The elder Paalam, a construction worker, said he is happy that his son reached his dream years after his career started in the “Boxing in the Park” at the old Amphitheater in Cagayan de Oro.
Stephanie Sepulveda, girlfriend of Carlo Paalam, breaks into tears as her older brother Kyle embraces her after the judges proclaimed her boyfriend as winner. MindaNews photo by FROILAN GALLARDO
From the Boxing in the Park, Paalam was recruited to the boot camp of Mayor Oscar Moreno where he began his professional training.
Part of his training included carrying weights made of concrete and old truck tires.
“I never forgot when he brought to me his winnings of P150. Carlo wanted to give it all to me but I told him to keep it so he can buy soap and something to eat,” the elder Paalam said.
He said their family is poor that the electricity in his house in Upper Carmen was disconnected because he could not pay the bills.
During the fight Thursday, Paalam and two of her daughters went to watch the game in the house of Eddie Sepulveda, father of Carlo’s girlfriend, Stephanie.
“The family of Carlo is always here in the house every time he has a televised fight.[]
Our families have become that close,” the 21-year-old Stephanie said.
Her father Eddie, a small sari-sari store owner, said he does not mind because Carlo has been good to his daughter and family.
Eddie said they became so close that they shared the dream of seeing Carlo get the gold in the Tokyo Olympics.
Eddie, however, was worried of the crowd that gathered in his home that he imposed the use of masks on everyone. Aside from the Sepulveda and Paalam families among the few dozen people inside the house cheering loudly were neighbors, including children.[]
