Tokyo, Japan, July 27, 2021: The pride of the Philippines Hidilyn Diaz is to be rewarded handsomely for her efforts in winning her country’s historic first Olympic Games gold medal on Monday in Tokyo.
The 30-year-old weightlifter from Zamboanga City was already due over 30 million peso (600,000 USD) in pre-announced incentives from the public and private sector for all medal-winners at Tokyo 2020 based on a sliding scale for gold, silver and bronze.
These cash awards are being added to all the time following her headline-making news around the world in winning the women’s 55kg gold medal in such dramatic circumstances.
National carrier Philippine Airlines is the latest to show their appreciation.
“Philippine Airlines congratulates Hidilyn Diaz for bagging the country’s first Olympic Gold! We will forever honor this feat by giving Miss Diaz 80,000 free miles per year, for life—making her not only the first Filipina Olympic gold medalist, but Philippine Airlines’ first forever flyer as well,” PAL said in a statement.
Health protocols in place for the Olympic Games require athletes and officials to leave Japan two days after the completion of their event, meaning Diaz will return to the Philippines on Wednesday.
"It's mandatory," stated Philippine Olympic Committee President Abraham "Bambol" Tolentino.
"But more important is that Hidilyn wants to be with her family, whom she hasn't seen for more than one and a half years now."
Diaz had been away from home for almost two years as she sacrificed her family time for unimpeded training in Malaysia, where she was also forced to stay for even longer due to the pandemic. All that, however, has definitely paid off - figuratively and literally.
Based on the latest count, she will be collecting a guaranteed P40.5 million (810,000 USD) in cash - a number that may balloon to as much as P50 million (1 million USD), according to Tolentino.
She has also been awarded a house and lot in the scenic mountain resort of Tagaytay city, condo units, a car and other gifts to set her up for life in recognition of the glory she has brought to the country, according to ESPN5.