Pres. Duterte Hails Heroism of Olympian Diaz; Gives PHP2M Additional Prize

Davao City — President Rodrigo Duterte has given Rio Olympics silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz an additional PHP2 million for bringing great pride and honor to the Philippines.

“I am overjoyed. It is a distinct honor that she brought home the honor and all countries would be looking at us,” Pres. Duterte said when she presented Diaz before media in a late Thursday night briefing.

Diaz arrived at the Panacan Presidential Guesthouse almost 10 p.m. Thursday for a courtesy call to the President.

Pres. Duterte said it is with “great pride” to share the honor with the Olympian. Diaz thanked the President for the additional cash prize. She now has a total PHP7 million.

Diaz said she would use the money to buy a lot near her residence in hometown Zamboanga and put up a gym for weightlifting.

Winning the silver medal shows that Filipino athletes could still win in the Olympics, she said.

Pres. Duterte said Diaz’s win was a major surprise for the Philippines. Diaz brought home the Philippines first Olympic medal after a 20-year drought since 2008.

The 25-year-old Diaz, who stands at 1.54-metre (5ft 1/2in), bag a medal at the 2016 Olympic Games and became the first woman from the Philippines ever to win an Olympic medal.

Diaz took the silver in the 53kg class, the first ever by a Filipino weightlifter. It was also the first Olympic medal for the Southeast Asian nation since boxer Mansueto Velasco took a silver in the 1996 games. She is the country’s first Olympic medalist from Mindanao.

Diaz’s victory also has monetary benefits as Philippine law provides a five million peso prize to Olympic silver medalists.

In an interview in Manila, Diaz said she is not retiring as an athlete and she is aiming for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

“Ayoko pang mag-retire. Kaya ko pa, kung susuportahan pa ako [I am not retiring yet. I can still do it, especially if I get the support],” she said beaming with pride. (PNA) JMC/LCM/LDP/EDS