AMID the rising prices on gas as the result of Israel and United States' conflict with Iran, Filipinos on social media were quick to remember one pledge from Phoenix Petroleum to Hidilyn Diaz back when the country's golden girl won the country its first ever gold medal in the Tokyo Olympics.
'Lifetime free gas.'
READ Phoenix rewards Hidilyn P5M, lifetime free gas
Considering how ridiculuously expensive gas prices are in the country today, that pledge might just very well be the most important among all the rewards that Diaz deservingly got from her golden run in Tokyo.
But that might not be the case if Diaz's longtime manager Noel Ferrer is to be asked.
Ferrer, a columnist of our sister site PEP.ph, gave the real scoop on that supposed reward.
"Naku! Sanaol talaga. Medyo naiiling na lang ako," Ferrer said.
READ: Lifetime free fuel incentive ni Hidilyn Diaz, drawing lang
'Dinadaan nalang sa comedy'
Ferrer further added that they're just taking everything in jest, opting to just laugh it off instead of worrying about that empty pledge.
"Si Haidie ay tumatahimik na lang at idinadaan na lang sa punchline. Pero drawing naman talaga ang lifetime na fuel supply," said Ferrer, adding Phoenix only gave Diaz free fuel in the first two years since the announcement.
"Ang tanong tuloy ng iba, kaninong lifetime ba ang tinutukoy nila? Idinadaan na lang sa comedy ang lahat, pero OK na OK talaga kung seseryosohin ang pagbibitaw at pagtupad sa salita."
If that's truly the case then this is definitely sad and embarrasing at the same time for the company who promised such rewards.
Remember, for a private company - giving out rewards isn't even mandatory.
But riding on an athletes' achievement, getting all that free publicity by promising something as grand as giving out a 'lifetime' supply of a commodity as valuable as gas - and then not going through with it is truly unacceptable.
To all companies out there who are planning to reward our athletes - remember, better to promise something modest and follow through with it, than giving out grand pledges and then backtracking on it.
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