(L-R) Tito Sotto, Carlos Yulo, young gymnast Jezzy, Joey de Leon, Vic Sotto and Maine Mendoza. Image: screengrab from Facebook/TVJ
After his homecoming parade, two-time Olympic gold medalist Carlos Yulo visited the set of “Eat Bulaga” and surprised a young gymnast with whom he shared his “lucky charm” chalk box.
During the noontime show’s “Dear Eat Bulaga” segment on Thursday, Aug 15, gymnast Jezzy wished for new leotards for her gymnastics training. After Jezzy received the gifts, the TV hosts called Yulo from the backstage which immediately brought the young gymnast to tears.
Greeting his supporters, Yulo said, “Maraming maraming salamat po sa pagdadasal at pagsuporta niyo sa amin. Ang panalo po namin ay panalo nating lahat.”
The athlete then expressed his joy over the attention the public is now giving to gymnastics. “Ngayon nare-recognize na siya sa Pilipinas at maraming bata na po ‘yung nagkakagusto at gustong sumubok.”
Aside from Jezzy, the members of the Manila Gymnastics team also congratulated Yulo, bringing with them congratulatory banners for the Olympic gold medalist. Several young gymnasts from Bataan treated Yulo as well to a performance.
“Hindi lang po sa mga atleta, para sa mga estudyante, mga nangangarap sa buhay, mga nagta-trabaho, tuloy-tuloy niyo lang po ‘yung pangarap niyo as long as wala tayong inaapakang tao at mabuti tayong tao,” he advised. “Magpasalamat sa Diyos talaga. May darating talaga na nakalaan sa atin. Keep going and enjoy natin ‘yung process kasi do’n tayo maggo-grow.”
‘Eat Bulaga’ stint
During his guesting, Yulo also shared that he joined the “Kakaibang Bida” talent segment of “Eat Bulaga” when he was just nine years old, but he did not win at the time.
“That time po kasi medyo boring din po ‘yung pinakita ko,” the athlete laughingly recalled, to which TV host Tito Sotto quipped, “Hindi pumasa? Sinong t*ng*ng nag-audition sa’yo?”
Fast forward to the present, Yulo secured a win, not in a TV contest, but in the prestigious Olympics — not once, but twice.
“‘Yung unang gold ko po talaga, hindi po talaga ako makapaniwala no’n kasi grabe po ‘yung pressure at kaba. Gustong-gusto ko po talaga manalo ng medal and gusto ko rin pong ipakita sa buong mundo ‘yung lakas at talento ng Pilipino,” he said.
“Nung pangalawa po, sobrang proud po talaga ako. ‘Di ko rin naman po inexpect especially ‘yung pangalawa kasi ang gusto ko lang maging maganda ‘yung performance ko,” he continued. “Talagang bonus na lang po talaga ‘yon ni Lord. Sobrang nagbacktrack po ‘yung mga sacrifices ko and ‘yung hardwork, and ‘yung mga taong tumulong po sa akin.”