Homeward bound: Hero’s welcome awaits Diaz

RIO DE JANEIRO – With tears in her eyes, Hidilyn Diaz bid Rio goodbye Tuesday.

Two days after winning the silver medal, the weightlifter from Zamboanga checked out of the Athletes Village and headed home to a hero’s welcome including an audience with President Rody Duterte.

Diaz, who made history as the first female athlete from the Philippines to win an Olympic medal, aired mixed emotions leaving this seaside city of Ipanema.

“I’m excited to get home and at the same time I’m sad because I will be leaving you people behind,” said Diaz, trying to hold back her tears.

“I’ve learned to love all of you here,” she added.

Upon her arrival, Diaz will have an audience with the President in Davao on her first night back on Philippine soil.

Diaz, who broke the country’s 20-year medal drought in the Olympiad, is slated to touch down at NAIA 3 at around 4:30 p.m. today together with her teammate Nestor Colonia and coach Alfonsito Aldanete.

She then boards the plane again for a domestic flight to Davao, accompanied by her parents Eduardo and Emelita, Philippine Sports Commission chairman William “Butch” Ramirez and commissioner Charles Maxey, and Zamboanga Rep.  Celso Lobregat.

“We expect Hidilyn to arrive 4:30 p.m. tomorrow (today) then we will proceed to Davao on board a 7:40 p.m. flight for her to meet the President. The chairman and I will accompany her,” Maxey said yesterday.

Duterte will receive the 25-year-old Zamboangueña at the Panacañang, the presidential guest house in Panacan, Davao City. The Diaz entourage will stay overnight in Davao then fly to Zamboanga Friday for her homecoming.

Zamboanga has set a rock star welcome to its proud daughter and earmarked P500,000 as reward for her Olympic feat.

This is on top of the P5-million she is entitled to under Republic Act 10699 or the Amended Sports Incentives law. She is also set to be a recipient of a house and lot from 8990 Deca Homes.

The Philippine Olympic Committee hosted a thanksgiving dinner for Diaz and the rest of the delegation at Fogo de Chao, a fancy Brazilian steakhouse.

From an original guest list of 30 persons, the number grew twice as much. Great food was served, and Diaz enjoyed a jigger or two.

The Philippine Ambassador to Brazil, Jose dela Rosa Burgos, joined the affair, sharing the long table with POC officials led by Jose Cojuangco.

They were scheduled to board an Emirates flight to Manila via Dubai, a back-breaking, 25-hour journey. On the trip was POC second vice president Jeff Tamayo.

Diaz faced her teammates who toasted her over dinner, saying how proud she was to be part of the team, now being dubbed as the “Lucky 13.”

She thanked those who have bowed out of competition for giving their best, and urged the six others who have yet to compete to do just the same.

“Good luck to you all. You can do it,” said Diaz who, on Sunday evening, gave the Philippines its first Olympic medal in 20 years.

The country waited so long for a medal to come since boxer Onyok Velasco brought home the silver from the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

The last time the Philippines won an Olympic medal, Fidel V. Ramos was still President.

Still vying in the closing days of this Summer Games are swimmer Jasmine Alkhaldi, who will race in the women’s 100m freestyle at 1 p.m. Wednesday; golfer Miguel Tabuena who will compete from Aug. 11 to 14; marathoner Mary Joy Tabal who will race on Aug. 14; and long jumper Marestella Torres Sunang and 400m hurdles entry Eric Cray who will both see action on Aug. 16.

Taekwondo’s Kirstie Elaine Alora will be the last Filipino athlete to fight for flag and country, in the women’s +67 kg class on Aug. 20, which is the eve of the closing ceremony.

Filipino athletes who have bowed out of the competition here are boxers Charly Suarez and Rogen Ladon, table tennis’ Ian Lariba, swimmer Jessie Khing Lacuna, judoka Kodo Nakano and Colonia.

Alkhaldi vowed to give her best.

“Like everybody else in our team, I will do my best,” said the two-time Olympian, who trained hard in Hawaii, under coach Jennifer Buffin, and hoped to do better than she did in 2012 in London.

“I felt I was too young then. I felt like a baby in the waters,” said the 23-year-old Alkhaldi. “This time I’m more comfortable. I feel better competing now.”

Diaz won the silver medal on her third try, having taken part in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, as a 17-year-old wild card, and then in London.

“Just keep on trying. Don’t quit,” she said. – With Olmin Leyba