‘Welcome for Hidilyn Diaz bigger than beauty queen’s’

Rio Olympics silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz recalls her struggle to return to form on Thursday night (Aug. 11, 2016) in Davao City, where she was received by President Rodrigo Duterte. (SCREENSHOT OF RTVM VIDEO)

ZAMBOANGA CITY – Olympic silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz will be welcomed with a motorcade and a shower confetti when she returns home here on Friday (Aug. 12).

“She will definitely be treated more than a beauty queen,” Mayor Maria Isabelle Salazar told reporters on Thursday.

Diaz is expected to arrive here Friday afternoon. She met with President Duterte in Davao City on Thursday night and he personally congratulated her for the honor she brought to the Philippines when she bagged the first silver medal for a Filipina athlete in the Olympics and the first medal for the Philippines in the Olympics in 20 years.

Salazar said Diaz would receive an incentive of half a million pesos for bringing home a silver medal from the Rio Olympics.

“Let us go out on the streets and show our love and gratitude for Hidilyn, Nestor (Colonia) and Coach (Alfonsito) Aldanete tomorrow,” Christian Olasiman of the City Information Office said.

Colonia, who is also from Zamboanga, competed in the Men’s 56-kg division weightlifting event.

Emelita Diaz, Hidilyn’s mother, said they thought of a simple welcome party for her daughter, but some groups wanted a grand one.

Leonard Aliangan, the village chair of Mampang where the Diazes live, said they prepared a welcome program to honor Diaz. The program includes a special presentation by some 20 young weightlifters of Mampang.

The Philippine Air Force (PAF) will hold a simple program for Diaz when she returns to her military duties.  SFM