Marcos honors Filipino Olympians

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday welcomed home the Philippines' Olympic heroes, including double gold medalist Carlos Yulo, lauding them for bringing pride and honor to the country.

The Filipino Olympians, who arrived at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City on Tuesday evening, were personally welcomed by the First Family led by the President in Malacañang.

The President and first lady Liza Araneta-Marcos hosted a reception for the national athletes at Malacañan Palace.

HAPPY TO BE HOME Carlos Yulo and Nesthy Petecio greet students who welcomed them at Villamor Air Base in Manila on Aug. 13, 2024. Photo by Rene H. Dilan

During the program, the President bestowed the Presidential Citation on all the athletes who participated in the Olympic Games, including Nesthy Petecio and Aira Villegas, who both bagged bronze medals in women's boxing.

The citations recognize the athletes' exemplary performance and demonstration of the Olympic ideals of excellence, respect and friendship, thereby giving honor and pride to the Filipino nation and inspiring future athletes to dream, aspire for and achieve Olympic feats.

Yulo received the Presidential Medal of Merit in recognition of his historic twin triumphs at the Paris Olympics in the men's floor exercise and vault events, winning the first Olympic gold medals in artistic gymnastics for the Philippines.

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After bagging four medals, the Philippines placed 37th in the overall ranking at the 2024 Paris Olympics. This is the country's best performance to date as it surpassed its medal haul from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

The Olympians arrived at 7:10 p.m. at Villamor Air Base, where they were welcomed by a performing band and Grade 4 students of the Villamor Air Base Elementary School cheering them on.

Yulo and boxers and bronze medalists Aira Villegas and Nesthy Petecio were the last to exit the plane and walk on the red carpet headed to the Maharlika Hall of the Air Base.

They were welcomed by their loved ones and friends.

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Hurdlers John Cabang and Lauren Hoffman; pole vaulter EJ Obiena; weightlifters Vanessa Sarno, Elreen Ando and John Ceniza; and boxers Hergie Bacyadan, Eumir Marcial and Carlo Paalam were