Carlos Yulo’s grandfather Rodrigo Frisco, his childhood friend Ken Rodriguez, and some of his friends and relatives in their neighborhood in Leveriza, Malate, Manila. Photo by Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News.

MANILA — Filipino gymnast Carlos Yulo has finally made his triumphant return to the Philippines.

The 2024 Paris Olympic Games double gold medalist arrived home on Tuesday night, and went on to join his fellow Filipino Olympians during their homecoming parade on Wednesday in Pasay and Manila.

Yulo, who was one of the 12 athletes who joined the colorful float that completed a 7.7-kilometer parade, was the Olympian that the crowd most wanted to see, as he achieved a historic victory for the whole country in Paris.

Aside from the street party-like atmosphere of the event — especially when the floats passed through Leveriza Street in Malate where Yulo grew up — a certain group of people had been hoping to see more of the modern-day Filipino hero.

“Proud ako kasi isa sa kaibigan, ka-teammate, at kababata ko andoon,” said Ken Rodriguez, a childhood friend of Caloy who also lives in their neighborhood.

Rodriguez, who was a former young gymnast himself, briefly looked back on the experiences that he and Yulo shared during the time that they were growing up both as teammates and as friends.

“Nung bata pa kami, nagkakilala kami dito lang din. Bago po kami maka-pasok sa gymnastics, naglalaro-laro po kami sa Paraiso ng Batang Maynila. May nakakakita po sa amin non, and then sinamahan po kami ni Lolo Boy sa [Rizal Memorial Complex],” said Ken, who was also among the young gymnasts that Rodrigo Frisco, Caloy’s grandfather, brought to RMC in hopes of developing them into stars.

“Naging kaklase ko rin po siya, at okay rin po siya. Nakikipaglaro, at ‘di naman maarte si Caloy eh. Pag ididikit mo kami, ang puti niya kasi eh tapos ako maitim ako nun eh,” quipped Ken. “Pero walang kaarte-arte iyon si Caloy. Ubod ng bait.”

He also shared how back then, they did not even imagine the heights that Yulo has reached now.

“Nung una, hindi po namin akalain na ganun, na magco-compete kami sa malalaking event,” said Rodriguez, who eventually focused on his studies in the latter part of his career and is now working as an Office Assistant in the Lyceum of the Philippines University.

“‘Di niya rin siguro inakala na ganun, na makapag compete siya sa ganyang events tulad ng Olympics at World Championships. Ang alam lang namin noon, tumbling lang. Kung saan lang si Caloy masaya. ‘Di rin naman siya hobby, pero nag enjoy kasi kami doon eh. Kaya siguro, napamahal na,” he shared.

But despite his close friend being able to earn numerous victories as Yulo’s career progressed, Ken said that Caloy remained as he was.

“May one time po noon, nagka salubong po kami niyan. Ganun pa rin siya, hindi pa rin nagbabago. Mabait pa rin samin at tropa pa rin. Sa personal po, sobrang bait. At kung paano ko siya nakilala noon, ganun pa rin siya.”

And while he has not yet reconnected with Yulo in a long time, Ken has no hard feelings.

“Pag uwi ko, nakita ko po yung parade niya. Wala pa po [kaming communication], pero naiintindihan ko po kasi busy din po yun. Hindi lang naman ako yung nagme-message sa kanya. Pag sa personal naman po, pag nagkikita kami talagang intact pa rin — mag tropa pa rin,” while also expressing how he misses his friend.

“Sana bumalik ka ulit dito. At sa pagiging kaibigan, nami-miss na rin po namin siya.”

Filipinos greet the float carrying the country’s athletes who participated in the Paris Olympics during the ‘Heroes Welcome Parade’ around the streets of Manila on August 14, 2024. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN NewsMeanwhile, another individual who hailed Caloy was Kookai Yulo, his cousin and previous classmate.

“Kaklase ko siya nung elementary. Nung high school naman, sa Adamson, magka-batch kami. Elementary pa lang po, tahimik lang siya pero pursigido siyang mag practice. Palarong Pambansa pa lang po nun eh. Maliit pa lang siya nun. Kasama niya po yung mga pinsan niya and classmates niya,” she shared.

“Bata pa lang, gustong gusto niya nang maging gymnast,” added Kookai, while also offering her hopes of seeing the 24-year-old.

“Message ko sana sayo, Caloy, uwi ka na. Welcome na welcome ka dito sa lugar natin, alam mo yan. Uwi ka na, hinihintay ka na ng mama mo, papa mo, at mga kapatid mo.”

On the other hand, Carlo Poquiz, who is also his cousin, advised Caloy to cancel the unnecessary noise that has been brewing due to personal issues.

“Iwas lang po siya sa mga negative comments. Namnamin niya po muna yung mga tagumpay na nakuha niya para po sa Pilipinas at para po sa lugar namin,” he said.

Two of his relatives — both uncles but younger in age — also shared their respective messages for the Olympian.

“Masaya po ako dahil na-achieve niya yung pangarap niya. Ang galing mo, Kuya Caloy. Lahat kami napa-bilib mo, buong Pilipinas. Saludo kami sayo,” said Paul Laurence Yulo, who also shared how Carlos inspired him to be an athlete as well.

“Nung elementary po, nakahiligan kong mag track and field. Dahil rin po ito kay Kuya Caloy, and inspiration ko rin po siya,” said Laurence. “Sana umuwi po siya, maganda po na buo yung pamilya,” he continued.

“Good luck po sa mga dadating mo pang laban, lupitan mo pa po palagi. Sana makabalik po siya dito or magpakita po, para magkita-kita po mga pamilya namin,” added Carlito Villaflor.

Lastly, Richard Dela Rosa and Jonathan Bulitam, two young gymnasts who also are from Leveriza, expressed their gratitude for their idol.

“Congrats po sayo, idol. Naging idol ko na po siya ng sobra po,” said the former.

“Kuya Caloy, thank you dahil naging inspirasyon kita sa pag gy-gymnast,” added the latter.

And above all, regardless of the reason why they are connected to Caloy, one thing that unites them is their desire to see the Leveriza Street native come back, or at least, pay a visit, in their home.