Carlos Yulo, the Philippines’ “golden boy,” made history with two Olympic golds, becoming the first Filipino to achieve such a feat. Following his victory, a flood of rewards followed. He received P10 million per medal, with the House of Representatives doubling it to P6 million each. The Senate added P3 million and the Senate Medal of Excellence, while businessman Manny V. Pangilinan contributed P10 million. Yulo’s coaching team also scored P5 million, and real estate giants gifted him luxury homes and perks.

As if the cash prizes weren’t enough to sweeten the deal, Carlos Yulo’s life got even better. Real estate giants showered him with extravagant gifts, including an upgraded three-bedroom condo worth P32 million from Megaworld, along with an additional P3 million cash bonus. Century Properties Group added to the celebration with a P6 million house-and-lot package, while airlines offered lifetime travel perks. The icing on the cake? A lifetime supply of free pizza and a brand-new Toyota Land Cruiser Prado. Now, Yulo is set to receive a special honor recognizing his remarkable achievements in gymnastics and beyond.

Carlos Yulo bags yet another honor!

On November 16, Carlos Yulo took to Instagram Stories to share a proud moment, reposting a story from Tatler Philippines. In the photo, he stood on stage, beaming with joy as he received the prestigious “Tatler Impact Awardee for Culture.” Dressed in a sharp black tux, with the gleaming trophy in hand, his smile said it all. It was a moment of pure pride and triumph, as he celebrated yet another well-deserved honor in his remarkable journey.

The Tatler Ball is all about celebrating people who’ve made big waves in their fields, and this year’s 23rd edition was no different. The Tatler Impact Awards honored four incredible individuals who’ve made a mark that goes far beyond the Philippines. Dr. Erika Fille Legara bagged the Science and Technology award for her groundbreaking work in data science and AI, while Cherrie Atilano took home the Humanity award for changing communities through sustainable agriculture. 

Martha Sazon, the powerhouse behind GCash, earned the Business award for transforming digital payments. And of course, Carlos Yulo snagged the Culture award, all thanks to his historic gold-medal wins at the Paris 2024 Olympics. But for Carlos, it’s not all about the rewards and titles. Sure, those Olympic golds were huge, but it’s the bigger picture that matters to him. 

Yulo gets real with his achievements

Yes, you heard it right! For Carlos Yulo, it’s not all about the shiny trophies and applause. In a candid moment shared during a dinner hosted by Gambia Honorary Consul Agnes Huibonhoa and businesswoman Cristina Cuevas, Carlos revealed to Philstar Life what truly drives him. When asked about what propelled him to the top of the podium in Paris, he didn’t just talk about the desire to win—he spoke of the journey. “The journey. The process. It kept me going, it keeps me going, yes,” Carlos shared (as per google translation). It’s clear that for him, the struggles, the hard work, and the long road to get there mean far more than the result. “It’s not always the end result,” he added. “There’s always more to that, that I can be grateful for.”

His path wasn’t easy, though. There were moments in his career when quitting seemed like the only option, especially during the intense training in Japan. At one point, Carlos felt overwhelmed, but those around him, like Cynthia Carrion Norton, the Gymnastics Association of the Philippines president, stepped in to keep him on track. Cynthia vividly remembers those moments when Carlos wanted to give up, but she was there, urging him to push through.

Norton words, “Carlos, please don’t do this. Don’t throw away all the training that you’ve had. You can’t. You’ve got to continue. Think of the future,” kept him from turning back. It was in these times of doubt that Cynthia promised him, “If you continue, you’ll be an Olympic champion,” and that promise, along with her faith in him, kept him going. Through it all, Carlos found something deeper than success—a sense of gratitude and faith that grounded him. “So it’s not always the winning or being popular or having a lot of money. It’s about what I built during the hard days, the process,” he said (as per google translation), reflecting on what truly mattered to him.

And as much as his journey shaped him, he credits all his accomplishments to something greater. “All my achievements, it’s all God. That’s why I am grateful and thankful,” he said (as per google translation), emphasizing that his Olympic victory was a gift from above. For Carlos, it’s not just about the medals or recognition—it’s about using his journey to inspire and help others. “It’s God’s gift, so I have to also like take it and use it to help other people,” he concluded (as per google translation), showing that for him, the true victory lies in the purpose and impact beyond the sport.