MANILA, Philippines – Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo, the first Filipino to win an Olympic gold medal, is set to begin a new chapter as a teacher at the University of the Philippines Diliman (UPD).
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| Photo courtesy: University of the Philippines |
In preparation for her teaching role at the College of Human Kinetics (CHK), Diaz-Naranjo attended the Teaching Effectiveness Course (TEC) from January 12 to 15 at the UP Diliman School of Economics.
The course, conducted by the UPD Office for the Advancement of Teaching, is designed to help new faculty members and teaching assistants strengthen their teaching skills.
As a first-time CHK lecturer, Diaz-Naranjo shared that she feels both nervous and excited about stepping into the classroom.
“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,” she said.
Diaz-Naranjo emphasized the importance of raising awareness and educating both students and the general public about weightlifting. She hopes to help integrate the sport more deeply into Philippine sports education while fostering creativity and efficiency in the learning environment.
“I want to educate more people para mas maraming makaintindi ng weightlifting, kasi ang weightlifting ay regular event na sa Palarong Pambansa,” she added.
This second semester of Academic Year 2025–2026, Diaz-Naranjo will handle two sections of PE 2 in weightlifting at UP Diliman.
— The Summit Express