Matapos ang makasaysayang pagkapanalo ni Hidilyn Diaz ng unang olympic gold ng Pilipinas matapos ang 97 taong paghihintay, bumuhos ang mga pagbati mula sa mga Pilipino.
Gayunman, mukhang hindi masaya ang ilan sa ginawang pagbati ng mga DDS na umano’y hindi sumuporta noon kay Hidilyn. Bagay na tila humahati sa mga Pilipino.
Maging ang Filipino-Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu World Champion nasi Maybelline Masuda ay may naging sagot sa isyung ito.
Sa kanyang Instagram Stories, nagpahayag ng pagkadismaya si Maybelline sa naging reaksyon ng ilan Pilipino.
“Hindi ko magets ang point ng mga nagpaparinig sa nga DDS na “hindi sumoporta” kay Hidilyn dati, so bawal na mag-congratulate sa tagumpay niya? Credit-grabbing na agad?”
Ipinunto ni Maybelline na ang ugaling ito ay humahati lamang sa mga Pilipino sa halip na magkaisa.
“What the hell is happening? Can’t people just be genuinely happy for her and the country without fueling a divide?”
Dagdag pa ng atleta, noon pa man ay kulang na ang natatanggap na suporta ng mga atletang Pilipino mula sa pamahalaan.
“and might I add. There has ALWAYS been a LACK OF SUPPORT from our government since ever since, it isn’t something new. I witnessed and experienced firsthand just how bad it is during the previous admin and I can honestly say that the current admin's support for our athletes in the last 5 years has been tremendous compared o the s**t we used to be. Our dorms, and sports facilities have improved like never before, our nutritional needs addressed meticulously with a functional cafeteria, we even have an athlete's ID that has entitled us to discounts by law. These things were never of heard before!!”
Giit pa niya, “And don’t forget we were able to successfully host the SEA GAMES with pride. More importantly. We were never abandoned during the pandemic kahit wala kami halos training at wala talagang laro inalagaan kami ng PSC at POC.”
Bukod sa isyu ng credit –grabbing pinuna rin ni Masuda ang sumikat na linyang “The future is female.” Aniya, bagamat mahal at suportado niya ang kababaihan, maituturing na “sexist” ang pahayag na ito.
“I love and support women but this statement irks me because it is so sexist. We want to be equal and we have been equal but why turn it into a battle of the sexes?”
Dagdag pa niya, hindi dahil sa isyu ng “patriarchy” kaya mas kakaunti ang kababaihan sa sports, kundi dahil karamihan talaga ng mga babae ay hindi sumasali.
“Are female athletes getting paid less than male? No. Are female athletes being barred from joining? No. There is less representation because most women don’t join, so please stop blaming the “patriarchy.” Cause it’s funny how we want to be inclusive but when we win we make it exclusive.”
Sa huli pinasalamatan ni Maybelline si Hidilyn sa pag-uwi ng unang ginto para sa Pilipinas.
“Thank you @hidilyndiaz for trailblazing and inspiring ALL FILIPINOS to realize that an Olympic Gold was never an elusive dream and is within every Filipino man and women’s reach. (medal emoji, Philippine flag emoji).