House to confer Congressional Medal of Excellence to Hidilyn Diaz

The House of Representatives is set to award Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz with the Congressional Medal of Excellence for her victory in weightlifting during the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics.

Speaker Lord Allan Velasco led the filing of the resolution commending and awarding the Congressional Medal of Excellence to the Filipina weightlifter. He said Diaz deserves gratitude and recognition from every single Filipino after conquering the Olympics.

House Resolution 2041, congratulating, commending, and conferring the said medal to Diaz, was also introduced by House Majority Leader Ferdinand Romualdez, House Minority Leader Joseph Stephen Paduano, and Representatives Faustino Dy and Manuel Jose Dalipe.

"We thought an Olympic gold medal for the Philippines will never happen in our lifetime until it did, many thanks to Hidilyn Diaz!” Velasco said.

“It was indeed one of the proudest moments to be Filipino. And for that, your kababayans are forever grateful. Maraming, maraming salamat, Hidilyn!” he added.

Diaz bagged the gold in the women's 55-kg category to end a near century-long Olympics gold medal drought since the Philippines first saw action in the Games in 1924.

The House Resolution 1981, filed also by Velasco, Romualdez, Paduano, sought to institutionalize the Congressional Medal of Excellence for national athletes who win the gold medal at the Olympic Games.

“There is a need for the House of Representatives to institutionalize the Congressional Medal of Excellence to particularly give honor and commendation to these exceptional modern-day national heroes in sports who win the gold medal in the Olympic Games,” the House leaders said.

“This award will immortalize their achievements and give them a legacy to leave behind by providing future generations with inspirational lessons that they can take to heart,” they added.

At present, there are two congressional medals being handed out by the chamber. These are the Congressional Medal of Distinction and Congressional Medal of Achievement.

The Congressional Medal of Distinction is given to Filipino achievers in sports, business, medicine, science, and arts and culture while the Congressional Medal of Achievement is awarded to political, economic, and cultural leaders, who have distinguished themselves through their life-work and their vision. — RSJ, GMA News