BY ATHENA PABDER
Back in 2019, athlete Hidilyn Diaz appealed for help from private corporations to finance her team’s Olympic journey. Two years later, the female weightlifter is raking in millions of pledges after snatching Philippines’ first Olympic Gold.
Here’s how much (so far) Hidilyn is expected to get, on top of her salary as an athlete, possible product endorsements, and other bonuses.
- P 10 million- pursuant to Republic Act 10699 or National Athletes and Coaches Benefits and Incentives Act, which was signed into law in 2015.
- P10 million – a gift from San Miguel Corporation’s Ramon Ang for any athlete who gets a gold in the 2020 Tokyo games
- P5 million- cash incentive from the Philippine Sports Commission for breaking records in international sports
- P5 million – from Udenna Group’s Dennis Uy
- P3 million- from Max’s Restaurant group of companies
- P3 million- from House Deputy Speaker Mikee Romero
- P3 million- from President Rodrigo Duterte from his office’s funds
- 5 million – from the government of Zamboanga City, which is Hidilyn’s hometown
- P1 million- Universidad de Zamboaga, of which Hidilyn is an alumnus
Private companies also offered perks to Diaz, who now enjoys lifetime free flights from AirAsia and 80,000 miles a year forever from the Philippine Airlines; free lifetime gas from Phoenix Petroleum that she can use on her free 13-seater van from Foton and an SUV fit for a champ from Kia Philippines and AC Motors via Ayala Foundation.
When not training for the next games, Hidilyn can rest in her P14-M condo in Eastwood, gifted by developer Megaworld; or have a mini party with friends in a Tagaytay resthouse, which was pledged by Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino.
Restaurants also offered free dining perks for Hidilyn, who famously craved milk tea and cheesecake after her historic win.
And while it appears that it’s all rainbows and sunshine for the new champ, remember that she worked her way to victory. As Paolo Del Rosario said in his caption in the now-iconic photo of Diaz’s bruised and calloused hands: “there are more wounds than what we see.”
Congratulations, Hidilyn! We are eternally grateful for the good vibes you’ve made for our country.
