Harriet Valencia
Dr. Harriet Valencia is a licensed dentist, community volunteer, and visual artist known for her quiet dedication to both healthcare and creative work. She operates a modest dental clinic that serves patients from nearby neighborhoods as well as individuals who might otherwise struggle to access regular dental care.
Her clinic is located across the street from one of the hospitals operated by the Olazabal Medical Group. Through this proximity, Dr. Valencia eventually became acquainted with members of the Olazabal family. One of their earliest encounters occurred when Diana Olazabal visited the clinic as a child for dental treatment.
Despite her professional skill, Dr. Valencia has always maintained a modest lifestyle. Those who know her often describe her as calm, principled, and deeply compassionate toward her patients. She approaches dentistry not only as a profession but as a form of service.
Beyond her clinic work, Dr. Valencia also maintains an active artistic practice. Painting and drawing have long been part of her life, and her home environment reflects a blend of science and creativity. Her daughter, Stella Marienne Valencia, grew up surrounded by both dental instruments and sketchbooks, an upbringing that shaped Stella’s curiosity and artistic sensitivity.
Dr. Valencia frequently volunteers in community outreach programs, particularly those organized through the Olazabal Foundation’s Rural Health Initiative. One of the most significant missions she joined took place in Tabogon, Cebu after a devastating storm damaged much of the town’s infrastructure.
During this mission, temporary treatment stations were established inside a local public school where volunteer doctors and medical staff worked to restore basic healthcare services for affected residents.
Dr. Valencia provided dental treatment to patients who had lost access to clinics following the disaster. Stella accompanied her during the mission, helping organize supplies, guide patients, and assist with logistics alongside the medical volunteers.
It was during this outreach effort that Stella and Diana Olazabal reconnected years after their brief childhood encounter at the clinic.
For Dr. Valencia, these humanitarian missions reflect the same principles that guide her everyday work: quiet compassion, discipline, and the belief that healthcare should remain accessible to those who need it most.
Through her clinic, her volunteer service, and the home environment she built with her husband Alfie Valencia, Dr. Harriet Valencia helped shape the values of curiosity, empathy, and resilience that define her daughter’s path.