In early August, Carlos “Caloy” Yulo raised the banner of the Philippines and made all Filipinos proud by winning, not just one, but two gold medals for gymnastics in the Paris Olympics 2024.
Inspired by his victory, we brought our children to the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland, just an hour-and-a-half train ride from where we live.
As we looked at the history of the Olympics and saw all the torches, medals, and costumes of Olympians displayed, we couldn’t help but be amazed by the dedication and hard work of the many athletes who represent their countries.
Yulo has been hailed a hero for being the first man to clinch a gold medal for the Philippines. He was also the first to secure two golds, won in two consecutive days.
It was a historic event for the country.
But just as everybody was rejoicing and celebrating, his victory was marred and overshadowed by the conflict that his family is going through.
The spotlight was set on his family feud instead of his triumph.
Yulo’s story and how the Filipinos have reacted to his situation reflect one thing: our toxic culture.
Toxic Family Relationships
Yulo may have been the “golden boy” but he’s just an ordinary human, just like each one of us.
He may have been showered with a lot of rewards after his win, but his life is also inflicted with struggles and issues that he faces every single day.
So much has been said about his family. Many hurtful words have been exchanged.
But because Caloy has become a celebrity, his private life did not escape scrutiny.
It’s normal between and among family members to have misunderstandings and conflicts.
But there are relationships, no matter how close, that can be toxic and destructive, especially when money is involved.
I hope that they resolve their issues, and choose humility and forgiveness towards each other.
Toxic “Marites” Culture On Social Media
The term “Marites” has been used by internet users to refer to the gossipy “tita” or auntie next door who spreads rumors to her neighbors. It has become a meme among Filipino netizens.
Though it can be quite funny, this “Marites” culture can be annoying and harsh. Its effect on the people involved can be damaging, too.
Instead of focusing on Caloy’s significant contribution to the country, what netizens highlighted more were the ‘juicy’ rumors about his mother’s use of her son’s funds and the rift between her and his girlfriend.
It was so irritating and saddening at the same time to see such news and stories on my Facebook newsfeed.
It showed how toxic people can be on social media. I hope we learn from this and become better consumers of social media.
Toxic “Performance-Oriented” Society
One obvious thing that transpired due to Caloy’s winning is how we, as a society, reward lavishly those who bring home the bacon, those who bring honor to the country.
Many people now want to be like him because of the many rewards he has been given (and will receive) for winning two gold medals–his own condominium, a lifetime supply of food and other things, and millions of pesos from the government and different organizations.
This is a good thing. It inspires many young people to aspire to become great athletes. But I hope that they will not just support our athletes after winning but even before they achieve it.
From the very beginning, even before they train, athletes–professional and amateur–should receive sufficient funding and help from the government.
May we, as a people, be not like parents who will only be proud of their children if they become honor students.
May the government also recognize and reward every single Olympian who works really hard and represents the country proudly, not just who brings home medals.
Despite the toxicity that the Carlos Yulo victory exposed about our people, it doesn’t diminish the fact that Filipinos have a place on the world stage.
We don’t just excel in singing, beauty pageants, and boxing, our nation now has its name imprinted in the world of gymnastics, pole vault, and weightlifting.
Carlos Yulo, Nesty Petecio, Aira Villegas, EJ Obiena, and the rest of the 22 Olympians, world-class athletes, who participated in nine sporting events and carried the flag of the Philippines are worth celebrating.
They made us proud and we are grateful for all their hard work and dedication to their sport.
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