Hidilyn Diaz to be feted in Bacolod City

By: Carla Gomez - 3 years ago

Philippines’ Hidilyn Diaz competes in the women’s 55kg weightlifting competition during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Tokyo International Forum in Tokyo on July 26, 2021. (Photo by Vincenzo PINTO / AFP)

BACOLOD CITY — The Negros Occidental provincial government will honor weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz, the first Filipino to ever win an Olympic gold medal in 97 years, at the Capitol in Bacolod City at 2 p.m. Friday, September 10.

On Thursday, Sept. 9, the provincial board passed a resolution congratulating Diaz for her gold medal win in the Tokyo Olympics and conferring on her the title of “adopted daughter of the province of Negros Occidental.”

“The Filipino nation is proud of the achievement of Diaz for bringing pride and glory to the Philippines. The province of Negros Occidental acknowledges the hard work, determination and focus of Diaz to win the coveted gold medal,” the resolution read.

Diaz will be training in one of the gyms in Bacolod on Saturday, said Monico Puentevella, Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas president.

“She is now training for the world weightlifting championship in Uzbekistan in December,” he said. Diaz is the defending champion in the women’s weightlifting 55 kg category.

Puentevella, a former Bacolod mayor and representative, said the Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas has donated weightlifting equipment to Negros Occidental where a weightlifting program will be launched.