Hillary Diane Andales: From “Yolanda” Survivor To Award-Winning Scientist
In the world of science competitions, few stories shine brighter than that of Hillary Diane Andales, a young Filipina who turned her passion for learning into a global victory. From a small city in Leyte, she rose to win one of the most prestigious international awards for young scientists, proving that talent and determination can take you anywhere.
From Tragedy to Triumph
In 2013, Typhoon “Yolanda” struck Leyte, leaving thousands of families homeless and grieving. Among the survivors was Hillary, who was in Grade 12. She recalls the terrifying moment when storm surges flooded their home:
“We had to run up to our double-deck bed kasi we didn’t have a second floor…My dad punched the ceiling tapos doon na lang kami sa steel trusses of the roof. We held on to those steel trusses for 7 hours until the storm surge subsided.”
Thankfully, her family was safe. That life-changing experience, paired with her love for science, became the driving force behind her future success.
Winning Against the World
The name Hillary Diane Andales would then make waves years later. She joined the Breakthrough Junior Challenge, a prestigious international science competition with 11,000 participants from 178 countries. This event celebrates students who can make complex scientific concepts easy for everyone to understand.
Her entry, titled “Relativity and the Equivalence of Reference Frames,” explained Albert Einstein’s Theory of Relativity in a simple, creative way using just a cellphone and a pickup truck.
Her brilliant presentation earned her the Grand Prize: a total of ₱20 million in awards, including a scholarship grant, rewards for her teacher, and funding for her school!
A Mindset for Growth
For Hillary, success isn’t just about winning.
“If I don’t think about my time as money, I spend it mindlessly. Hindi ko siya iniisip na valuable siya when in fact it is a limited resource,” she explained.
“When I look at my attempts folder, I see myself as someone who’s not afraid of failure and someone who is going into things, entering into things with the intent to grow, not to win,” she added.
READ: Maria Orosa: The War Heroine Who Saved Thousands of Lives Through Science
From clinging to a roof during one of the strongest typhoons in history to standing on the global stage as an award-winning young scientist, Hillary Diane Andales proves that resilience, creativity, and passion can turn hardship into achievement.
