House, lots for champ from POC president

MANILA, Philippines —  A new house and, drum roll please, two lots in Tagaytay.

Yes, there’s been an upgrade from what Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham Tolentino had originally promised Paris Olympics double-gold winner Carlos Yulo.

“Because he won two gold medals, I’m giving Carlos a house and two lots (240 sqm each). Magkadikit, of course,” Tolentino told The STAR yesterday.

The gift is a personal one from Tolentino, incumbent mayor of Tagaytay City, still on Cloud Nine following Team Philippines’ magical haul of two gold medals in gymnastics and two bronze medals in boxing in Paris.

Yulo made it all happen, and now he’s being showered with gifts, including a P20 million bonus from President Marcos, a swanky three-bedroom condominium worth P32 million from Megaworld, and a Land Cruiser Prado from Toyota Motors Phils.

“He (Yulo) deserves everything,” added Tolentino, who was on point when he said prior to his departure for Paris last month that the country would surpass its performance in the Tokyo Games.

“Pito dapat ‘yan (medals),” added the POC president of the Paris haul.

“The one that really got away was from Carlo Paalam, who was one win away, actually one judge away, from a medal. Paalam won that fight,” Tolentino said of the 57kg quarterfinals showdown against a boxer from Australia.

“Then there’s one from EJ Obiena and another from Bianca Pagdanganan. We could have won seven medals and another gold or two,” he added.

“Next time,” said Tolentino.