President Marcos will lead the nation in honoring Carlos Yulo and other Filipino Olympians in celebrating the Philippines’ historic feat at the 2024 Olympic games, where the country won two gold and two bronze medals.

Philippines’ Carlos Edriel Yulo poses with his gold medal during the podium ceremony for the artistic gymnastics men’s floor exercise during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Bercy Arena in Paris on Aug. 3, 2024. Photo by AFP

After carrying the country’s Olympic campaign and later the Philippine flag with boxer Aira Villegas in the closing ceremony of the Paris Games Sunday, Aug. 11, it’s time for the whole country and its 115 million population to welcome Carlos Yulo when he returns home today, Aug. 13.

Yulo, along with his two glittering gold medals in floor exercise and vault he captured in the French capital, is scheduled to plane in at about 6 p.m. today at the Maharlika Lounge of Villamor Air Base in the company of his band of supporters that include Gymnastics Association of the Philippines chief Cynthia Carrion.

Also on that chartered flight are boxers Villegas and Nesthy Petecio, who accounted for the country’s other two medals with a bronze each.

From Villamor Air Base, the athletes will proceed to Malacañang for a heroes’ welcome led by President Marcos and First Lady Liza Marcos. An awarding ceremony in honor of the Filipino Olympians and a dinner reception will be held at the ceremonial hall.

Yulo will receive a Presidential Medal of Merit while other athletes who competed in the Paris Olympics will get presidential citations from Marcos.

“They want it to be a heroes’ welcome and it’s very much focused on them and what they have done to honor the nation,” chief of presidential protocol Reichel Quiñones said at a press briefing on Monday.

“I would describe it as simple but meaningful,” she added.

Instead of today, a 7.7-kilometer parade will be held in honor of the athletes who competed in the Olympics tomorrow, Aug. 14.

The motorcade will start 3 p.m. at the Aliw Theater in Pasay City and will pass through Roxas Boulevard, Padre Burgos street, Finance Road, Taft Avenue, Quirino Avenue, Adriatico Street, until it reaches the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.

The Philippine National Police is making security preparations to ensure safety during the heroes’ welcome and the parade for the Filipino athletes, according to PNP’s chief publicist Col. Jean Fajardo.

“The PNP is committed to providing the appropriate number of personnel to ensure the safety and security of our returning athletes as they are welcomed home,” Fajardo said.

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority has announced that they will implement a stop-and-go scheme starting at 3 p.m. to give way to the parade.

In addition, Presidential Communications Assistant Secretary Dale de Vera said Marcos would provide cash incentives to the Olympic athletes, on top of the National Athletes and Coaches Benefits and Incentives Act.

Under the Act, Olympic gold medalists will receive P10 million, while silver and bronze medalists will be given P5 million and P2 million, respectively.

Asked about reports that Yulo’s family was not invited to the Villamor Air Base and Malacañang, Quiñones replied: “Just to be very clear about it, what we actually provided was that each athlete was allowed to invite up to four members either from their family, close ones, etcetera, we left that entirely up to them. So, whoever is part of that welcome is who the athletes want to be there.”

The hero’s welcome is expected to be as big, if not bigger, than the ones received by Hidilyn Diaz, who delivered the country’s breakthrough Olympic mint in the Tokyo Games three years ago, as well as those from boxing legend Manny Pacquiao.

And it’s because Yulo delivered the performance of a lifetime in Paris.