EDITORS DESK
The stars descended on Manila from a Paris conquest that is one for the books.
Carlos Yulo was the highlight of the parade that froze the streets and made it a rolling celebration for athletic excellence, exuding the aura of victory that stole the eyes of bystanders and even those who stopped the holy hours of work along Roxas Boulevard.
Never forget the students who lined up eagerly despite the afternoon heat, yelling the names of the sporting greats with endless chants of wishes and applause.
Then there's the Golden Boy's father, Mark Andrew Yulo, the ever supportive figure who won the hearts of millions after appearing proudly among the sea of supporters — waving, shouting, and oozing with pride that his son, who grew up at their humble abode in Leveriza, is now a double gold medalist in the Olympics.
Yulo mania certainly invaded the nation's capital that glorious Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024.
With the country still in the state of euphoria with the arrival of gymnast Yulo, bronze winners Nesthy Petecio and Aira Villegas of boxing, and the rest of the Filipino warriors who fought gallantly in Paris, everyone is looking forward for a third salvo in 2028 Los Angeles Games, pinning high hopes that an encore should bring the Philippines to a more stable position among Asia's best.
Daring questions would pose much challenge to the athletes and top officials as the drawing board may seem like a huge plate to be filled in rather than just reprinting the winning strategies from the previous Summer Games.
As imposing as it could be, the inevitable will soon be asked: what's next? Or, at the heels of Yulo's majestic performance, what's more to come?
Hidilyn Diaz's triumph in 2021 proved that we can shine in the biggest stage of all, while Yulo's feat served as a testament of continued success, perhaps on a grander scale considering that a two-gold haul is the nation's best finish in the quadrennial meet in 100 years of participation.
With proper training and guidance, the 24-year-old Yulo could be up for two more Olympic cycles, in Los Angeles four years from now and Brisbane in 2032. Among the strongest contenders, he certainly would rank high in the Hollywood state while a win in the Australian city would make him an all-time gymnastics royalty.
Petecio, also a Tokyo silver medalist, is already 32 and called Paris her "Last Dance", but after some reflections, she left a window open for a possible rerun of her golden mission.
Villegas, 29, said she wants more in LA 2028, while Eumir Marcial, 28, is considering his options of either continuing his journey with the national team or committing himself fully as a professional boxer.
While the level of fitness might not be an issue for some when they reach 30, the process of qualifying for the Olympics alone is one tough task. Pole vault star EJ Obiena, 28; boxer Carlo Paalam, 26; and golfer Bianca Pagdanganan, 26, could be smashing their way to their third straight Olympics in 2028, but not without a toll on their bodies, least to say a ton of sacrifice for their time away from their families, and the effort that is required to be physically and mentally prepared.
To avoid wasting these gains, officials should further strengthen talent identification through the grassroots program to maintain the passing of the torch to the younger generations. One way is to harness and equip PE teachers in public and private schools who will scout for potential athletes. The local government units should be active and innovative, and a weekend showcase of sporting events in open parks or track ovals should bode well in our pursuit of inclusivity.
Palarong Pambansa, Batang Pinoy, and other regional meets must be aligned to topnotch standards, as these tournaments serve as key in the scouting initiatives of the sports associations and a nest for universities which offer scholarships for deserving athletes.
The parade surely inspired thousands of kids to become national athletes. The scene was uplifting and it surely triggered a massive interest in sports. The loads of rewards for an exceptional achievement is just a bonus, but the image of Yulo bearing the national flag mightily tops one's imaginations — "I want to be Caloy someday!"
In these words of passion we should rally for an improved and sustained action. No resting on our laurels.
The Filipinos love stories of victories, and it should not end in Paris. For that, Los Angeles, here we come!
(Ramon Rafael C. Bonilla is the Sports Editor of Manila Bulletin.)