Senate awards P500,000 as cash incentive to Olympic silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz on Monday.
The Olympic silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz is just counting her cash incentives after gaining the title as the first Filipina to save the Philippines from 20-year medal drought in the popular sporting event in the world.
Diaz is the first Filipina to win an Olympic medal, and the first non-boxer to win a medal for the Philippines since 1986, where Onyok Velasco got the silver medal.
Diaz’s participation in Rio de Janeiro is her third time in the Summer Games, following her failed dreams in Beijing in 2008 and in London in 2012.
After returning home from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Diaz received P5 million from the Philippine Sports Commission by virtue of the National Athletes and Coaches Benefits and Incentives Act. She also received P2 million from President Rodrigo Duterte who announced the additional amount when he personally met the athlete in Davao City.
An undetermined amount from Senator Manny Pacquiao was also given to Diaz while Deca Homes also awarded Diaz with a house and lot.
The Zamboanga City government, Diaz’s hometown, also gave the weightlifter P500,000 more when she received the hero’s welcome, a day after she returned to the Philippines.
On Monday, September 5, Diaz received another cash incentive from the officials of the country.
The Philippine Senate awarded the Filipina weightlifter with P500,000 following her silver medal finish in the 53-kg event.
Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III turned over the cash reward to Diaz, who hails from Zamboanga City in Mindanao.
Pimentel said, “She is the toast of the country, a courageous girl who trained hard to pursue a dream.”
“Her never-say-die spirit should inspire us to aim higher,” Pimentel added. “Her achievement is an example of the courage and indomitable will of the Filipino athlete.”
After Diaz won the medal for the country, the Senate adopted Resolution No. 83, introduced by Sen. Manny Pacquiao. The resolution commended Diaz for her achievement in the Rio Games.