Press Release
September 11, 2018

Senate commends Filipino athletes in 18th Asian Games

The Senate adopted today a resolution commending the Filipino athletes who won medals and participated in the 18th Asian Games held in Jarkarta and Palembang, Indonesia last August.

Senate Resolution 854, introduced by Senate President Vicente Sotto III, in consideration of Senate Resolutions 855, 857, 861, 862 863, 864, 865, 866, 867, 870, 871, 873, 876, 877, 886, said the Filipino team brought honor to the country when it won in various sports events in this year's Asian games.

The Asian Games are held every four years preceding the Southeast Asian Games.

Sotto's resolution said Hidilyn Diaz brought honor to the Philippines when she won the country's first gold medal in the women's 53-kilograms category during the 18th Asian Games.

"Weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz won the Philippines' first gold medal in the Asian Games by competing with 11 others and lifting 92 kilograms in the snatch and 115 kilograms in the clean and jerk for a total of 207 kilograms," the resolution said. "Diaz's win in the women's weightlifting category in the 2018 Asian Games is a strong showing of her desire to improve her performance and her passion to the sport," the resolution added.

According to the resolution, Diaz brought glory to Philippine amateur sports when she won the silver medal in the weightlifting event in the World Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 2016 and when she won 6th place in the 2010 Asian Games held in China and 10th place in the Asian Games held in Doha, Qatar in 2006.

"Hidilyn's successive triumph in these prestigious international sporting events has placed the Philippines in the elite sporting map of the world as she excelled and topped other world class competitors," the Sotto resolution said.

The Senate also commended Lois Kaye Go, Bianca Pagdanganan and Yuka Saso for bagging the gold in the women's golf event and Margielyn Didal for topping the women street skateboard category in the 2018 Asian Games.

"By honoring the country with a gold medal in the 2018 Asian Games, Go, Pagdaganan and Saso deserve to be recognized and commended for bringing honor, pride and inspiration to the Filipino people," said Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri in his resolution.

In his resolution, Senator Emmanuel "Manny" Pacquiao said Saso brought home the Philippine's second gold medal from the 2018 Asian Games after winning the women's individual golf competition and lifted the Philippine women's team composed of Saso, Pagdanganan and Go to the gold medal spot.

In the current context where women are being attacked and denigrated, Senator Risa Hontiveros added in her resolution, Diaz, Saso Pagdanganan and Go serve "as reminders of every Filipina's resilience in the face of adversity, perseverance despite uncertainty and strength against all odds."

"The remarkable performance by Didal deserves to be commended for the honor and recognition she brought to the country," Senator Nancy Binay said in her resolution.

She won the gold in the Women's Street Skateboard category with a total of 30.4 points ahead of Kaya Isa of Japan with 25 points and Bunga Nyimas of Indonesia with 19.8 points, Binay said.

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