As fuel prices continue to surge due to global tensions in the Middle East, Filipino Olympic champion Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo has unexpectedly become a topic of discussion among netizens.
Many social media users recently recalled that Diaz, the Philippines’ first-ever Olympic gold medalist, was promised lifetime free fuel by an independent oil company following her historic victory at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
The incentive was among several rewards pledged by private companies and organizations after Diaz delivered the country’s long-awaited Olympic gold medal by winning the women’s 55kg weightlifting event.
However, Diaz’s manager Noel Ferrer recently revealed that the promised benefit appears to remain unfulfilled.
In an Instagram post, Ferrer hinted that the incentive might still be merely symbolic.
“Parang drawing naman po ang lifetime,” Ferrer wrote.
He noted that while many Filipinos are now struggling with the continuous rise in gasoline prices, Diaz should have been one of the few who would not have to worry about fuel costs.
Ferrer explained that in 2021, following Diaz’s historic win, several companies stepped forward to offer rewards as a gesture of gratitude. One of them was Phoenix Petroleum, which announced it would grant the Olympic champion lifetime free fuel.
The promise meant that every time Diaz stopped at a Phoenix station to refuel, she would no longer have to worry about the price per liter—an especially valuable perk as oil prices fluctuate globally.
Despite this, Ferrer’s remark suggests that the incentive may not have been fully realized.
The issue resurfaced online just as motorists brace for another round of steep fuel price hikes. Reports indicate that fuel prices may increase by P17 to P24 per liter this week. Oil companies have agreed to stagger the increases over several days rather than implement a single large price hike.
Meanwhile, Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said the government is supporting the distribution of fuel subsidies to sectors heavily affected by the rising costs, including farmers, fisherfolk, and public transport drivers.
