PAF to give Rio silver medalist Diaz a heroes' welcome

From the Philippine News Agency (Aug 17): PAF to give Rio silver medalist Diaz a heroes' welcome

For winning the country's first Olympic silver medal in 20 years, A2WC Hidilyn F. Diaz will be given a heroes' welcome and promoted one rank higher Thursday morning.

This will take place at the Philippine Air Force (PAF) Gymnasium, Villamor Air Base, Pasay City, said PAF spokesman Col. Araus Robert Musico.

"It's the PAF way of recognizing her (Diaz's) achievement," he added.

Diaz will also be pinned the chevrons of her new rank of A1WC which is the PAF's way of recognizing her achievement.

Before the donning of chevrons, Diaz, in a motorcade, will tour around Villamor Air Base, and thereafter the Olympian will make a short call to PAF commander Lt. Gen. Edgar Fallorina who is expected to give some tokens to the silver medalist.

"(It's a simple welcome effort) back after her outstanding display of athletic skill (at the Rio Olympic Games)," Musico said.

The 25-year-old Diaz, a native of Zamboanga City, won her silver medal in the women’s 58kg class event which won by Chinese Hsu Shu-ching of Chinese Taipei via a record-breaking fashion.

In the snatch event, she tallied 88 kg but recovered in the clean and jerk lift, successfully lifting a 112 kg lift in her second attempt, for a total of 200 kg, against Hsu.

Her silver medal won Sunday (Brazil time) was the Philippines' first Olympic medal in 20 years and the first ever for a Filipina.

The last time the Philippines won a medal in the Olympics was in 1996 when Mansueto “Onyok” Velasco competed in the light-flyweight category in boxing in the Atlanta Olympic Games.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=914670