Weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz, the country’s first ever Olympic gold medalist, called on the Filipino people to vote wisely in the 2022 polls.
Diaz, who was conferred the title of adopted daughter of Negros Occidental at rites at the Capitol Social Hall in Bacolod City on Friday, September 10, said while she cannot endorse candidates because she is with the military, she is urging Filipinos to choose candidates based on their values.
“We should choose candidates based on the values they uphold because they will be the ones who will guide us and serve the people, so choose wisely,” said Diaz, who is a staff sergeant in the Philippine Air Force.
She also urged the youth to register to vote.
Diaz, who was accompanied by her coach Julius Naranjo and Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas (SWP) president Monico Puentevella, was presented a copy of the Negros Occidental Sangguniang Panlalawigan resolution naming her an adopted daughter, by provincial consultant Rafael Coscolluela and provincial administrator Rayfrando Diaz.
The SP, in its resolution, said the entire Filipino nation is proud of Diaz for bringing pride and glory to the Philippines through hard work, determination and focus.
Diaz thanked the Negros Occidental officials for recognizing her win “that hopefully will inspire the youth and the Filipino people amid the COVID-19 pandemic”.
“This is also where I started,” she said, pointing out that she competed in the National Open in 2004 and the Southeast Asian Games in 2005 in the province.
She said her gold medal is proof that the Filipino can win in the Olympics and excel.
“We just need to dream high,” she said.
Diaz said she achieved her dream despite fears that the Tokyo Olympics would not take place amid the COVID-19 pandemic with God’s help, and the support of a lot of people, including Puentevella.
“We just have to trust in God, and ourselves that we are capable of reaching our dream and never give up,” she said.
She is donating P1 million of her prize money to purchase equipment for grassroots weightlifting programs in various parts of the country, Puentevella said.
Earlier, the SWP donated P600,000 in weightlifting equipment to Negros Occidental to train new weightlifting talents, Puentevella said.
He said there is a plan to construct a Hidilyn Diaz gym for the weightlifting athletes of Negros Occidental next to the Negros Occidental Multi-Purpose Activity Center in Bacolod City.
Rayfrando Diaz said the provincial government is “fully committed to develop athletes that can follow in the footsteps of our sports hero Hidilyn Diaz. She has shown to us that the Filipino can excel in weightlifting.”
The Olympic champion said she is thankful for the numerous rewards given to her for winning the gold, which she did not expect.
As an athlete you aim to win not because of the financial rewards but for love of country and weightlifting, she said.
Asked how wealth and fame has affected her following her gold medal win, Diaz said: “I go back to my core values which are God, sports and family.”
She said she will continue with her weightlifting career and push other athletes to also achieve their dreams
To qualify for the Olympics athletes need to earn it, they really need to work hard, she said.
“Sports have no gender, all of us can excel here,” she said.
Diaz said she hopes her win will inspire local governments to support sports as a path towards nation building.
She is now training for the world weightlifting championship in Uzbekistan on December 7, Puentevella, former Bacolod mayor and representative, said.*