MANILA, Philippines — Carlos Yulo’s Olympic preparation yesterday received a shot in the arm after the Manny V. Pangilinan Sports Foundation provided the Filipino gymnast a financial assistance worth P800,000.
Al Panlilio, president of MVPSF, said they gave the extra funding to the 19-year-old world champion to help finance and cover the expenses for his training in Japan.
“We at the MVPSF just want to make sure we give our athletes like Caloy Yulo the best training possible even in these trying times,” said Panlilio.
“And our chairman Manny V. Pangilinan also takes pride in taking care of our athletes and we follow his great example. And this is above the others we gave before from MVPSF,” he added.
The funding should help minimize Yulo’s worries in these trying times. It should help cover the cost incurred by his education, board and lodging, training and his whole team headed by Japanese coach Munehiro Kugimiya.
Gymnastics Association of the Philippines (GAP) president Cynthia Carrion confirmed the donation that was coursed through them and sent straight to Yulo, who is the country’s best hope to nail its first Olympic gold medal.
“It is true,” said Carrion.
The Philippine Sports Commission has been funding Yulo’s Japan training from the start and has continued to do so despite the financial effects of the pandemic that forced the agency to cut the monthly allowances of the national team members to half.