Carlo Paalam's family thanks the boxer for making the Philippines proud

Filipino boxer Carlo Paalam claiming the silver medal in the men’s flyweight event of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics made his country and his family back home super proud.

"Kahit silver lang iyon, para sa amin, gold na rin iyon," his mother, Josephine Paalam, told "Unang Balita" on Monday.

[That silver is as good as gold for us]

"Lumaban siya hanggang sa matapos ang three rounds kaya nagpasalamat talaga kami na kahit batang bata pa siya…. kasi pangarap talaga niya na masungkit 'yung gold, pero binuhos naman talaga niya ang kakayahan sa kanyang sarili," she added.

[He was able to fight until he finished all three rounds, that's why we're so thankful because, although he dreamed of winning the gold since he was a kid, he was able to give his all]

Before becoming a national athlete, Carlo Paalam sold metal scraps to help earn money for his family.

He took his fight all the way to the gold medal fight of the men's flyweight event at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where he lost via split decision to Galal Yafai of Great Britain.

Josephine admitted she couldn't bear to watch Carlo take hits at the boxing match, but she and her husband, Pio Rey, knew he was doing it all for his country.

“Parang hindi ko matiis 'yung pag sinuntok siya, parang sinuntok din ang puso ko kaya nagpe-pray lang talaga ako," Carlo's mother said.

"At saka para sa amin kahit binuhos na niya lahat ang kanyang kakayahan sa paglaban, pinaglaban niya talaga ang Pilipino sa buong mundo,” she added.

[I can't bear to watch him take hits. Every strike is like a strike to my heart so all I do is pray. Besides, we knew that he used all his strength into his fight, and he really did fight for every single Filipino around the world.]

— Margaret Claire Layug/LA, GMA News