Inside Hidilyn Diaz’s new weightlifting PE class

More students, more learning: Hidilyn embraces everyone eager to join her PE class.

Olympic legend Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo knows how to lift more than just weights. She’s now lifting the spirits of her students at UP Diliman.

What started as a 20-student PE 2 (weightlifting) class quickly grew after more students expressed interest. 

“Kinabahan!!! Pero masaya… Overwhelmed kasi ideally 20 students lang para tutok talaga. Pero marami ang nag-wish mag-enroll, tinanggap ko na rin lahat,” Hidilyn shared with radar Entertainment a day after attending her first class.

Transitioning from Olympic Gold to the classroom

Hidilyn officially joined the College of Human Kinetics as a PE instructor and now handles two sections every Wednesday, from 9–11 a.m. and 11 a.m.–1 p.m. 

To prep, she even completed a four-day Teaching Effectiveness Course at UPD, showing she’s serious about teaching, not just lifting.

Advocating for weightlifting in the Philippines

Her goal is clear: help more Filipinos understand weightlifting, especially with the sport now a regular event at the Palarong Pambansa. Beyond Olympic gold, Hidilyn is now passing on her skills, discipline, and passion to a classroom full of eager learners.

 

 

Overwhelmed kasi ideally 20 students lang para tutok talaga. Pero marami ang nag-wish mag-enroll, tinanggap ko na rin lahat.

Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo

 

 

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