After securing the Philippines鈥 first-ever Olympic gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics on Monday, Hidilyn F. Diaz is being rewarded听with听numerous perks by private companies,听including听a condominium unit in Eastwood,听a house and lot anywhere in Luzon, and听a lifetime鈥檚 worth of free fuel and free flights.听听
鈥淭his epic moment is about 97 years in the making, and this is our way of saying thanks to听Hidilyn听for making us all proud. We believe that it鈥檚 just right to give our first-ever Olympic gold medalist a home in our first-ever township, Eastwood City, where she can enjoy the township lifestyle with her family and loved ones,鈥 said Kevin L. Tan,听chief听strategy听officer of property giant Megaworld Corporation, which is awarding the Olympian a condominium听worth听P14 million.听
PHirst听Park Homes, an affordable housing project under听Century Properties and Mitsubishi Corporation, has also granted Ms. Diaz听her听choice of a house-and-lot package worth P4 million in any of听PHirst鈥檚听eight听existing communities in Luzon.听
Adding to the medals and properties under her belt is free fuel for life and another P5 million from Phoenix Petroleum, the third largest oil company in the country. This will be given via听Siklab听Atleta听Pilipinas Sports Foundation, Inc., launched in 2018 as an initiative that helps athletes through sponsorships, one of which was granted to Ms. Diaz herself back in 2019.听
鈥淚t鈥檚 all the more special for us because she is a Phoenix-athlete whose tough journey has finally given our country its first Olympic gold medal,鈥 said Raymond听T.听Zorrilla, Phoenix Petroleum鈥檚听senior听vice-president. 鈥淥ur hope is that this is only the beginning of a golden era for Philippine sports and that more entities from all sectors extend support so we can have more golds in the future.鈥听
Ms. Diaz鈥檚 mobility in the air will also be guaranteed thanks to Philippine Airlines, which is giving her 80,000 free miles per year, for life; and the AirAsia Group, which is giving the 30-year-old Zamboanga native a lifetime of free flights. 听
鈥淲e want all ASEAN听to believe that they can always make it happen,鈥 said听Anthony Francis 鈥淭ony鈥 Fernandes, AirAsia Group鈥檚听chief听executive听officer. 鈥淎midst challenges and struggles as we go forth with recovery,听Hidilyn听reminds us that no matter how heavy the weight we are carrying, inner strength, perseverance and a heart of gold will help us power through.鈥听
These perks will be given in addition to the P10听million incentive mandated by the Philippine Sports Commission Act, or Republic Act No. 10699.听鈥斕Bront毛 H. Lacsamana听
