When I saw the FB post of PSC Commissioner Charles Maxey of a photo of Senator Bong Go and 2016 Rio Olympics silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz, I was reminded of the controversy that flooded the news.
No, not Senator Bong Go, the Navy frigate controversy is over and he won a Senate spot and eventually, chairmanship of the Senate’s sports committee, thanks to the generosity of Senator Manny Pacquiao for offering the chairmanship to another sportsman.
I’m referring to Hidilyn Diaz, the weightlifter from far away Zamboanga.
While it is true that national athletes are not that really well paid compared to other national athletes in well-developed countries, I cannot blame Hidilyn for seeking private sponsors as she prepares for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
There’s nothing wrong with that. The more money intended for your training should be welcomed with open arms because that would mean more food, more vitamins, more tournament exposures.
The Philippine Sports Commission’s Board has not been remiss of their obligation to the national athletes. PSC chairman William Ramirez, the poor boy from Padada, Davao del Sur, knows how to be hungry and that’s the reason why he and the Commissioners care for our national athletes.
The only effect of Hidilyn Diaz’s rant on social media was, it caused a bad impression that the PSC has been remiss of its duty. The truth is she is the highest paid national athlete.
What it made controversial was the revelation of former PSC chairman Perry Mequi that Diaz has many requests for PSC funding, including to hire his boyfriend as Strength and Conditioning (SC) Coach that would cost taxpayers, $1,900 a month. Yes, in dollars mga Tiyo ug Tiya.
Since that revelation, Hidilyn was criticized on social media.
Here’s what our hermana from Zamboanga can do.
Stay away from posting rants on social media. Don’t say “Hirap na hirap” because that is not true as a national athlete. If you are the highest paid national athlete in the country, live within your means. What “Hirap na hirap” are you talking about?
Focus on your training and your training only if you want to be a gold medal in the Tokyo Olympics. Nuway boypren boypren anay mi hermana. Don’t you know that nine-time Olympic gold medalist Usain Bolt broke up with his girlfriend to focus on his Olympic gold medal target? Tell your boyfriend to find that $1,900 a month himself! Dump him!
Don’t forget that the PSC is always around to help you. In fact, Chairman Ramirez lives at the PSC Dormitory to be close with the national athletes.
If you don’t like your weightlifting association president, put it aside for now. You may someday retire from weightlifting and lead the national sports association and implement the needed reforms.
Other than Manny Pacquiao, the Senator and our Pambansang Kamao, you are the country’s sports darling and we would really look forward to your gold medal victory in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Win that gold medal Hidilyn!
