The Senate and the House of Representatives now have several resolutions congratulating and commending and praising Filipina weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz for bagging the Philippines’ first-ever Olympic gold medal in the on-going Tokyo games.
In filing House Resolution 1982, Philippine Olympics Committee president and House Deputy Speaker Abraham Tolentino said Diaz’s victory in the 55-kg. category in women’s weightlifting at the Tokyo Olympics showed that Filipinos can excel at the highest level on the world stage.
Tolentino said Diaz brought “tremendous pride and joy” to the entire country and described her as the Philippines’ “treasure,”.
“In this year’s Tokyo Olympics, the entire Philippines was in euphoria after Hidilyn Diaz won the country’s first-ever gold medal in the Olympics,” he stressed.
House Deputy Speaker Eduardo Villanueva also filed a still-unnumbered resolution congratulating, commending and honoring Diaz for bringing immense pride, honor, and joy to the nation for her historic performance in the Tokyo Olympics.
“We celebrate with the entire nation for the historic and unprecedented victory of Hidilyn Diaz, who has finally given the country its first Olympic gold medal. She brought the Philippines to the international sports map” and highlighted the world’s respect for Filipino, he said.
Diaz is part of the 19-delegate Filipino Olympian team who flew to Japan to compete in 11 various sports events. On top of winning the Philippines’ first Olympic gold, she also set an Olympic record by lifting a total of 224 kg. – 97 kg. in the “snatch” technique and 127 kg. in the “clean and jerk” genre.
“Hidilyn’s victory rekindles a new sense of hope and motivation among Filipino athletes and puts to rest doubts on the ability of the Filipino spirit to win and conquer any challenge, however insurmountable it may seem, in any international sporting event. The Filipino athlete can achieve anything!” Villanueva stressed.
In the Senate, Senator Pia Cayetano filed Senate Resolution 805 commending Diaz for bringing home the Philippines’ first Olympic gold medal since it joined the quadrennial meet in 1924.
“A ticket to the Olympics is very rare. But the Olympic gold is reserved only for the best. I’d like to believe that when she took her first step and was on the Olympic stage in 2008, at the tender age of 17, that gold was already hung around her neck,” Cayetano said.
Senator Joel Villanueva also filed Senate Resolution 804, which “honor(s) a Filipina who persevered and prevailed in her well-chosen battle in life.”
“Her victory is a win for our flag and the entire Filipino nation,” he added.
Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto commended Diaz for raising the spirits of 110 million Filipinos. “With one heave, she hoisted the Philippines for the first time atop the winner’s podium, for which her countrymen waited for almost 100 years,” Recto noted.
In her Senate Resolution 798, Senator Risa Hontiveros lauded Diaz for rising above the challenges laid along her path to winning the elusive Olympic gold medal for the country.
“The first Filipino Olympic champion is a woman. During one of the most difficult moments in world history, a Filipina did that against all odds – amid the pandemic, despite limited resources, and in spite of unnecessary political controversy. 97 years was worth the wait. The grace and dignity with which Hidilyn Diaz rose above the challenges laid in her path show that girls with dreams become women with vision,” Hontiveros said.
In a related development, lifetime free flights across the AirAsia network await Diaz as AirAsia Philippines’ reward for her sporting feat.
Spealing for AirAsia Philippines’ Group chief executive officer Tony Fernandes, spokesperson Steve Dailisan said they are “excited to fly Hidilyn, and help her realize her advocacies in empowering dreamers, believers and future torch bearers of Philippine sports.”
“Her story of rising above the challenges is something that should remind us to keep going even when the odds are not in favor,” Dailisan said, adding that AirAsia “is one with the Filipino people in rejoicing Diaz’s Olympic win” over China’s Liao Qiuyun in a neck and neck showdown.
AirAsia Philippines major shareholder Mikee Romero confirmed also Tuesday that Diaz will get P3 million from him.