Marcos, First Family welcome Yulo, PH Olympians in Palace

President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. and the First Family on Tuesday welcomed two-time Olympic champion Carlos Yulo and other Filipino Olympic medalists and athletes in Malacañang Palace.

Wearing identical black jackets with Philippines across the chests, Marcos and First Lady Louise ''Liza'' Araneta-Marcos were with their sons Joseph Simon Marcos and William Vincent Marcos as they met the athletes on the Palace red carpet.

The First Family waited briefly for the athletes at the Palace driveway before the Olympians alighted from a white bus and walked towards the Chief Executive and his loved ones. 

The mood was festive as the athletes shook hands with the President, the First Lady and their sons.

After shaking hands with Marcos and getting tapped on the back by the President, two-gold-medal-winner Yulo took selfies with presidential son Vinny.

The other medalists in the group were bronze-medal-winning boxers Nesthy Petecio and Aira Villegas.

Petecio, a member of the Philippine Coast Guard; and Villegas saluted the Commander in Chief before shaking his hand.

After the last athlete was welcomed, the group went up the Palace for more picture-taking and dinner.

On the Palace menu were salmon belly sinigang flavored with kamias, and roast US angus rib-eye with mechado sauce served with sweet potato mashed and sautéed French beans. 

Dessert included flourless chocolate decadence cake and pistachio macaron. Dalandan juice, coffee and tea were also served. 

The Philippines emerged as the best Southeast Asian team in the Olympics after closing out Paris 2024 with four medals.

The country wrapped up the Summer Games at the 37th spot with two gold medals from Yulo, who ruled the men's floor exercise and vault, and two bronze medals courtesy of Petecio and Villegas.

Marcos announced that he would give P1 million to each Filipino Olympian who participated in the 2024 Paris Olympics. —NB, GMA Integrated News