By Waylon Galvez Filipino weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz has won medals representing the country in various international competitions, including silver in the 2016 Rio Olympics and gold in the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta and 2020 World Cup in Rome. Aside from being a member of the national team, Hidilyn Diaz is also part of the Philippine Air Force. (MB File Photo) However, in the country’s fight to stop the spread of COVID-19, Diaz would have donned another uniform for the Philippines on a different capacity: As soldier/frontliner. “Yes, possible po,” Diaz said Saturday night in a message to Manila Bulletin. Diaz is not just an athlete of the Philippine Weightlifting Team, but an enlisted member of the Philippine Air Force, which recruited her in 2013 through the Direct Enlistment Program. Diaz started with the Air Force Special Service Group, and with every victory in international tournaments, she gets a promotion. When she bagged the silver medal in the 2016 Olympics, Diaz was promoted from Airwoman to Airwoman First Class. After her triumph in the 2018 Asian Games, Diaz got her promotion to PAF’s Airwoman Sergeant – her current status. Other national players from other sports are also enlisted officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Coast Guard. The 28-year-old Diaz is currently in Kuala Lumpur, and she has been in the capital city of Malaysia since late February as part of training for the Asian Championship, an even that was postponed due to the coronavirus crisis. Diaz, together with her ‘Team HD’ composed of Chinese mentor Kaiwen Gao, strength/condition coach Julius Naranjo and massage therapist Belen Bañas, failed to return home following the lockdown in KL and in the country. Nevertheless, the decision is up to Diaz’s mother unit whether or not she gets called as a frontliner. Hidilyn Diaz with fellow Air Force officers. (Photo from Hidilyn Diaz Facebook) “Depende po kasi kung tatawagin na ko,” she said. Diaz said she is very proud of the sacrifice the frontliners are doing, particularly the health workers in different hospitals and facilities, and also the soldiers and police officers performing their jobs manning checkpoints nationwide. “Sa lahat ng frontliners, thank you sa pagbuwis ng buhay niyo para sa amin, para sa taong-bayan,” said Diaz. “Maraming, maraming salamat. Hindi natin ito magagawa or hindi natin malalampasan itong sitwasyon na ito kung hindi dahil sa inyo. Salamat sa mga sakripsiyong binigay niyo.”