For nearly a year, the question lingered. Not in headlines or soundbites, but in the quiet expectation that shadows an unfulfilled pledge. In August 2024, the announcement was made with a ceremony. Carlos Yulo, twice victorious in Paris, would receive a house. The gesture was grand, the location picturesque, the valuation steep. But months passed, and the promised key remained out of reach.

The commitment, made by Century Properties Group, had captured attention not for its novelty but for its significance. Yulo’s achievements had earned him a rare distinction among Filipino athletes. He had done more than win. He had redefined possibility. CPG’s gesture, to present him with a home in Nasugbu’s PHirst Editions Batulao development, was intended as a reward befitting that stature. Yet despite the fanfare in August, Yulo remained without the property in hand through the remainder of the year.

Now, eleven months later, the wait has concluded. In a subdued yet pointed announcement, CPG followed through on its long-delayed gesture. Yulo stood before the house that had once been only a press release. It is a modest but striking single-attached unit, priced at P6.0 million, nestled within a growing residential pocket in Batangas. The house is a quiet nod to Carlos’s brilliance, carrying more weight now that it stands furnished and occupied. In a company statement shared via Instagram, PHirst Editions wrote, “From gold medals to golden milestones. Welcome to your new home, Carlos Yulo! Last month, we handed over more than just keys, we celebrated a legacy of excellence and the beginning of new memories for our Champ in PHirst Editions Centrale Batulao. Congratulations on this new chapter. You’ve earned every bit of it.”

This is not the first time CPG has responded to Olympic triumph with material reward. Following the Tokyo Games, they extended a similar gift to Hidilyn Diaz, who had captured the country’s first Olympic gold medal. As with Diaz, Yulo’s new home arrives not merely as a prize but as a public marker of institutional gratitude. CPG’s PHirst brand, which now counts 23 communities across Luzon and the Visayas, has become an active participant in the national recognition of athletic excellence. 

Carlos Yulo’s Olympic gold sparks a tidal wave of rewards across the Philippines

Carlos Yulo’s double gold at the Paris Olympics has done more than place him in the annals of sporting history. It has turned him into a symbol of national gratitude, expressed in pesos, property, and pasta. Across the Philippines, businesses, institutions, and individuals have come forward with an unusual cascade of rewards for the 25-year-old gymnast, as though seeking to measure their pride through tangible offerings. The gestures range from formal state honors to quirky, heartfelt pledges from everyday entrepreneurs, each trying to outdo the next in generosity and originality.

The state has been prompt in its recognition. In addition to a congressional medal and 6 million pesos from the lower house, Yulo is set to receive 10 million pesos under a national incentive scheme. But the private sector’s response is where the story takes an unexpected turn. A three-bedroom unit in Taguig, worth 32 million pesos, was among the first major gifts announced. Restaurants followed with lifetime access to buffets, baked mac and cheese, and chicken inasal. One doctor offered free endoscopic procedures for Yulo upon turning 45. A wedding photographer pledged lifetime services. Even car light accessories and phone cases have been promised without expiration.

Several companies have extended ambassadorships and business franchises. One offered a P10 million contract from a beauty clinic. Cafes and eateries, eager to partake in the celebration, promised complimentary meals or drinks to anyone named Carlos, Caloy, or Edriel. The gesture appears less about publicity and a more collective impulse to honor a man who, in his moment of triumph, simply said, “I dedicate this to the Filipino people who supported me.”

In a nation stirred by pride, Carlos Yulo’s triumph has become a shared celebration, marked not only by medals but by the many hands reaching out to honor him.