A GRAND WELCOME awaits Olympian weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz when she returns to the country straight from her silver medal finish win at the 2016 Rio Summer Games, ending a 20-year medal drought, President Rodrigo Duterte said Tuesday.
“As the President of this country, I’m overjoyed. Silver is silver, no matter what you saiy, so I’d like to congratulate Miss Diaz for the honor that she has given us, the country,” Duterte said during an early morning press conference in Davao City.
Duterte invited the 25-year-old weightlifter to Malacañang Palace so he can personally thank her.
“I’d like to wait for you and see you in the people’s Palace in Malacañang. Salamat [thank you] for your effort. Saludo po ako sa iyo [I salute you],” said Duterte.
A native of Zamboanga City, Diaz is the first female athlete to win an Olympic medal for the Philippines. She was also the first Filipino to get a medal in weightlifting, and the first non-boxer to win a medal for the Philippines since 1936.
Diaz, who hails from Zamboanga, is the first Filipina who won an Olympic medal since Mansueto “Onyok” Velasco’s silver medal for boxing at the 1996 Atlanta Games.
Diaz lifted 88 kilograms in the snatch, and 112 kilograms in the clean and jerk, for an overall lift of 200 kilograms.
In an interview at Rio de Jainero in Brazil, where the games are being held, Diaz called on those still in the running to continue the fight.
“Don’t give up. Continue the fight and give your best,” she said.
Diaz is expected to return this weekend with a P5-million reward for winning the silver medal in the Olympics, based on Republic Act 10699 signed by President Benigno Aquino III in November 2015.
Senate Minority Leader Ralph Recto said Tuesday that under the law, Diaz must get the P5-million cash reward tax-free aside from other benefits like free state college education and a generous retirement package.
Recto said coaches of national athletes will also receive cash incentives if they have personally trained and rendered service to the athletes or teams who win in international competitions at least six months ahead of the international competition.
Diaz’s coach will also go home P2.5 million richer as the new law hiking the incentives for victorious Filipino sportsmen cover coaches as well, he also said.
Recto said athletes and coaches who win in international competitions are qualified to receive scholarship benefits in the form of full tuition from state colleges or universities for a college or university degree. With Macon Ramos-Araneta
