Filipino gymnast Carlos Yulo recently had many reasons to celebrate.
On August 3, the 24-year-old became the first Filipino Olympic gold medalist by winning the men’s floor exercise and continued his impressive performance the next day by winning another gold in the men’s vault final on August 4. Despite his tremendous victories, Yul’s greatest rewards may yet await him when he returns home to the Philippines after the Games.
On August 1, real estate firm Megaworld announced that any Filipino Olympian who wins gold in Paris will receive a fully furnished two-bedroom apartment in their McKinley Hill development.
After Yul’s two gold performances — the Philippines’ second and third gold medals ever in the Olympics — the corporation has upped the ante, now offering the two-time Olympian a three-bedroom apartment instead.
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“Since this is a very significant milestone in the history of Philippine sports to have two Olympic gold medals during our 100th year as a country in the Olympics, which also coincides with our company’s 35th anniversary this year, we are increasing our award for Carlos Yulo” , Megaworld President Lourdes Gutierrez-Alfonso said in a press release.
Megaworld’s McKinley Hill development in Taguig.
Getty
The McKinley Hill Estate, a residential and commercial complex spanning 50 hectares, is located in Taguig City within the Metro Manila area. According to Megaworld’s website, the development is “inspired by cities in Italy and Spain” and “brings the sophisticated culture of Southern Europe to the Philippines.”
To create the desired European charm, the district features a Venetian-themed mall called the Venice Grand Canal and residential areas named after various cities, such as Tuscany Private Estates.
After weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz won the country’s first gold medal in weightlifting at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, she got a free apartment in Eastwood’s compound in Quezon City.
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In announcing the award, Gutierrez-Alfonso called McKinley Hill “the perfect home for Filipino champions who live lives full of passion and excellence.”
But the apartment is not the only property that Yulo, known to Filipinos as “Caloy”, will get after his performance in Paris. Along with the 20 million Philippine pesos (about $346,000) prize, the state-owned Philippine entertainment and gaming company will also reward him with an unspecified house in the Tagaytay area, just outside Manila.
Other branches of the Philippine government are donating money in honor of the artistic gymnast, as the Philippine House of Representatives announced a gift of 6 million pesos (about $104,000) on August 5, doubling their earlier amount of 3 million pesos.
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Carlos Yulo competes in Paris.
Dan Mullan/Getty
Along with the property gifts and prize money, the national sensation also received a few small perks from local businesses — including tons of free food.
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While X (formerly Twitter) user @saintnierva compiled a complete list of all Yulo rewards, a few highlights include free cookies for life from a restaurant called Cookies by the Bucket, free ramen for life, free colonoscopies for life, and even free academic credits from University Mindanao.
To find out more about all the Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls, come to people.com and check out the live coverage before, during and after the games. And sign up for Going for Gold, our Olympic newsletter, to receive the biggest stories from the Games straight to your inbox. Watch the Paris Olympics and Paralympics starting July 26 on NBC and Peacock.
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education