The country’s finest athletes led by Olympic double gold medalist Carlos Yulo walked through the grand stage honoring their accomplishments in Monday night’s Philippine Sportswriters Association’s (PSA) Annual Awards Night at the Centennial Hall of the Manila Hotel.
Yulo, along with Nesthy Petecio, Aira Villegas, and other Filipino sports stars current and past were hailed for their extraordinary feats in the sporting arena.
“Lahat ng paghihirap, lahat ng pagod, sobrang worth it talaga,” said Yulo, who was the first-ever Filipino Olympian to win two gold medals for the country, after receiving the PSA’s Athlete of the Year award.
“Gusto ko lang pong magpasalamat sa Panginoon sa lahat ng blessings at challenges na binigay Niya sa buhay ko,” the youthful Yulo, before giving his appreciation to Gymnastics Association of the Philippines (GAP) President Cynthia Carrion, coach Aldrin Castañeda, and his girlfriend Chloe San Jose.
“Nakamit ko ang tagumpay kasama ang mga mahal ko sa buhay. Sa team ko, at sa napaka-ganda kong partner na si Chloe, salamat sa pag-aalaga,” said Yulo.
“Kay Ma’am Cynthia, maraming-maraming salamat sa pagtitiwala. Sa mga athletes at Olympians, sobra niyo akong minotivate, kay Coach Aldrin, I love you po, maraming salamat.
Yulo also offered his historic victory for the whole nation.
“Sa mga nag dasal, nag puyat, lahat po ng yun ay worth it. Ako po si Carlos Yulo, at ang panalong ‘to ay panalo nating lahat,” he said.
Also a highlight for the elder Yulo was him sharing a moment with his younger brother Karl Eldrew who received a Tony Siddayao Award.
Aside from the gymnastics star, prized Filipina boxers Nesthy Petecio and Aira Villegas were also celebrated for their bronze-medal performances in Paris and were given the PSA’s President’s Award.
Meanwhile, the first-ever athlete from the Philippines to win a gold medal for the country in Hidilyn Diaz was enshrined into the PSA’s Hall of Fame, Abraham ‘Bambol’ Tolentino was named as Executive of the Year, June Mar Fajardo (pro) and Kevin Quiambao (amateur) were Mr. Basketball, Jia De Guzman was Ms. Volleyball, and Cynthia Carrion and GAP were hailed as the National Sports Association (NSA) of the Year.
On the other hand, to highlight the Philippines’ centennial participation in the Olympics in 2024, Olympians and Paralympians of past and present were given recognition in the event.
With the earliest coming from 1968, Mexico Games gymnast Ernesto Beren, to Yulo in 2024, the country’s rich and packed roster of Olympians were given their flowers for doing their part in making history for the Philippines.
In addition to Beren, also among those present were former senator Freddie Webb (1972), Akiko Thompson (1988), Mary Joy Tabal (2016), and Kurt Barbosa (2020).
