Several local celebrities took to social media to congratulate weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz for making history after winning the Philippines’ first-ever Olympic gold medal.
The Filipina Olympian's gold win roused the spirits and pride in thousands of Filipinos including showbiz personalities who outpoured congratulatory messages on social media to celebrate her victory.
"Nakakaiyak! What a proud moment for the Philippines! Thank you @diaz_hidilyn. I’m sure you’ve sparked a fire in little girls, in fact, in all children across the country that with hard work & dedication they can fulfill their biggest dreams!" Anne Curtis wrote in a tweet.
Angel Locsin, on the other hand, posted a picture of her and Diaz together with the Olympic silver medal in 2016, captioning that she hopes to take another photo with the gold medal champion.
"Sana makapagpa-picture ako uli sayo [emoji] Saludo @hidilyndiaz," Locsin said in her caption.
"Congratulations @hidilyndiaz All that hard work has finally paid off. First gold medal for the Philippines!" Derek Ramsay said on an Instagram post.
Lea Salonga, who tuned in during the duration of the sport, shared that she became emotional when she heard the national anthem as Diaz is being hailed as an Olympic champion.
"The most emotional part was hearing our National Anthem being played. Nic and I stood, hands on hearts, and cried. Mabuhay ka, @Diaz_Hidilyn!" Lea Salonga posted on Twitter.
Vice Ganda, Bea Alonzo, Carla Abellano, and Andi Eigenman are also among the many Filipino celebrities who celebrated Diaz's historic win on their Instagram stories.
On July 26, the 30-year-old Diaz reached the top of the Tokyo podium in the 55-kilogram category of women's weightlifting. This feat made her set an Olympic record with a combined weight of 224 kilograms, defeating world record holder Liao Qiuyun of China by only 1kg.
