MEDIUM RARE 

Hip hip hooray, six cheers, or three cheers for each of the two gold medals won by Carlos Yulo in the Paris Olympics 2024, a two-day haul that stunned us and put a shine to the red-white-blue-and-gold of the Philippines’ participation.

Caloy is worth more than his weight in gold. “Diminutive” he may be at 4’11” but something tells me and you this is just the beginning, not the apex of his career.

The price of gold last Tuesday, Aug. 6, was $2,413.44 per Troy oz. (A Troy ounce is slightly heavier, 1.092 oz or 10 percent more than a regular ounce, not that it matters to those of us who won’t be biting into a gold medal anytime soon.)

If Caloy weighs 106 lb as the stats show, you may ask your math teacher how much his weight translates to the value of gold, and don’t forget to add the weight of his two medals.

For the moment, let him enjoy the sparkle and the sheen, let him glory in his kababayan’s pride and joy in his double victory. He’s our golden boy, our very own Olympic champion, lord of gymnasts, and in a few days, the nation’s homecoming king. It’s a pity that his victory has been dimmed somewhat by the shadow cast on his relationship with his mother, Angelica. Would that shadow have been noticed had he not won the two golds?

But like the strong-willed, determined athlete who undergoes intensive training and backbreaking hours to prepare for a competition, and fresh from his victories in Paris, Caloy begged fans and supporters to allow him to “move on” – a simple request none of us are in a position to deny him.

As the constitutionally mandated prize money due him from Congress, no less, is sure to work like a magnet attracting more money to his account (starting with at least P45 million), and noncash gifts continue to pour in – condo, furniture, meals buffet style and ramen for a lifetime, shopping, etc. – a commentator offered the advice on television that the best thing Caloy can do now is to find himself a financial manager. Considering that the champ has money issues with his mom, this advice, indeed, sounds like it’s worth a million.