RIO Olympic Games silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz stands to receive P5 million from the Philippine government for bagging the silver medal in the women's 53kg weightlifting with a total of 200 kg at the Rio Olympic Games on Sunday.
GOH Chai Hin / AFP
The 25-year-old pride of Zamboanga City will receive the cash windfall from the government, according to Philippine Sports Commission chairman William Ramirez.
President Rodrigo Duterte will consider giving her a heroine’s welcome in Malacanang when she comes back, according to Ramirez, who broke the news to the President.
“She will get the P5 million that’s in accordance with the law. But President Duterte has other things in mind. We will discuss this,” said Ramirez.
Plans to buy land, build a house for her family and help kids that she is training to become weightlifters are also in Diaz’s mind.
“Inisip ko na kailangan ko ng pera para makapagpatayo ng bahay, makabili na lupa at matulungan ang mga batang gusto matuto dito,” added Diaz.
Diaz's silver ended the country's 20-year Olympic medal drought as she became the first ever female medalist from the Philippines in the games. It was also the first medal for the Philippines outside of boxing since 1936.
The last time the country won a medal in the games was in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics courtesy of boxer Mansueto “Onyok” Velasco, who earned a silver.
“Talagang grateful ako, at nagawa ko. Hindi ko akalaing ma-surpass ko iyung pressure na nandoon ka sa harap,” said Diaz in a radio interview.
“Lord, thank you,” said Diaz as she left the stage with her coaches inside the Pavilion of Riocentro in Rio de Janeiro.
Diaz has shifted to a lower weight clash after the London Olympics, from 58 kg to 53kg this time around.
She made it to Rio after winning a bronze medalist in the 2015 World Weightlifting Championships.