Filipina Rio Olympics medalist hailed in Senate

Senator Edgardo ‘Sonny’ Angara greets Rio Olympics silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz on his Twitter page. @SONNYANGARA SCREENGRAB

Senators hailed Filipino weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz on Monday for winning the country’s first silver medal in the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.

“Congrats @haidie20 for winning the Philippine’s first olympic medal since Atlanta ’96. Mabuhay ka!,” Senator Sonny Angara said on Twitter.

“Let’s pray for more medals mga kababayan,” he added.

Like Angara, Senator Grace Poe also took to Twitter to congratulate Diaz.

“Mabuhay ka, Hidilyn Diaz! Ang iyong panalo sa #Rio2016 ay isang karangalan para sa bansa. Simbolo ka ng tibay at lakas ng Pilipino!” said Poe.

Senator Nancy Binay joined the nation in rejoicing over Diaz’s victory, saying it was also a triumph for women.

“Nagpapasalamat tayo kay Bb. Diaz at sa Panginoon na tinapos ang 20-taong paghihintay ng Pilipinas na manalo ng medalya sa Olympics,” Binay said in a statement.

“Kinikilala rin natin na ang tagumpay ni Bb. Diaz ay tagumpay rin ng ating mga kababaihan, bilang kauna-unahang Pilipina na nagkamit ng medalya sa Olympics,” Binay said.

She added, “Sinisimbolo ni Bb. Diaz ang lakas ng loob at pagtitiyaga na ipinapakita ng mga Pilipino sa pagharap nito sa anumang pagsubok. Mabuhay ka Hidilyn! Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!”/rga

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