From Free Fuel to Free Flights: The Private Sector’s Lavish Prizes for Double Olympic Medalist Hidilyn Diaz

Intensive training in exile, sleepless nights, and countless sacrifices.

As you read the statement above, you get an idea of just how hard it is to become an athlete, but it takes more than a few words to understand the weight that Filipino weightlifting veteran Hidilyn Diaz carried to get through, achieve professional growth and development as a world-class athlete, and fulfill her dream to make history, which she did. Diaz took a surprise silver in the 53-kilogram class in the 2016 Rio Olympics and continued to strive for greatness to achieve excellence in sports.

Photo Credit: CNNPhilippines.com

Just this Monday, the 30-year-old airwoman ended the Philippines’ 97-year Olympic drought by bringing home the first-ever Olympic gold medal of the country as she bested her eight other competitors in the women’s 55-kilogram weightlifting category in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Diaz clinched the top spot of the category by lifting an Olympic record of a combined weight of 224 kilograms. The four-time Olympian completed her gold medal conquest with 127 kilograms in the clean and jerk in her final attempt, a weight she has never successfully lifted before.

Diaz’s accomplishments make her the first Filipina athlete to win double Olympic medals.

Photo Credit: Insider.com

With Diaz’s stunning victory, she is entitled to P10 million from the national government as mandated by law, but the private sector is also taking part in rewarding the Olympic hero. Business leaders and local brands rushed to pledge incentives and congratulate Diaz for bringing such pride and honor to the Philippines.

Here is a list of incentives and rewards that await the country’s first-ever Olympic gold medalist.

Cash Prizes:

    ● P10 million
Cash incentive from the national government as mandated by Republic Act 10699, also known as the National Athletes and Coaches Benefits and Incentives Act.

    ● P10 million
Pledged by business tycoon Manny Pangilinan through the Manny V. Pangilinan (MVP) Sports Foundation

    ● P10 million
Pledged by San Miguel Corp. (SMC) president and CEO Ramon Ang

    ● P3 million
Pledged by Deputy House Speaker Rep. Mikee Romero of 1-PACMAN Partylist

    ● P2.5 million
Cash incentive from the local government of Diaz’s hometown, Zamboanga City as mandated by law

    ● P5 million cash
Pledged by Davao-based business tycoon Dennis Uy

Perks and Incentives:

    ● P14 million worth condo unit at Eastwood, Quezon City
Pledged by Andrew Tan-led property developer Megaworld Corp.

    ● A house and lot package worth P4 million at any PHirst Park Homes community of her choice
Awarded by Century Properties Group

    ● House and lot in Tagaytay
Courtesy of Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino

    ● Lifetime free flights across Asia, Australia, the Middle East, and the United States
Granted by AirAsia Philippines

    ● 80,000 free miles per year for life
Offered by Philippine Airlines (PAL)

    ● Free fuel for life
Pledged by Dennis Uy-led Phoenix Petroleum through its Siklab Atleta Pilipinas Sports Foundation Inc.

    ● Brand new 13-seater Transvan
Gifted by Foton Philippines

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte will also give a cash incentive to the 30-year-old Zamboanga native.

Other smaller local brands and restaurants have also promised perks for the Olympic gold medal winner, including Cha Tuk Chak, Kanto Freestyle Breakfast, Burger Garage in San Juan City, and Tipsy Pig Gastropub.

More are expected to be added to the list of brands and companies providing gifts and incentives for the Olympic record holder. According to a report by CNN Philippines, GoNegosyo founder Joey Concepcion expects the cumulative incentives for Diaz to reach up to P100 million from various brands.

Photo Credit: https://www.facebook.com/PhilippineAirlines

Hidilyn Diaz is set to return to the Philippines on Wednesday, two days after her record-breaking weightlifting feat at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, due to the mandatory protocol set by the quadrennial meet.

Source:
https://www.olympic.ph
https://cnnphilippines.com/sports

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