MONDAY, September 10, turned out to be a busy day for 18th Asian Games Indonesia weightlifting gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz.
She visited Ateneo de Davao University (Addu) Matina campus early morning and paid Grade School head master Geraldine Niña Rocel Libron a courtesy visit.
Addu Grade School promotions head Mitzi Gay B. Ferrariz, in a phone interview with SunStar Davao, said, "She was there to make a courtesy visit before heading to the airport. She mentioned about promoting the sport, weightlifting, in schools all over the Philippines."
Ferrariz also said Diaz, the lone Filipino Rio Olympics 2016 silver medalist was welcomed by student photojournalists of the Magis Guild organization.
"She was in Ateneo to promote the sports to the kids and to give inspiration to pupils to persevere in getting their goal," Ferrariz said, adding that Diaz also shared inspiring words to PSYSC Science Olympians.
The latter, replying to SunStar Davao's query, said she just dropped by at Addu and was already heading to the Davao International Airport for her 10 a.m. trip to Zamboanga City. Diaz has some relatives here and in the Island Garden City of Samal.
In Zamboanga City, a heroes welcome greeted her and Asian Games boxing bronze medalist Eumir Felix Marcial, which was highlighted by a motorcade in the city's major thoroughfares.
"Nakakaiyak ang pagwelcome ng mga bata sa Mampang Elementary School they remind me why I am here," Diaz posted on her Facebook account.
Early evening, she visited her Hidilyn Diaz Weightlifting Gym in Barangay Mampang where she hails and taught children some basics of the sport.
She went Facebook Live, showing the young athletes training in the gym, which she said was built after her Rio silver win.
"Forty-two athletes are training here and 17 athletes are competing in the Batang Pinoy (nationals) in Baguio City," the proud Diaz added.
She went on interviewing some Baguio-bound athletes while giving some inputs to some who were practicing to lift.