As fuel prices continue to climb worldwide, an old promise made to Olympic champion Hidilyn Diaz has resurfaced online, sparking renewed discussion about incentives given to athletes and how corporate commitments are interpreted over time.
The debate gained traction as global oil prices surged due to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. Amid rising gasoline costs, social media users recalled the “free fuel for life” reward given to Diaz after her historic gold medal victory at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The weightlifting star made history as the first Filipino athlete to win an Olympic gold medal, capturing the nation’s attention and admiration.
In recognition of her achievement, the Davao-based fuel firm Phoenix Petroleum announced a series of incentives for Diaz in 2021, including cash rewards and what was described as a lifetime supply of free fuel. However, the topic resurfaced years later after Diaz’s manager, Noel Ferrer, clarified in a Facebook post that the fuel support was only provided for two years.
According to Ferrer, Diaz personally confirmed that the fuel assistance stopped after the second year following her Olympic victory. Ferrer emphasized that the original announcement from the company had been presented publicly as a lifetime incentive without clearly stated conditions.
“Thanks, but to be accurate, it wasn’t for a lifetime. I’m not sure whose lifetime the people had in mind,” Ferrer wrote, echoing Diaz’s remarks while calling for greater accountability regarding public promises made to national athletes.
The issue quickly spread online as Filipinos discussed the matter in the context of rising fuel costs and the way athletes are supported once they leave the spotlight. Ferrer also noted that Diaz continues to contribute to sports development and education in the Philippines even after her Olympic success.
In response, Phoenix Petroleum released a statement explaining that the company had honored its commitments and supported Diaz even before her gold medal win. The firm said it provided financial assistance, organized donation drives for athletes, and delivered two years of fuel support to the Olympic champion.
However, the company said the fuel donation arrangement ended after Diaz entered into a partnership with another fuel brand, which created a conflict in brand alignment. According to the company, such corporate donations typically include conditions related to sponsorship agreements and brand partnerships.
Despite the controversy, the company stressed that it continues to respect Diaz and remains proud of its contributions to Filipino athletes.
Meanwhile, Diaz remains an influential figure in Philippine sports. After her Olympic triumph, she earned a management degree from De La Salle–College of Saint Benilde and later pursued culinary studies. Today, she continues to inspire young athletes while teaching at the University of the Philippines Diliman’s College of Human Kinetics.