Filipino businessman Chavit Singson pledges $87K to Olympic champion Carlos Yulo for ‘family unity’

Filipino gymnast Carlos Yulo. Photo from Carlos’ Instagram

This pledge was announced in a video interview posted on Singson’s Facebook page on Thursday, as reported by The Manila Times. Singson stated in the video: “If they [Carlos and his family] are together, I will give them 5 million pesos.”

He explained that his gesture is not just an appreciation for Yulo’s performance at the Paris 2024 Olympics but also a recognition of the role of family and community support in achieving and sharing success.

“I aim to convey a powerful message that an individual’s success is never theirs alone,” he stated. “It is shared by those who stand by them, offering love, guidance, and unwavering support.”

This offer follows a highly publicized dispute between Carlos and his mother Angelica Poquiz Yulo, which some suggest overshadowed his Olympic achievements, per the South China Morning Post.

The disagreement stemmed from Carlos’ claims in a TikTok video released on Aug. 6 that his mother had mismanaged his finances, misled him about his gymnastics incentives, and falsely accused his girlfriend, content creator Chloe San Jose, of financially exploiting him.

Angelica held a press conference on Aug. 7, during which she expressed her remorse and cited her concerns for her children’s future as her reason for moving Carlos’s funds to another account.

“The money was given to me,” she said at the press conference, according to the New York Post. “As a mother, I was worried that my child might have financial problems in the future. So I invested it under my name.”

Carlos, 24, is celebrated as the most accomplished Filipino gymnast in history, according to Forbes. He is the second Filipino to win a gold medal and the first to secure multiple golds at Olympics.

Beyond Singson’s pledge, a coalition of government entities, prominent business leaders, and major Philippine companies have collectively offered Yulo more than 58 million pesos in cash and gifts. These offerings include a condominium in Manila and lifetime supplies of free buffets, baked mac and cheese, and chicken inasal.

Singson, 83, served as the mayor of Narvacan city in the Philippines, from 2019 to 2022. He also held the position of governor of Ilocos Sur province, where Narvacan is located, during multiple terms: from 1972 to 1986, 1992 to 2001, 2004 to 2007, and 2010 to 2013.

Additionally, he was the Deputy National Security Adviser for the Philippine government in 2008.