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You've probably heard her name announced during flag ceremonies or seen Facebook posts congratulating her on breaking new swimming records. But behind every great athlete is a story to tell. It's time for us to know more about who Zoe Hilario is.
Every year, UPIS accepts lateral entrants and Varsity Athletic Admission System (VAAS) entrants as incoming-Grade 7 students aside from those who finished elementary in UPIS. A total of four athletes were admitted to suit up for the swim team last 2015; one of them was Zoe Marie S. Hilario.
Zoe has been an indispensable addition to the UPIS Varsity Swim Team (UPISVST) since she has been competing and winning consecutively in a lot of tournaments even before entering the school.
Her swimming career started when she was only four years old in her hometown, Davao City. Her parents liked going to the beach, this was the reason why they introduced Zoe to swimming: they wanted to keep her safe every time they traveled to the beach. As time went by, Zoe found that she fell in love with the sport, for no particular reason at all. “...na-enjoy ko talaga siya,” she says. Thus, she continued her journey, and that led her to be a competitive swimmer.
Zoe and her family didn’t really think of transferring to Manila, they only did when they found out that UPIS was accepting new students. Zoe thought of trying it, fortunately, her parents wanted her to receive her college education from UP. “UP kasi yung parang sure na maganda education.”
Her dad, a UP Los Baños alumnus, was the one who gave her that insight. Thus, Zoe grew up knowing that UP is an esteemed educational institution.
From Davao, her family transferred to Quezon City so she could go to a school that would help her achieve her dreams for swimming and get her closer to their dream university . That school is UPIS.
"Wala akong kakilala sa upis at all, si Chloe at Cha lang kasi nakakalaban ko sa palaro pero di ko den sila ka-close… Halo pa bisaya and english ko non kasi di ako sanay mag-Tagalog pero ayon habang nakakasama teammates and classmates nakaka-adjust na ako sa language at nagkakaroon na ng ka-close. Naging welcoming rin naman batchmates." She found it really hard to adjust to the education system of UPIS. Thankfully her friends and batchmates were there to help her out.
Ever since Zoe started competing with the UPISVST, every season of the University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Swimming Competition was special for Zoe. She loved the exciting vibe that the competition brings and she loves cheering for her teammates.
Ace Seawolves, a swim club, has helped her, up to this day, to improve her performance. She remains a member of this club because she feels satisfied with the amount of training given to her and the venue is close to their home. “Hanggang ngayon Ace pa rin club ko kasi satisfied naman ako sa training...super convenient pa for me kasi walking distance from my house lang.”
That club wasn’t the only thing that gave her strength, the inspiration for all of her success came from her fellow swimmers and competitors, whom she saw had record breaking times and a lot of achievements under their belts. She aspired to be as strong as them.
The year 2016 was the first time Zoe qualified for the Southeast Asian Games (SEAG). Although she didn't win a medal, she was given the honor to represent our country.
After a few more years of hard work, her results were astonishing. At the young age of 15, she held tight to the chances that she was given to compete in international meets and represent our country’s pride in competitions such as the SEAG, which was held in Brunei, Asean School Games (ASG) and Singapore National Age Group Swimming Championship (SNAGSC), which were both held in Singapore. The last international competition she joined was the Arafura Games held last year in Australia.
She started participating in the Palarong Pambansa when she was in the 4th grade. The following year, she qualified for the Milo Little Olympics. She has been a consistent participant in the Regional Palaro and UAAP Swimming Competition since 2015.
Zoe is known as one of the strongest swimmers in the UPISVST, for she has gained a lot of points, stood on top of podiums, and won multiple medals in most of the tournaments she qualified for.
Currently, Zoe doesn’t have a lot of upcoming competitions; she is focusing on the races she usually competes in, such as the NCR Palaro and next season’s UAAP. She has set her goal to improve her personal best times by being consistent in training and improving her attitude in reaching those times.
Sports isn’t the only skill she has, in fact, she can balance both sports and academics. She consistently appears on the Principal's List posted every end of the semester, as she maintains a general weighted average (GWA) above 80 percent every time. Her secret to balancing her studies and sports is by focusing on one thing at a time. She says, “Kunyari ‘pag training, training muna iniisip.”
“I think I can improve more by not giving up on myself...Matuto mag-sacrifice for my goals” were said by Zoe when asked how she will improve more as of today.
Zoe worked hard to be where she is today. She has set foot in other countries to compete, bringing our country's name with her. If she can do it, then you can too. Just because you are a student-athlete, it does not mean that you cannot excel in your academics. It only takes time, effort, and patience to be able to reach your goals. Learn to manage your time well and you will see that you have skills that you never thought you had. //by Franz Joves
Sports-Feature: Golden Girl has set foot in UPIS
You've probably heard her name announced during flag ceremonies or seen Facebook posts congratulating her on breaking new swimming records. But behind every great athlete is a story to tell. It's time for us to know more about who Zoe Hilario is.
Every year, UPIS accepts lateral entrants and Varsity Athletic Admission System (VAAS) entrants as incoming-Grade 7 students aside from those who finished elementary in UPIS. A total of four athletes were admitted to suit up for the swim team last 2015; one of them was Zoe Marie S. Hilario.
Zoe has been an indispensable addition to the UPIS Varsity Swim Team (UPISVST) since she has been competing and winning consecutively in a lot of tournaments even before entering the school.
Her swimming career started when she was only four years old in her hometown, Davao City. Her parents liked going to the beach, this was the reason why they introduced Zoe to swimming: they wanted to keep her safe every time they traveled to the beach. As time went by, Zoe found that she fell in love with the sport, for no particular reason at all. “...na-enjoy ko talaga siya,” she says. Thus, she continued her journey, and that led her to be a competitive swimmer.
Zoe and her family didn’t really think of transferring to Manila, they only did when they found out that UPIS was accepting new students. Zoe thought of trying it, fortunately, her parents wanted her to receive her college education from UP. “UP kasi yung parang sure na maganda education.”
Her dad, a UP Los Baños alumnus, was the one who gave her that insight. Thus, Zoe grew up knowing that UP is an esteemed educational institution.
From Davao, her family transferred to Quezon City so she could go to a school that would help her achieve her dreams for swimming and get her closer to their dream university . That school is UPIS.
"Wala akong kakilala sa upis at all, si Chloe at Cha lang kasi nakakalaban ko sa palaro pero di ko den sila ka-close… Halo pa bisaya and english ko non kasi di ako sanay mag-Tagalog pero ayon habang nakakasama teammates and classmates nakaka-adjust na ako sa language at nagkakaroon na ng ka-close. Naging welcoming rin naman batchmates." She found it really hard to adjust to the education system of UPIS. Thankfully her friends and batchmates were there to help her out.
Ever since Zoe started competing with the UPISVST, every season of the University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Swimming Competition was special for Zoe. She loved the exciting vibe that the competition brings and she loves cheering for her teammates.
Ace Seawolves, a swim club, has helped her, up to this day, to improve her performance. She remains a member of this club because she feels satisfied with the amount of training given to her and the venue is close to their home. “Hanggang ngayon Ace pa rin club ko kasi satisfied naman ako sa training...super convenient pa for me kasi walking distance from my house lang.”
That club wasn’t the only thing that gave her strength, the inspiration for all of her success came from her fellow swimmers and competitors, whom she saw had record breaking times and a lot of achievements under their belts. She aspired to be as strong as them.
GRAND SLAM. Zoe Hilario (middle) stands proudly on the podium, owning the 200-meter backstroke event. Photo Credit: The UAAP (Facebook)
The year 2016 was the first time Zoe qualified for the Southeast Asian Games (SEAG). Although she didn't win a medal, she was given the honor to represent our country.
After a few more years of hard work, her results were astonishing. At the young age of 15, she held tight to the chances that she was given to compete in international meets and represent our country’s pride in competitions such as the SEAG, which was held in Brunei, Asean School Games (ASG) and Singapore National Age Group Swimming Championship (SNAGSC), which were both held in Singapore. The last international competition she joined was the Arafura Games held last year in Australia.
She started participating in the Palarong Pambansa when she was in the 4th grade. The following year, she qualified for the Milo Little Olympics. She has been a consistent participant in the Regional Palaro and UAAP Swimming Competition since 2015.
Zoe is known as one of the strongest swimmers in the UPISVST, for she has gained a lot of points, stood on top of podiums, and won multiple medals in most of the tournaments she qualified for.
Currently, Zoe doesn’t have a lot of upcoming competitions; she is focusing on the races she usually competes in, such as the NCR Palaro and next season’s UAAP. She has set her goal to improve her personal best times by being consistent in training and improving her attitude in reaching those times.
Sports isn’t the only skill she has, in fact, she can balance both sports and academics. She consistently appears on the Principal's List posted every end of the semester, as she maintains a general weighted average (GWA) above 80 percent every time. Her secret to balancing her studies and sports is by focusing on one thing at a time. She says, “Kunyari ‘pag training, training muna iniisip.”
“I think I can improve more by not giving up on myself...Matuto mag-sacrifice for my goals” were said by Zoe when asked how she will improve more as of today.
Zoe worked hard to be where she is today. She has set foot in other countries to compete, bringing our country's name with her. If she can do it, then you can too. Just because you are a student-athlete, it does not mean that you cannot excel in your academics. It only takes time, effort, and patience to be able to reach your goals. Learn to manage your time well and you will see that you have skills that you never thought you had. //by Franz Joves
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