The manager of Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz expressed hope that people would honor their promises and recognize athletes who have brought honor to the country, following reports of her “lifetime” fuel supply.
Manuel Noel Ferrer on Thursday, March 12 said that the weightlifting wonder has only availed herself of the “lifetime” fuel support promised by Phoenix Petroleum “for the first two years after her win.”
Hidilyn made history at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, winning a gold medal in weightlifting and ending the Philippines’ 97-year gold medal drought.
Her achievement prompted several businesses, including the oil company, to offer incentives in recognition of her historic feat.
At that time, Phoenix pledged to provide her with a lifetime supply of free fuel.
The pledge resurfaced later amid soaring fuel prices caused by the conflict in the Middle East, with some Filipinos expressing envy over Hidilyn receiving the perk.
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Ferrer, her manager, clarified that the athlete only availed of the free fuel supply “for the first two years after her win.”
“Thanks, but to be accurate, it wasn’t for a lifetime. I’m not sure whose lifetime the people had in mind,” he wrote in a statement.
He also hoped that people would learn to value their promises and the athletes who bring honor to the country.
“Sana matuto tayong bigyan ng importansya hindi lang ang mga salita at pangakong binitiwan, kundi ang pagpapahalaga sa mga atletang naghatid ng karangalan sa bansa,” Ferrer said.
“Sadly, this is also symptomatic of how we regard athletes who are no longer in the limelight — even when they continue to contribute to sports and to the country. May these tough times bring out the best in us — and the honesty to match public
pronouncements,” he added.
The manager also added the hashtags “#WorldPeace” and “#LifetimeDrawing,” with the latter referring to his earlier comment that the lifetime fuel offer was only a “drawing.”
In Filipino usage, a “drawing” refers to a plan that never came to fruition and exists only in conversation.
“PARANG DRAWING NAMAN PO ANG LIFETIME…” Ferrer said in another previous post.
Hidilyn made history as the first Filipino to win a gold medal at the Olympic Games since the Philippines first participated in the prestigious event in 1924.
Meanwhile, Phoenix, in a statement, said that the fuel donation arrangement stopped when Diaz “entered into a contract with another petroleum company.”
The company added that it had asked the athlete in March 2022, the second year of her fuel donation, “if she could share about the donation online.”
“She declined, citing that she recently entered into a contract with another petroleum company. She soon ceased communicating with us. We respected her decision,” the company said in a statement on Thursday.
“We fulfilled our commitments. As with many corporate donations, such arrangements are guided by conditions, including brand alignment. As circumstances changed and Ms. Diaz engaged with another fuel brand, the fuel donation arrangement could no longer continue under the same terms,” Phoenix added.
It also said it was “disappointed” that her manager had raised the issue publicly before directly communicating with them.
“Had they reached out first, it could have been clarified privately and amicably,” the oil firm added.
“Phoenix Petroleum remains proud of the role we played in
supporting our athletes during an important chapter of their journey. Lastly, our respect for Hidilyn Diaz and all Filipino athletes remains steadfast, and we are one with Filipinos in enduring the current difficulties we all face,” the company said.
