Hidilyn Diaz's 'free lifetime gas' incentive resurfaces; manager says reward still undelivered
After Hidilyn Diaz's historic win at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, brands committed whopping cash prizes and incentives to her, including a lifetime supply of free fuel. However, her manager said they haven't heard from the fuel company yet nor have they received the prize.
Amid rising fuel costs due to the ongoing tensions in the Middle East, social media users have been raising their complaints, especially since this could also affect the prices of common goods. Some have been sharing tips on how to save fuel, while brands have been offering promos to ease the price hike.
The government, in response, announced that some government offices will follow a temporary four-day workweek to cope with soaring fuel prices.
President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. also ordered government agencies to reduce fuel and energy consumption by 10% to 20%.
While all of this is going on, a social media user brought up Diaz's free lifetime gas offered by Phoenix Petroleum following her win in 2021.
"Habang maraming Pilipino ang napapakamot na lang sa ulo sa tuwing tumataas ang presyo ng gasolina…may isang tao sa Pilipinas na hindi kailangang mag-alala," social media user "Kuya Oman" posted in a Facebook group of riders, explaining Diaz's prize.
"Ibig sabihin, sa tuwing daraan siya sa isang Phoenix station para magpa-gas... hindi niya kailangang isipin kung magkano na naman ang presyo kada litro. At sa panahon na pabago-bago ang presyo ng langis sa buong mundo, isa lang ang sigurado. May isang Pilipino na naka 'easy mode' pagdating sa gasolina at nakuha niya iyon…sa pagbubuhat ng bigat para sa buong bansa," he concluded his Facebook post.
The post garnered several reactions, but the one that stood out the most was Diaz's manager, Noel Ferrer, who wrote in his Facebook shared post, "Parang drawing naman po ang lifetime."
PhilSTAR L!fe reached out to Ferrer and asked whether the brand has talked to Diaz, to which he replied, “Let’s just wait for their reaction if ever. [T]he netizens are the ones who brought it up... they just tagged us and the company. [W]e haven’t heard from them though."
Diaz made history as the first Filipino athlete to win Olympic gold in the women’s 55 kg event at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. After her historic victory, she pursued a Business Administration major in Management at De La Salle–College of Saint Benilde and graduated in 2023 after 16 years.
In 2025, she also fulfilled her dream of completing a culinary course at the Center of Culinary Arts Manila.
As an athlete, she finished fourth at the women's 58kg weightlifting event during her 2025 Southeast Asian Games comeback. It was her first international competition after failing to qualify at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
She currently teaches at the College of Human Kinetics at the University of the Philippines Diliman.
PhilSTAR L!fe has reached out to Phoenix Petroleum for a statement but has yet to receive a reply.
