Weightlifters under the Alsons Power–Hidilyn Diaz (APHD) Scholarship Program delivered an impressive showing in 2025, collecting a total of 49 medals across international, regional, and national competitions, underscoring the steady rise of the next generation of Filipino lifters.
Building on that strong momentum, the young athletes are now preparing for an intensive international campaign in 2026, with appearances lined up in continental championships, world events, and multi-sport games.
Named after Olympic champion Mam Hidilyn, formally Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo, the APHD Program is implemented through Alsons Power’s Zamboanga-based subsidiary, Western Mindanao Power Corporation (WMPC). By the end of 2025, the initiative will be supporting 12 scholars and is set to expand its international exposure efforts this year.
In 2025, APHD athletes competed in major global events sanctioned by the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF), including the Youth and Junior World Championships, as well as the Asian Weightlifting Championships and the Asian Youth and Junior Championships.
They also saw action in multi-sport meets such as the Southeast Asian Games and the Asian Games, while dominating the domestic scene with podium finishes at the Palarong Pambansa and various regional competitions across Mindanao.
Among the standout performers was Jhodie A. Peralta, who stamped her class in the youth ranks. She opened her international campaign with a two-gold sweep in the girls’ 53kg division before securing a three-gold haul in the women’s 55kg Youth category at the IWF Youth and Junior World Championships in Lima, Peru.
Peralta also made her Southeast Asian Games debut in Chonburi, Thailand, finishing fourth in the women’s 53kg class. She was the youngest member of the Philippine weightlifting team and the youngest competitor in her division.
The 2026 season begins with the Asian Weightlifting Championships in Ahmedabad, India from April 1 to 10, where sisters Rosegie and Rose Jean Ramos will spearhead the Philippine campaign.
Peralta’s busy calendar continues in April at the IWF Junior World Championships in Egypt, followed by the IWF Youth World Championships in Bogota, Colombia in June, where she will be joined by Alexsandra Ann Diaz.
In August, Peralta and Diaz will team up with Princess Jay Ann Diaz for the Asian Youth and Junior Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
The scholars are also set to compete in two of the sport’s marquee events. At the 20th Asian Games in Aichi–Nagoya, Japan in September, Peralta and the Ramos sisters will represent the Philippines. Shortly after, Peralta and Rosegie Ramos are scheduled to compete at the IWF World Championships in Ningbo, China from October 27 to November 8.
A major milestone awaits Peralta and Alexsandra Ann Diaz at the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal, from October 31 to November 13 — a pivotal step in their transition from youth standouts to future elite contenders.
Long-term athlete development
National team coach Allen Diaz attributed the medal surge to years of disciplined preparation and consistent exposure to high-level competition.
“This is the result of systematic training and learning how to perform under pressure,” Diaz said, adding that the Alsons Power Group’s backing — covering logistics, training requirements, and athlete welfare — has been crucial to the program’s success.
For Antonio Miguel B. Alcantara, chief executive officer of Alsons Power Group, the scholars’ achievements and their packed 2026 schedule demonstrate the impact of sustained private-sector investment in Philippine sports.
“These results show what consistent support can deliver beyond a single competition cycle,” Alcantara said. “Our goal is to help develop athletes who can compete repeatedly at the highest levels, while remaining grounded in discipline, education, and personal growth.”
