Cover Carlo Paalam of Team Philippines prepares for his fight during the Men's Flyweight (48-52kg) final bout with Galal Yafai of Team Great Britain on day fifteen of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Kokugikan Arena in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo: Buda Mendes / Getty Images)
Carlo Paalam of Team Philippines prepares for his fight during the Men's Flyweight (48-52kg) final bout with Galal Yafai of Team Great Britain on day fifteen of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Kokugikan Arena in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo: Buda Mendes / Getty Images)
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Meet Filipino boxer Carlo Paalam, who is set to represent the Philippines for the second time at the Paris 2024 Olympics
We’re counting down the days to the 2024 Paris Olympics and rooting for our Filipino delegates to win gold medals.
One of our representatives, boxer Carlo Paalam, is shaping up to be one of the most-watched athletes on our radar, joining the ranks of legendary fighters Manny Pacquiao, Onyok Velasco, and Flash Elorde. After winning his first Southeast Asian Games gold medal at the 2019 Southeast Asian Games, the Bukidnon native made his Olympic debut at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. There, he earned his countrymen’s pride when he won a silver medal in the flyweight division.
Here are a few things to know about the professional boxer.
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He used to scavenge for garbage and metal scraps
As a child living in Cagayan de Oro, where his father worked at a bakery, Carlo Paalam wound up as a garbage scavenger at a local landfill. This would later earn him the nickname “Pipi Lata,” or “tin-can crusher”. The moniker was given to him by one of his first coaches, two-time Olympian Roberto Jalnaiz.
He is currently coached by both Elmer Pamisa, his personal instructor, and Ronald Chavez, who spearheads the national team.
He began his career at a very early age
He began his boxing journey at seven, the same age he won his first match and used his winnings to purchase rice for his family. Only two years later, he was spotted by sports officials at a local competition, who convinced him to take up the sport as a career. Paalam was welcomed to the Philippine national team in 2013.
See also: Unforgettable firsts and inspiring journeys: Asian athletes’ milestones at the Olympics
This will be his second shot on the Olympics stage
Above Carlo Paalam of Team Philippines celebrates victory over Ryomei Tanaka of Team Japan during the Men's Fly (48-52kg) semi final on day thirteen of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Kokugikan Arena in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo: Ueslei Marcelino - Pool/Getty Images)
Carlo Paalam of Team Philippines celebrates victory over Ryomei Tanaka of Team Japan during the Men's Fly (48-52kg) semi final on day thirteen of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Kokugikan Arena in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo: Ueslei Marcelino - Pool/Getty Images)
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At age 23, standing at 1.63m, Carlo Paalam was tagged to join his country’s delegation at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. He beat two opponents and won the quarter-finals over Uzbekistan’s Shakhobidin Zoirov. Later, he earned his place in the flyweight final with a win over Japan’s Tanaka Ryomei. However, he lost to Great Britain’s Galal Tafai, cementing his place in silver.
He and his wife welcomed a baby girl in 2023
Paalam is happily married to wife Earlshane Padilla. In June 2023, he they welcomed a baby daughter called Carlshay Celeste Paalam. He almost missed his chance to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympics, skipping the chance to attend a US training camp in order to spend time with his family.
He and Nesthy Petecio will lead the Philippine delegation in the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics
Carlo Paalam and fellow boxer Nesthy Petecio are due to lead the Philippine delegation in the upcoming opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics. They will be joined by 14 other athletes, including fencer Samantha Catantan, gymnast Aleah Finnegan, and swimmers Kayla Sanchez and Jarod Hatch.
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About
Julianna has been interested in leading a literary life since she first read Frances Hodgson Burnett's A Little Princess at eight. Before working with Tatler, she was an archive intern at The Center for Fiction in Brooklyn, New York. She is a textbook Pisces who devotes most of her spare time to her crochet projects, watching classic films, and going through her never-ending pile of unread books. She studied creative writing, global literature and art history at Sarah Lawrence College, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 2022. Toni Morrison, Nora Ephron, Clarice Lispector and Jia Tolentino are among her all-time favourite writers.
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Julianna writes about fashion, beauty, sustainability, and the arts. She is always keen on conducting interviews with talented women who are changing the game in their respective fields.
For event invites and story leads, hit her up at julianna.cabili@tatlerasia.com
