THE sudden spike in gasoline prices has sparked an unanticipated firestorm in, of all places, a petroleum company over a promised Olympic incentive.
When fuel prices hit the roof after the US and Israel's attacks on Iran, netizens expressed envy over the situation of weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz, who was awarded lifetime free gas by Phoenix Petroleum among the many incentives she received for winning the country's first-ever Olympic gold medal in Tokyo in 2021.
READ Phoenix rewards Hidilyn P5M, lifetime free gas
Envy turned to anger, however, when Diaz's manager, Noel Ferrer, told PEP.ph that the promised incentive was unfulfilled.
In a succeeding statement sent to SPIN.ph, Ferrer said Hidilyn received free gas from the company in the first two years after her Olympic win, but not beyond that.
"Hidilyn told me that she received fuel support for the first two years after her win," Ferrer, also a columnist of PEP.ph, said. "Thanks, but to be accurate, it wasn’t for a lifetime. I’m not sure whose lifetime they had in mind."
Here's Noel Ferrer's statement in full:
Phoenix Petroleum made the promise public in 2021 when Hidilyn won the country’s first ever Gold Medal in the Olympics. The lifetime fuel incentive was their announcement, their commitment—not hearsay. There were no conditions whatsoever; it was presented purely as an incentive.
Netizens resurfaced it recently. Hidilyn told me that she received fuel support for the first two years after her win. Thanks, but to be accurate, it wasn’t for a lifetime. I’m not sure whose lifetime they had in mind.
Sana bigyan natin ng importansya hindi lang ang mga salita at pangakong binitiwan, kundi ang pagpapahalaga sa mga atletang nagbigay ng karangalan sa bansa. This is symptomatic of how we regard athletes who are no longer in the limelight—even when they continue to contribute to sports and to the country. May these tough times bring out the best in us—and the honesty to match promises and public pronouncements.
#WorldPeace
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