The Armed Forces of the Philippines announced Wednesday the promotion of Hidilyn Diaz from sergeant to staff sergeant effective July 27 after she made history as the first Filipino Olympic gold medalist at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Diaz is set to return home a hero Wednesday.
But the talk of the town is not so much about her promotion in the Philippine military - nor her part in an alleged plot to oust President Rodrigo Duterte.
It's the amount of money - almost PHP38 million ($754,000) tax-free - and property Diaz is set to receive from the government and the country's tycoons.
Billionaire Andrew Tan of Megaworld Corp. said Diaz will be given a PHP14 million condominium in the posh Eastwood City in Quezon City.
"This is our way of saying thanks to Hidilyn for making us all proud," Tan said in The Manila Times.
The government - through its sports commission - will give Diaz PHP10 million.
The MVP Sports Foundation of telecommunication tycoon Manny V. Pangilinan has approved PHP10 million for Diaz.
Ramon S. Ang of San Miguel Corp., one of the Philippines' biggest companies, said it would give Diaz the same amount, The Manila Times said.
Phirst Park Homes Inc., a brand of Century Properties Group and Japan's Mitsubishi Corp., said it is awarding a house and lot priced at PHP4 million for the gold medal winner, according to Business Mirror.
"Hidilyn's story is every Filipino's story of struggle and perseverance amid adversities...We at Phirst Park Homes celebrate her inspiring story of triumph," president Ricky M. Celis said.
Phoenix Petroleum chairperson Dennis Uy said Diaz will receive PHP5 million and a lifetime supply of fuel.
Deputy Speaker Mikee Romero pledged PHP3 million for Diaz.
On Tuesday, Philippine Airlines, the Philippines' flagship carrier, said Diaz will get 80,000 free miles a year for life.
Diaz will also fly free for life with AirAsia, an airline which said it previously gave her five years of unlimited flights when she won silver at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Diaz bagged the Philippines' first Olympic gold after she won the women's 55-kilogram weightlifting.
Take a look at the hands that lifted the Philippines atop the podium.
Diaz said there are more wounds that we don’t see.
Salamat, @diaz_hidilyn #PHI#Weightlifting #SeeUsStronger @OneSportsPHL @CignalTV pic.twitter.com/I3OtTsC7BU — Paolo del Rosario (@paodelrosario) July 27, 2021
She set an Olympic record for the 55 kilogram category lifting 224 kilograms late Monday.
Her victory ended a 97 year drought for the Philippines.
The medalist was included in the "Oust Duterte" matrix in 2019.
Diaz, who was preparing for the Olympics at the time then, feared for her life after being linked to an alleged conspiracy to remove the president.
Salvador Panelo, Duterte's chief legal counsel, said Tuesday said "it's truly disheartening that there are people who seek to take the limelight out of Diaz's recent triumph and convert it into a political skirmish," Panelo said in the Inquirer News.
