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          Social media abuzz after Hidilyn Diaz 'lifts an entire nation' for Philippines' first-ever gold

          • Normie Riego
          Jul 26, 2021, 08:41 AM ET

          Hidilyn Diaz will now be part of Philippine school books as the first Filipino Olympic gold medalist. Stepping up to a determined challenger in China's Liao Qiuyun, Diaz had more than enough to stake claim to the championship of women's 55kg weightlifting - to go along with two Olympic records to boot.

          Diaz knows full well what a gold medal means for her country and was heard yelling "Mabuhay, Pilipinas! Mabuhay! (Long live the Philippines! Long live!)" and "Laban Pilipinas! (Let's go, Philippines!)" several times over. That emotion carried over backstage after the medal ceremony where Frontline Pilipinas anchor Gretchen Ho was on scene to capture all of it.

          And who else but the history-making golden girl to unite personalities from different networks?

          Of course, the rest of the Philippine sporting community - from the likes of Ginebra coach Tim Cone to Creamline star Alyssa Valdez - heaped praise on their most successful Olympian.