BY WAYLON GALVEZ
True to her promise, Rio Olympics silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz gave food packages to her provincemates in Zamboanga City after receiving more than P40,000 from individuals who responded to her call to help the poor.
Still stranded in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia due to travel restrictions, Diaz was able to help 33 families who are running out of food stuff due to enhanced community quarantine.
Aside from the donations which her family in the South received, Diaz also donated a portion of her savings.
In her Instagram post, Diaz announced that members of her family, including her parents – Eduardo and Emelita – and several friends joined forces in purchasing the goods, repacking and distributing those to the families in need.
Diaz was undergoing training camp in KL since February and was not able to return due to travel restriction.
Diaz said that repackaging of food items was done at the gym she put up in 2017 from various cash incentives she received after her silver medal win in the Rio Olympics in Brazil four years ago.
“Nandun po yung mga family members ko, mga kapatid ko, mga asawa nila nagtulong-tulong. Parents ko tumulong din sa pagbili din ng food,” said Diaz.
Diaz posted photos, from the repackaging of food and distributions.
“Today, we distributed the food package to 33 affected families in Mampang, Zamboanga City,” said Diaz through her IG account @hidilyndiaz posted Thursday night.
“I want to thank all who donated and signed up for the weightlifting seminar.”
The ‘online’ seminar, Diaz said, will be in two separate batches for her to accommodate participants, which so far has attracted 36 individuals. She has received more than P40,000 donations, but she hopes to raise so she can others.
Diaz said that in the online seminar, she would be showing her own lifting techniques, and share as well her experiences and knowledge with the sport where she won gold medals in the last Roma World Cup in Italy, the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games here last year, and the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia.
Diaz also intends to give food packages in Metro Manila and in Bulacan, and possibly provide Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) to health workers.
