Resolutions of commendation and congratulations started flooding the House of Representatives as many jubilant lawmakers aired their elation over Filipino weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz’s gold medal feat in the Tokyo Olympics.
Philippine Olympics Committee president and Tagaytay Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino led dozens of Lower House members in filing proposed resolutions that pictured Diaz as the country’s eminent sports heroine for capturing country’s first ever gold medal in an Olympic game.
Rizal 2nd District Representative Fidel Nograles proposed to award her with the prestigious Congressional Medal of Achievement for her historic victory in Japan.
The six-man Makabayan bloc joined their pro-administration colleagues by filing a resolution citing not only the gold earned by Diaz, but also the new Olympic world record she achieved in the snatch category and the total 224 total score she chalked.
“Despite the adversities, the red-tagging and financial challenges that came along with her bid for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, she managed to emerge victorious,” the six partylist solons said.
They were apparently referring to accusations allegedly made by Malacanang that Diaz played a key role in the reported plot of Leftist groups to oust President Rodrigo Duterte in 2019.
She vehemently denied the accusation that Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo revealed to the media.
“Hidylyn Diaz is truly a hero and definitely a treasure of the Philippines. She has brought tremendous pride and joy to the entire country,” Tolentino stated in his resolution of commendation for the decorated Olympian.
The POC chief added: “Her victory in the Tokyo Olympics showed that Filipinos can excel at the highest level in the world stage.” In pushing the Lower House to honor Diaz with the highest award it can give an outstanding individual, Nograles vowed to gather signatures from among his colleagues to support the proposal.
“We have long waited for this gold medal and it is just fit for the Philippine Congress to honor our first ever Olympic gold medalist a congressional commendation as her win brought our country not just great honor but immense pride and joy,” Nograles said.
He added: “What makes this even sweeter is that Diaz also set two Olympic records in her win. This is truly a proud moment for Philippine sports,” Congressmen said Diaz became the only Filipino to win double Olympic medals after her 2016 Rio Olympic silver medal.
The Zamboanga City lass has also won gold medals for the Philippine women’s weightlifting in the 2018 Asian Games 2018, Asian Championships in 2015 and the 2019 Southeast Asian Games .
Meanwhile Abra Rep. JB Bernos filed House Resolution 1989 that lauded Diaz for her achievements in international sports.
““Her perseverance and determination against all odds proved that we Filipinos can achieve great things in many fields. She is an inspiration too young Filipinos and to all athletes for showing that excellence can be achieved through ahrd work,, intense faith and support of fellow countrymen” said Bernos.