said they may proceed to Skyway, Buendia Avenue, Taft Avenue, F. B. Harrison, Mabini St., Quirino and Lacson Avenue.
Southbound motorists may take Roxas Blvd., UN Avenue, Marcelino, and Quirino to SLEX. — With Ashzel Hachero
