Emotions ran high after the historic double Olympic gold medal win of Carlos Yulo at the Olympic Games Paris 2024, putting the Philippines on the board and making a legendary mark in the gymnastics world. And long-time supporter of Yulo, Philippine sports patron and PLDT and Smart Chairman and CEO Manuel V Pangilinan showed his delight via X, with a photo of the MVP Sports Foundation (MVPSF) Gymnastics Center in Intramuros.

“Dreams are fulfilled in Paris, but they begin here. You’ve made us all proud, Caloy. You’re living proof a Filipino can. We never doubted for a second,” said Pangilinan, who also holds post as the MVPSF Chairman Emeritus.

PLDT, Smart, and the MVPSF have long been supporting Yulo’s Olympic goals. While Yulo first met MVP in 2019 after winning the gold medal in the Artistic World Gymnastics Championships in Stuttgart, Germany -- making history as the first Filipino gymnast to become a world champion – the MVPSF had been supporting the gymnast since 2017.

“PLDT, Smart, and the MVPSF’s goal has always been to provide the right foundation and support for our world-class athletes by investing in their journey and helping them cultivate their skills to compete internationally and bring glory to the Philippines. Our longstanding support for Carlos is a testament to this commitment,” said Jude H. Turcuato, Head of Sports at PLDT and Smart and Executive Director at MVPSF.

The gym in Pangilinan’s tweet is the 2,300-square-meter world-class training facility for gymnasts in Manila that PLDT and Smart through the MVPSF and the Gymnastics Association of the Philippines (GAP) unveiled in 2022.