MALACAÑANG congratulated Filipino weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz on Monday for winning a silver medal in the 2016 Rio Olympics, ending the 20-year medal drought of the Philippines in the Olympics.
"The Philippines and the President are honored and proud of Hidilyn Diaz's silver medal win at the Rio Olympics," Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said in a statement.
"We extend our sincerest congratulatioms and celebrate the end of medal drought. Truly, change has come," he added.
In a separate statement, Communications Secretary Martin Andanar took pride of the victory of Diaz, who hails from Mampang, Zamboanga City.
Andanar said Diaz's inspiring story "is the story of Filipinos."
"Hers is about overcoming shyness but for an inspired nation, her road to Rio is a journey of grit, patience and determination, which ended a 20-year long medal drought for the Philippines," Andanar said.
"Congratulations, Hidilyn, our first Olympic medalist from Mindanao. We are all proud of you, hurrah!"
Senators file resolutions commending Diaz
Senators Juan Edgardo Sonny Angara and Cynthia Villar on Monday filed two separate resolutions congratulating Diaz.
"She is also the first Olympic medalist to benefit from the National Athletes and Coaches Benefits and Incentives law or Republic Act 10699 which we authored and sponsored last year. Under the new law, she will be receiving P5 million in cash incentive tax-free. Kung nanalo siya noong 2012, P2.5 million lang ang matatanggap niya,” said Angara, vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Sports.
Villar, for her part, said Diaz’s success shows that with hard work, no dream is too big to be realized.
"Our youth should look up to her example as someone who, just like them, experienced failure but was never discouraged to keep fighting for her dreams," Villar said.
The 25-year-old Diaz competed in the women's 53-kilogram (kg) Group A weightlifting contest on Day Two of the Rio Olympic Games.
Diaz finished with a score of 200 kg. Her victory is next after Mansueto "Onyok" Velasco's triumph at the 1996 games in Atlanta.
Diaz is one of 13 Philippine athletes, competing in eight sports in the Summer Games. (Sunnex)
