Team Philippines’ medal-winning athletes received a hero’s welcome in Manila on Monday, October 5, following their historic campaign at the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
Philippine Olympic Committee President Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, Philippine Sports Commission Chairman John Patrick “Pato” Gregorio, and Team Philippines Chef de Mission Richard Anthony Lim welcomed the athletes during a thanksgiving celebration and press conference at Century Seafood Restaurant at the Century Park Hotel.
Leading the celebration were Carlos Edriel Yulo, EJ Obiena, and Jesus Gabriel Derick Yape, who delivered all four of the Philippines’ gold medals in the Games.
Yulo captured gold in the men’s floor exercise and vault, while Obiena ruled the men’s pole vault. Yape, meanwhile, won gold in virtual taekwondo and added a bronze in poomsae.
Team Philippines returned home with 29 medals—four golds, nine silvers, and 16 bronzes, marking the country’s highest overall medal haul in the modern era of the Asian Games.
The campaign also saw 50 world records and 11 junior world records fall across the Games.
With the Philippines’ medal haul largely coming from Olympic disciplines, Tolentino emphasized that the country’s focus now shifts toward the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, calling for continued and stronger government support for Filipino athletes.
The other members of Team Philippines who contributed to the historic medal haul were also recognized during the welcome celebration.
(Photo Courtesy: POC)
