USL Tuguegarao confers Olympic Champion Hidilyn Diaz with prestigious Honorary Doctorate (Doctor of Humanities, Honoris Causa)

Tuguegarao City, Cagayan – Adding another historic milestone to her name, Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz was recently conferred the Degree of Doctor of Humanities, Honoris Causa, by the University of Saint Louis Tuguegarao on February 9, 2026—recognizing her enduring contributions to Philippine sports, education, and nation-building.

During her speech, Diaz admitted that she initially didn’t understand what an Honoris Causa was and worried about potential criticism, noting that such titles are usually reserved for those who have formally earned a doctorate.

“Noong una, hindi ko alam kung ano ang Honoris Causa, napaisip ako, baka ma-bash ako. ‘Diba yun yung may PhD sa dulo o minsan may Doctor sa unahan ng pangalan?’ E hindi naman po ako nag-aral para doon. Ang meron lang po ako pagkatapos ng pangalan ko ay ‘Oly,’ Olympian. Pero doon ko po napagtanto na ang pagkakakilanlan na ito ay hindi lang tungkol sa titolo, ito ay tungkol sa impact,” she said.

Honoris Causa is Latin for “for the sake of honor.” It is an honorary degree granted to individuals who have made significant contributions to society, culture, education, or other fields, even without completing the usual academic requirements.

The First Filipino Olympian

Diaz, the Philippines’ first Olympic gold medalist, continues to inspire generations through her achievements in weightlifting. Beyond her competitive career, she currently teaches Physical Education weightlifting classes at UP Diliman’s College of Human Kinetics, mentoring students and aspiring athletes.

She first gained international attention at the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou, China, winning a bronze medal, and went on to dominate the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, securing multiple golds from 2007 to 2019.

In 2016, Diaz earned a silver medal at the Rio Olympics in the women’s 53kg weightlifting category—the Philippines’ first Olympic medal in the sport. Her career peaked with gold at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in the women’s 55kg category, marking her as the country’s first Olympic champion.

Through this honorary doctorate, USLT honored Diaz not only as a world-class athlete but also as a mentor and a symbol of national pride, shaping the next generation of Filipino champions.