Athletes who competed at the Paris 2024 Olympics join the “Heroes’ Welcome Parade” around Manila on August 14, 2024. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

MANILA (UPDATE 5) — The triumph of double gold medalist Carlos Yulo, bronze medalists Nesthy Petecio and Aira Villegas, and the rest of the Filipino Olympians who competed in the 2024 Paris Games was celebrated in a parade in Manila on Wednesday.

The Philippines’ bets in France were welcomed by their countrymen throughout the 7.7km parade that started outside the Aliw Theatre in Pasay, passed through Roxas Boulevard, Padre Burgos Avenue, Finance Road, Taft Avenue, Quirino Avenue, Adriatico Street, and concluded at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.

The parade started at 4:08 p.m., with the Olympians being cheered by thousands of Filipinos who lined the streets to get a glimpse of the athletes. According to the Manila Police District, the crowd reached an estimated 1,500.

Spotted in the crowd was Yulo's father, Mark Andrew, though other members of the family opted not to watch the parade. Yulo saluted his father as he passed by.

The athletes entered the Rizal Memorial Complex at 6:16 p.m., where a program was held in their honor.

During the parade, the 24-year-old Yulo rode a float with 11 other Olympians, having given the Philippines its grandest Games result in 100 years. By winning the men's floor exercises and vault, the diminutive Yulo tripled the country's overall Olympic gold medal haul to three.

With his medals hanging proudly on his neck, a beaming Yulo flashed victory signs to the adoring crowd who waved Philippine flags and took selfies using the float, adorned with the five Olympic rings, as backdrop.

Giant posters bearing Yulo's image hung from electric posts on the side of the streets.

Two helicopters of the Philippine Air Force flew by and dropped confetti on the athletes and those who lined the streets.

A HERO'S JOURNEY

He fell in love with gymnastics at seven when his grandfather brought him to watch gymnasts at an old training facility near his home.

Battling homesickness, the formidable language barrier, and strenuous training, he left the country for Japan at 16 to train under Japanese coach Munehiro Kugimiya to pursue his dream of becoming a world-class athlete.

Lia Orellano, 82, ambled out of her home with the aid of a cane on Manila's downtrodden Leveriza Street to welcome her former neighbor Yulo.

"I'm very happy and proud of what he has achieved. He gave us hope that everyone can be like him from this small street," she told AFP, recalling that when he was little Yulo loved "to do 'tumblings' here even on these dirty streets".

Lolita Elenon, a nurse from the Philippine General Hospital, waited outside the hospital for at least two hours right after their work duty. Still wearing her nurse uniform, she waved the Philippine flag when Yulo waved in front of them.

"Maraming salamat sa lahat. I'm proud to be Filipino," she said when asked what is her message to Yulo.

Art Santos, an admin officer of a building along Taft, was seen posting a congratulatory poster outside his building. He said all his employees support the athletes, especially Yulo.

"Sobrang excited po, alam natin buong mundo yan, siya pinaka hero sa sports," he said.

On Tuesday night, 17 of the 22 Olympians returned to the Philippines, where they were welcomed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and other government officials at the Malacañan Palace.

READ: Pinoy Olympians receive incentives as Yulo hails fellow athletes

Aside from the medalists, those present were EJ Obiena, Hergie Bacyadan, Sam Catantan, Eumir Marcial, Carlo Paalam, Elreen Ando,  Vanessa Sarno, Kayla Sanchez, Kiyomi Watanabe, Lauren Hoffman, John Cabang, Jarod Hatch, Joanie Delgaco, and John Cabang.

The medalists received their government-mandated incentives, while the Office of the President gave an additional P1-M to each medalist.

READ: Carlos Yulo's grandfather hopeful of reunion with double Olympic gold medalist

Yulo also earned cash and gift pledges from other government offices and private companies.

These include a fully-furnished three bedroom condominium in one of Manila's posh districts and a lifetime of free buffet of chicken barbeque and Japanese noodles.

A gastroenterologist also offered Yulo free colonoscopy tests after he turns 45. -- with Agence France-Presse; Jeck Batallones, Jeff Caparas, and Jekki Pascual, ABS-CBN News

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