Weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz, a silver medalist in the last edition of the Olympics in 201 in Rio, was almost in tears as she watched a video tribute to the past Filipino Olympic medal winners.
“Halos maiyak ako, nag flash sa mind ko iyung winning moment and yung paghihirap na dinaanan ko,” said Diaz, who was one of the guest honors as during the official launch of the Siklab Atleta Pilipinas Sports Foundation yesterday at the Century Park Hotel in Manila.
It rekindled the fire in Diaz to go for the elusive gold. “Naramdaman ko uli na narito kami para manalo, hindi para samin, kundi para sa bayan.”
Diaz and other Olympic hopefuls in the Tokyo 2020 took the spotlight as Siklab Foundation revive a “Sports Godfathership” program wherein the top priority athletes will be given ample support in their quest to give the country its first ever gold medal.
Siklab Foundation, with Presidential Adviser for Sports Dennis Uy at the helm, is putting its foot forward to encourage private companies to finance selected elite athletes under the program Siklab Atleta.
“The road towards bringing home the first Olympic gold is not easy, but with the support of everybody, we may have chance,” said Uy during the launch, which was also attended by top sports officials led by Philippine Sports Commission chairman Butch Ramirez and newly elected Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) Ricky Vargas.
Uy’s Phoenix Petroleum Corporation reportedly put a seed money of P1 billion pesos and is expected to snowball especially since Vargas is connected with the MVP Group of Companies, owned by sportsman Manny Pangilinan, who known for its vast support to sports.
So far, 16 corporate sponsors namely SM investments Corp., Belle Corporation, RFM Corporation, Alaska Milk Corp., Tanduay Distillery, JG Summit Holdings, Inc., Megawide Construction Corp., International Container Terminal Services, Inc., San Miguel Corporation, PLDT, Unilab, Ulticon Builders Inc., Phoenix Petroleum, 2Go, Megaworld Corporation, Robinsons Land Corporation and Philippine International Air Terminal Corp., have pledged their support.
Aside from Diaz, athletes who will get financial support are Nicole Tagle of archery, Eric Shawn Cray, Trenton Beram and EJ Obiena (athletics); James Dieparine and Nicole Oliva (athletics); Eumir Marcial and John Marvin Tupas (boxing); Marella Salamat, Arianan Dormitrio and Sienna Fines (cycling); Hermie Macanaras and OJ Fuentes (Canoe-Kayak); Carlos Yulo andKaitlin De Guzman (gymnastics); Kiyomo Watanabe, Mariya Takahashi, Shugen Nagano and Kesei Nakano (judo); OJ Delos Santos (karate) and Kim Mangobang (triathlon); Philmar Alipayo and Edito Alcala (surfing); Elaine Alora and Pauline Lopez (taekwondo); Geylord Coveta and Yancy Kabigan (windsurfing) and another from weighlifting, Kristel Macrohon.
Also making its appearance at the launch was 2019 Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee Chairman and Department of Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano.
“We may disagree, we may argue but for as long as we are united in the goal of helping our athletes, then we are good,” said Cayetano.
He also said that athletes who have given pride to the Philippines should be taken care of after their heydays.
“Yes the country will “use” you, but it is our commitment to you that we will never forget you. We will take care of you.”
Philippine Sports Commission Chairman Butch Ramirez expressed his gratitude towards the private sector “whose partnership is important to help our athletes succeed.”
Philippine Olympic Committee President Ricky Vargas echoed Ramirez on his message of unity saying “it takes a whole community to support an athlete.” He also said that all sports stakeholders must unite to find the best athletes to represent the country.
Newly-elected POC Chairman, Congressman Bambol Tolentino intimated that the athletes’ “pusong pinoy” is what he feels when he watches a live sporting match, “but in this room, with all of you sports leaders and heroes, dama ang buong pusong pinoy”
The Philippines has not yet won an Olympic gold medal since competing in the inaugural in 1924. It has so far bagged 10 medals—three silver and four bronze medals.
Diaz became the third Filipino silver medalist in the Olympics and the first female athlete from the Philippines to bring home an Olympic medal—a feat she did in women’s weightlifting event in Rio de Janeiro in 2016.
That was 20 years after boxer Mansueto Velasco did the feat in the 1996 Olympics.
PSC commissioner Mon Fernandez said it’s about time the athletes take priorities as “we leave all stones unturned in giving glory for our country, especially our quest for our first ever gold medal.”