Years after weightlifting champion Hidilyn Diaz made history as the Philippines’ first Olympic gold medalist, a major incentive tied to that achievement appears to remain unfulfilled.
Noel Ferrer, who manages the Tokyo 2020 champion, told PEP that the lifetime free fuel supply Hidilyn was promised following her victory in the women’s 55kg category has yet to materialize. Rather than speak out about it, Ferrer said the athlete has chosen to stay quiet.
“Si Haidie ay tumatahimik na lang at idinadaan na lang sa punchline,” Ferrer told PEP, adding: “Pero drawing naman talaga ang lifetime na fuel supply.”
The manager, who declined to elaborate on the specifics of what happened to the commitment, said he was wary of pressing the issue further at a sensitive time. “Hanggang doon na lang muna at baka may mam-bash pa sa amin sa pag-take up nito ngayong napaka-crucial na panahon. Pero waley ang lifetime supply na fuel na nai-commit,” he said.
Ferrer extended the conversation to his personal Instagram account, where he posted a photo of Hidilyn holding a fuel dispenser alongside the caption: “PARANG DRAWING NAMAN PO ANG LIFETIME.”
He noted the contrast between Filipinos struggling with rising pump prices and a champion who was supposed to be shielded from that burden. “Habang maraming Pilipino ang napapakamot na lang sa ulo sa tuwing tumataas ang presyo ng gasolina… may isang tao sa Pilipinas na hindi kailangang mag-alala,” he wrote — though that scenario, he made clear, never came to pass.
Despite the unfulfilled commitment, Ferrer stopped short of demanding accountability, saying he would rather the issue be taken seriously than brushed aside. “Idinadaan na lang sa comedy ang lahat, pero OK na OK talaga kung seseryosohin ang pagbibitaw at pagtupad sa salita,” he said.
Hidilyn has not publicly addressed the matter.
