FROM Kuala Lumpur where he is now based, gymnastics coach Ricardo Otero never fails to tune in each time the Philippines' Carlos Yulo competes, may it be in the Olympics or world championships or the Asiad or Southeast Asian Games.
"Pinagmamalaki ko 'yan sa mga estudyante ko dito," says Otero. "Minsan, sinasabi ko sa kanila na kilala ko 'yan si Caloy. Ayaw nilang maniwala," he adds, breaking into a chuckle.
The truth is, Otero doesn't just know Yulo. He was among the first coaches to take Yulo under his wings, back when the country's first Olympic double gold medalist was a frail, hyper-active kid just beginning to fall in love with a sport that years later would bring him fame and untold riches.
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Yulo back then was among a group of less-privileged boys from Leveriza, Manila spotted in a public park infront of Manila Zoo and trained for free in the national facilities of the nearby Rizal Memorial Complex under a Gymnastics Association of the Philippines (GAP) program launched by former president Noel Buenaventura.
'Mga outsiders kasi kami. Ang dudungis pa namin noon," says Yulo, looking back on those early years at Rizal Memorial.
Otero, 53, was a veteran of five Southeast Asian Games. The highlight of his career came in the 1991 SEA Games which Manila hosted, winning a gold medal in the floor exercise, a silver in the team competition, and a bronze in the all-round.
He was put in charge of the national seniors team when he started his coaching career after retirement. When that seniors' team was turned over to Larry Reyes, Otero was tasked to train these less-privileged kids who, back then, were mostly confined in the sidelines and had no access to the equipment while members of the national pool and those who paid the fees trained.
"Ang mga unang humawak at nag-train sa kanila sina coach Brie at coach Liw," Otero recalls. "Pero noon, nasa gilid lang sila ng gym, tatumbling-tumbling, tatakbo-takbo, pero hindi sila nakakahawak ng equipment.
"Pina-train sa akin ni Mr. [Valerio] Lopez. Kaya nung ako na, nagkaroon na sila ng sariling training hours at nakakagamit na sila ng equipment."
The boys from Leveriza eventually became known as the 'Yagit Team,' which is the colloquial term for street urchins, even if they are not. Some dropped off and some other boys soon joined, but that early it was clear in Otero's mind who among the kids was special.
"Alam ko na [na may potential si Caloy]," Otero says. "Kita mo na kaagad."
Not all 'Yagit Team' boys were from poor families. Some, like the son of Ana Valdes Lim, became part of the group because he wanted to train with them. Lim, says Otero, was also among many parents who pitched in for the boys' training.
"Madami rin tumulong. Kasi nga libre lang [ang training], may mga parents, nagbibigay ng pagkain, ganon," says Otero. "Yang si Mang Boy [Rodrigo Frisco, Yulo's grandfather], ang tiyaga n'yan, hatid-sundo ang mga bata."
However, Otero admits not everyone in the gym was comfortable with the boys' presence.
"May ayaw rin sa kanila, umiiwas. Kasi nga naman, hindi naman nagbabayad [at] amoy araw [daw]," the Cebu City native admits. "Sobrang liksi nga kasi ng mga batang 'yan."
"Sabi ko nga sa kanila minsan, 'Tandaan n'yo ang araw na ito. Kapag nananalo na kayo at nagbigay ng karangalan sa lugar n'yo, kusa sila lalapit sa inyo.'
"Nagkatoo nga."
By Otero's recollection, no less than four members of the 'Yagit Team' - Jag Timbang, John Matthew Vergara, Ivan Cruz and Yulo - eventually became part of the national team. That Yulo was the most accomplished came as no surprise for the coach.
"Si Caloy, iba ang determination at iba ang mindset," says Otero. "Kapag may sinabi ka na gagawin, lahat gagawin. Yung iba, makikita mo dinadaya. Si Caloy iba. Kapag may pinagawa ka 100 reps, dadagdagan pa.
"Kapag may gustong gawin, pagtitiyagaan talaga n'ya para magawa," he continues. "Sabi nga nila, kailangan mo ng sipag at talent para magtagumpay, pero bihira mo makita ang masipag at may talent na bata. Si Caloy meron pareho."
Otero coached Yulo and Co. for about five years before leaving in 2013 for Malaysia, where he still works to this day as a coach in two Kuala Lumpur schools.
"Humirap na ang buhay," he says curtly when asked why he left.
The veteran coach was no longer by Yulo's side to witness his most famous pupil hit heights deemed unimaginable for a Filipino gymnast, but is filled with pride after every great Carlos Yulo accomplishment.
Coach and student finally crossed paths last November when Yulo went to Malaysia to shoot a commercial and Otero seized the opportunity to take the world champion to the school campus and present him before his startled students.
That smile says it all for coach that one proud day.
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