WHEN IT RAINS, IT POURS: What’s In Store For Hidilyn Diaz Following Her Olympic Gold Quest

UPDATED: Hidilyn Diaz will be greeted by a grateful and uplifted nation when she comes back home on Wednesday, July 28, from Tokyo where she competed in weightlifting and clinched the elusive Olympic gold medal for the Philippines on Monday, July 26.

The rewards for her hard work and determination will come in various forms, including securing her future with the following:

·      Based on Republic Act Under Republic Act No. 10699 signed by the late former president Benigno Aquino III in 2015, Olympic gold medalists will receive P10 million and an Olympic gold medal of valor to be issued by the Philippine Sports Commission (POC).

·      P10 million each from business tycoons Manny V. Pangilinan and Ramon

·      P3 million from 1-PACMAN party-list Rep. Mikee Romero

·      P14-million peso worth of condominium unit in Eastwood, Quezon City from Megaworld

•     P2.5M from Zamboanga City, her hometown

•      P5 million from businessman Dennis Uy

• Lifetime free fuel from Phoenix Petroleum

•      P4 million worth of house and lot from Century Properties

•      House and lot from POC president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino

•      Lifetime unlimited free flights from AirAsia

• 80,000 free miles per year, for life from and Philippine Airlines

• Free milk tea for a year from Cha Tuk Chak

• Lifetime free dining from Tipsy Pig

• Brand new 13-seater Transvan from Foton Philippines

• P1-million worth of scholarship for her future family Eton International School

• "Atletang Magiting" award from Ayala Foundation with a Kia Stonic SUV from Kia Philippines and AC Motors as reward

 “This epic moment is about 97 years in the making, and this is our way of saying thanks to Hidilyn for making us all proud,” Megaworld Corporation chief strategy officer Kevin Tan said in a statement on Tuesday, July 27.

“We believe that it’s just right to give our first-ever Olympic gold medalist a home in our first-ever township, Eastwood City, where she can enjoy the township lifestyle with her family and loved ones,” he added.

The weightlifter, also an Air Force officer, admitted in an interview that she was also surprised when she set Olympic records as she cleared 127 kilograms in her final lift in the clean and jerk and finished with a total of 224 kgs. She won the gold in the 55 kgs category.

So far, the Philippines has won 11 medals in the Olympic Games – seven bronze, three silver and one gold.

‘Conversation piece’

Meanwhile, One News senior producer Anthony Andrew Divinagracia recalled how he has been avidly watching the Olympics since 1992, and the performance of Filipino athletes who sought to bring honor and glory to the country as they participated in the games.

He also looked back at Diaz's start in the Olympics, when she first appeared in the 2008 Beijing Games and 2012 London Games. Diaz was 14 at the time she made her debut in Beijing, and earned a wild card entry. Four years later, the weightlifting prodigy once again competed, but recorded a “did not finish” result.

 “Four years later in Rio, Hidilyn gave a nation of 110 million its first Olympic medal in 20 years — a silver that only few believers thought would be possible in a sport often dominated by China and the other Central Asian powers,” Divinagracia said in a Facebook post on Tuesday, referring to Diaz’s accomplishment of clinching a silver medal for the Philippines after a 20-year drought.

He observed Diaz’s performance in the Olympics, saying that she kept Filipinos “believing in suspended animation as she carried the hopes of a nation of 110 million on her broad shoulders yet again.”

“Every lift was a conversation piece, as if to tell us: ‘Relax lang kayo, ako bahala.’ China, world (No.) 1? Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, top contenders? No problem,” Divinagracia  wrote.

“Hidilyn oozed with guarded confidence and unyielding faith that destiny is upon her as she routinely stepped on the square platform a couple of times, calmly rewinding in her razor-sharp memory the relentless training that steeled her nerves, even as she yearned for country and family for more than a year,” Divinagracia said.

“It was all worth it -- all worth every drop of the proverbial tears and sweat, not to mention the constant bashing she had to endure fighting for her fellow athletes' rights. It was all worth it,” he added.

The House of Representatives will prepare a hero’s welcome for Diaz upon her return to the country.

Speaker Lord Allan Velasco said Diaz made the country proud and deserves honor and recognition for such a feat.

“Our heartfelt congratulations to Filipino weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz for her historic gold win in the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics. Thank you for claiming the country’s first Olympic gold medal. You have made all of us proud!” the Marinduque congressman said in a statement.

Romero also cheered Diaz’s victory, which he said serves as pride and inspiration to Filipinos who are facing adversities during this COVID-19 pandemic.

“Hidilyn's Olympic gold is exactly the morale boost our country needs right now as we wage the war against COVID-18 and get our country back on the road to economic recovery. To express the gratitude of all Filipinos, we have a hero's welcome waiting for her when she comes home,” Romero added.

But Romero urged Filipinos to continue supporting the other athletes who are still competing in Tokyo.

“I hope Hidilyn's golden feat of historic proportions will inspire our other Filipino Olympians still in contention. May they bring home more Olympic Golds and more Olympic medals,” stressed Romero, a national athlete himself and known sponsor of athletes.

The House leader earlier dangled cash incentives to national athletes who will bag medals in the Tokyo games - P3 million for a gold medal, P2 million for silver, and P1 million for bronze.

For his part, Majority Leader Martin Romualdez dubbed Diaz as a “national treasure” whose name will be “immortalized as the first Filipino to win a gold medal in the Olympics.”

“Hidilyn’s victory showcased the spirit of the Filipino to persevere against all odds. She displayed the grit and determination that our nation needs right now to be able to succeed in the global fight against COVID-19,” the Leyte congressman stressed.

Pwersa ng Bayaning Atleta party-list Rep. Jericho Nograles also congratulated Diaz, whose victory he said was an “incontrovertible proof that the Filipino can.”

“This is a product of Hidilyn’s passion, and the hard work of her team. From trainers to conditioning coaches past and present, from blood and Philippine Air Force families to all friends and supporters, this victory is won by everyone who helped. Let this victory be a lesson to all our children that only together can we achieve the greatest heights,” he pointed out.

Rep. Mannix Dalipe, the representative of the 2nd District of Zamboanga City where Diaz resides, lauded his constituent “for bringing pride and glory not just to the city of Zamboanga, but to the whole country.”

“You made history and we are super proud of you! Muchisimas gracias for your hardwork in bringing home our first-ever olympic gold medal,” he said. –  With Edu Punay