Cagayan de Oro native and reigning Ms. Universe Pia Wurtzbach congratulated fellow Mindanaoan Hidilyn Diaz for her Silver Olympic Medal win in the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Hidilyn, who hailed from Zamboanga City, ended the 20-year Olympic medal drought of the Philippines last August 8 after she finished with 200 kg in the Women’s 53 kg category in Weightlifting. She became the first Filipina and the first Mindanaoan to win a coveted Olympic medal.
Pia took to Instagram to express her happiness with Hidilyn’s success, which she described as ‘third time’s a charm’. Pia might be referring to the triumphs of Mindanaoans in 2016—her win as Ms. Universe, Rodrigo Duterte’s election as president, and Hidilyn’s Olympic victory. It might also refer to Hidilyn’s Olympic career, competing in consecutive Olympics in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the 2012 London Olympics, and the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Pia wrote: “Finally! The Philippines gets its first Olympic medal since 1996 with Hidilyn Diaz bagging the silver medal for women’s weightlifting. And she’s also the first ever woman from the Philippines to win an Olympic medal! Mabuhay ka, Hidilyn! 🇵🇭 #Rio2016 #HidilynDiaz #ThirdTimesACharm #ProudMindanaoan”
(Photo source: Instagram – @piawurtzbach / @philippinehistory / Youtube – Sports5)