A house and lot on top of the P5-million cash incentive await Hidilyn Diaz when she returns home on August 11 from her memorable stint in the Rio de Janeiro Olympics where she bagged the silver medal in weightlifting.
Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chair Butch Ramirez on Monday said aside from this bonanza, Diaz will also be received by President Duterte in Malacañang upon her return.
Ramirez said he is now in communication with the Palace to finalize details of the reception by the country’s Chief Executive to a returning sports heroine.
The PSC chief said developer 8990 Deca Homes is giving Diaz a house and lot for her accomplishment. PAGCOR, he added, is also being asked to prepare the R5-M cash bonus for the lady athlete.
The 25-year-old Diaz won the silver medal in weightlifting early Monday morning to end the Philippines’ medal drought in the Olympiad that spanned 20 years.
The last time the country won a medal in the quadrennial meet was when Mansueto “Onyok” Velasco took the silver in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.
For taking home the silver, Diaz also became the first Filipina to win a medal in the Olympiad. She is also the first athlete from Mindanao to annex an Olympic medal.
“Today is a great day for Philippine sports. The government thru the Philippine Sports Commission congratulates Hidilyn Diaz for winning the silver, our first Olympic medal in 20 years,” Ramirez said.
“Hidilyn proved that we Filipinos can excel against the best in the world. The lady athlete from Mindanao just made her country proud,” he added.