Hidilyn Diaz competes in weightlifting in the 2025 Southeast Asian Games, December 14, 2025 in Chonburi, Thailand. POC Media
MANILA — From now on, address her as "Ma'am Hidilyn."
Hidilyn Diaz, the country's first-ever Olympic gold medalist, has officially joined the University of the Philippines Diliman as a faculty member, marking a new chapter in her career.
The university reported that Diaz attended the Teaching Effectiveness Course (TEC) offered by the UPD Office for the Advancement of Teaching from January 12 to 15, preparing her for her teaching stint at the College of Human Kinetics (CHK).
READ: After missing out on SEA Games medal, is Hidilyn Diaz thinking of retirement?
According to UPD, the TEC is conducted to help new faculty members and teaching assistants who want to "enhance their teaching abilities."
“Good thing na naka-attend ako nitong TEC. Nagkaroon ako ng idea kung paano iyong magiging approach ko sa pag-handle ng class. I am also thankful for my CHK colleagues’ support, they were there to cheer and help me,” Diaz said, reflecting on her TEC, as reported by UPD.
Diaz will be supervising two PE 2 sections in weightlifting during the second semester of the 2025-2026 academic year, the university also announced.
“I want to educate more people para mas maraming makaintindi ng weightlifting, kasi ang weightlifting ay regular event na sa Palarong Pambansa,” said the decorated sportsperson.
Diaz is also set to receive a high honor in the form of a statue in her hometown in Zamboanga City, as revealed by Mayor Khymer Adan Olaso.
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