Daughter of Bacolod Taxi Driver Graduates Magna Cum Laude from UP Diliman
HAZEL HERIDA – A proud daughter of a taxi driver from Bacolod City, graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of the Philippines Diliman.
Hazel’s journey was far from easy. While studying in Manila, she had to juggle work, academics, and preparations for law school—all while living away from her family. She shared that she often wondered if life would have been easier if studying had been her only concern. Instead, she constantly worried about bills, meals, and making it through each week.
Despite the challenges, Hazel never forgot the love and sacrifices of her parents. Her father worked tirelessly as a taxi driver, while her mother cared for her needs whenever she returned home to Bacolod—her bed already made, her uniform ironed, and meals ready on the table.
“I chose to live far from my family for the sake of my dreams, and never, not once, did I regret it,” Hazel said. “Admittedly, I was once comfortable, but it was in discomfort that I found peace. In unfamiliar spaces, I found myself, and in the struggle, I became who I was meant to be,” she added.
Hazel’s academic excellence is nothing new. She graduated as valedictorian in elementary, junior high school, and senior high school at the University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos.
Now, she continues her pursuit of excellence as a law student at Ateneo de Manila University, proving that dedication, humility, and hard work can take you far—no matter where you come from. Her inspiring story is a tribute not only to her perseverance but also to the quiet strength and sacrifices of hardworking Filipino families.
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