In a minutes-long video shared by media outlets like The Philippine STAR on Wednesday, Aug. 7, Angelica Yulo can be seen reading a letter for her son. “Liham ng isang ina,” she began as she paused and wiped her left eye.

“Magandang umaga muli,” she began with a shaking voice. “Ako po si Mrs. Angelica Yulo, ang nanay ni Carlos Yulo.”

“Ako po ay narito para ipahayag ang aking huling pananalita hinggil sa girian sa aming pamilya, at ng panig ng anak ko kasama ang kaniyang GF (girlfriend) na si Chloe San Jose,” she said.

Glancing at members of the press, she noted how their family feud has already reached an alarming point.

“Umabot na kasi ito sa nakakaalarmang sitwasyon dahil buong sambayanan, alam na at nakaabang sa mga susunod na salita ng bawat isa,” she explained. “Kung kailan dapat ang ganitong hindi pagkakaunawaan, nawa’y nanatili lamang pribado at inaayos sa personal na paraan.”

With tears welling up her eyes, Angelica acknowledged her flaws as a mother even as she also told him the same. “Hindi ako perpektong ina, at alam ng Diyos na hindi ka rin perpektong anak,” she noted. “At walang perpektong pamilya.”

“Walang ibang hangad ang isang ina kung hindi ang ikabubuti ng kaniyang anak at sa bawat miyembro ng pamilya,” she said, adding that she only had pure intentions. “Sa paraan nang marahas at maingay, sana’y maunawaan mo na ang intensiyon ko ay malinis. Ako’y isang inang nasaktan dahil ang mabait na anak na pinalaki ko nang maayos at mabuting tao ay hindi na nakikinig sa mga paggabay ng magulang.”

She apologized for the things she said against San Jose, saying it was just out of concern as a mother. “Kung mali man ang naging pagpuna sa nobya mo, humihingi ako ng patawad dahil nanay lang ako na nag-aalala.”

Angelica noted that Carlos, 24, is already a grown-up.

“Matanda ka na, kaya mo nang magdesisyon para sa sarili mo,” she said, adding that he is always welcome at home no matter what.

“Bukas ang aming pintuan sa tahanan, may pera ka o wala, kung nanaisin mong bumalik sa amin,” she continued.

Angelica Yulo offers path to reconciliation

Angelica noted that what has been said cannot be undone, but offered a path to reconciliation.

“Hindi na pwedeng bawiin ang nasabi,” she said. “Ang amin lang, handa na ako at ang papa mo na mag-usap tayo nang bukas ang loob na may pang-unawa, anumang oras na handa ka pag-uwi mo upang maayos ito.”

She noted that outsiders don’t need to know their problems, as they don’t have a grasp of the full picture.

“Hindi kailangan ng ibang tao na malaman ang mga alitan dahil hindi nila alam ang buong kwento at hindi nila ito ubos na nauunawaan,” she said. “Gayunpaman, humihingi ako ng patawad sa iyo at sa buong sambayanan sa mga nasabi ko sa interview.”

Angelica was referring to her interview with Bombo Radyo following Carlo’s win. In that interview, she claimed that her rift with her son was because of San Jose. She also criticized San Jose for staying with Carlos in his dorm in Japan during training, even as his underage brother and another gymnast were meant to be his roommates but didn’t push through due to the supposed indecency. She also accused San Jose of taking Carlos away from his family.

“Pagod at puyat ako sa kakapanood sa iyo ng mga panahon na iyon. ‘Di makatulog sa tuwa kahit tapos na ang iyong laban,” Angelica stressed. “Hindi ako nakapag-isip nang mabuti at nirapido ako ng tanong ng mga reporter tungkol sa bagay na dapat ay tayo lamang ang nag-ayos. Patawad, anak.”

Angelica also debunked would-be perceptions that she’s only speaking up because of Carlo’s feat. Instead, she said she’s doing it because she wanted to end the issue.

“Naiintindihan ko na maaaring tingnan ng iba na kaya lamang ako nagsasalita ngayon ay dahil sa iyong tagumpay at kasaganaan,” she said. “Ako ay nagsasalita para ilagay na sa katahimikan ang isyu. Bukas ang pintuan para pag-usapan nang personal, nang walang galit.”

If ever she and Carlos won’t be able to patch things up, Angelica is at least hoping for mutual respect and understanding in the name of their family.

“Hindi man humantong sa pagkabuo ng pamilya, nawa’y maipanatili natin ang respeto sa isa’t isa at sa dignidad ng pamilya,” she said. “Kung hindi man tayo magkaayos, sana sa pagdating ng panahon, maunawaan ang aking panig at intensiyon, hindi ang ingay.”

Angelica underscored the importance of family despite hardships or disagreements. “Ang pamilya, iisa lang iyan at laging andiyan lang para sa isa’t isa sa kabila ng anumang pagsubok o alitan,” she said. “Ito’y pilit nating unawain hanggang wala na tayong maisip kung hindi ang mag-ayos siguro.”

She also requested for the public to celebrate his son’s achievements instead. “At sa sambayanan naman, sana ipagdiwang na lang natin ang tagumpay ng anak ko,” she said. “Gumawa ang anak ko ng kasaysayan para sa ating bansa. Lahat tayo ay magpasalamat kay Caloy para sa karangalang iuuwi niya para sa bayan.”

Angelica wished that after reading her letter, their family’s issues would finally end. She also noted that wounds heal someday and that she prefers that her family heals in private. “Ang mga sugat ay kusa namang maghihilom sa paglipas ng panahon. Pero pipiliin naming humilom kami sa pribado at mapayapang pamamaraan.”

As she was about to wrap up her message, Angelica burst into tears. “Caloy, congratulations sa iyong tagumpay,” she said.

Angelica, who could no longer contain her emotions, then broke down in front of everybody. “Mahal na mahal ka naming lahat,” she continued.

The press conference comes a day after Carlos published a TikTok video airing his side of the story in response to Angelica’s Bombo Radyo interview. In the TikTok video released on Aug. 6, Carlos, who’s sitting beside San Jose, detailed how he didn’t get his winnings from past tournaments as his mother allegedly mishandled his money and even held his bank accounts. The athlete also defended his girlfriend amid his mother’s alleged disapproval of her. Carlos ended the video with well wishes for Angelica, hoping for them to move on from their issues.

Angelica did not address Carlos’ allegations about her spending his money without his knowledge in the presscon. But she, through her lawyer Raymond Fortun, previously said that she is considering filing charges against those who spread “fake posts” and “libelous comments” in line with the accusations against her.

Carlos won back-to-back gold at the Paris Olympics on Aug. 3 and 4 for the artistic gymnastics men’s floor event and the men’s vault final.

In a previous interview with GMA News, his father Mark Andrew Yulo celebrated the win and hoped for a family reunion. “Sana mag bonding tayo ng mama at kapatid mo. Sana mag meet up tayo at mag-usap tayong lahat,” he said.