Survivors Speak

TETTA ORTIZ-MATERA LIT Fashion Consultancy, former fashion model “Staying strong and hopeful helped me get through my treatments.” I was at my fittest during my diagnosis, but I didn’t realize until then that I could even be stronger mentally and emotionally as well....

Melissa de Leon-Joseph Co-founder, Stage Zero by Project Pink “Having cancer twice is humbling.” A second cancer can feel so overwhelming big time, I know. If you have cancer again, remember you’ve faced this before, and you are stronger than you think. The second...

WIG TYSMANS Photographer “I thought I was having a heart attack.” I was in Europe with my wife and daughter in February 2025 when I felt a needle-sharp pain on my right breast. It happened suddenly, and the sensation was radiating towards the center of my chest. The...

Sheilla Gagui Triathlete “When you keep fighting cancer, life becomes your biggest victory.” One of the hardest challenges I faced was fatigue. My family and I would go to the park so the kids could bike while I ran. In the early stages of chemo, I could still run...

Susana “Chuchu” Madrigal Chairperson, Consuelo “Chito” Madrigal Foundation, Inc. “We survivors have a shared sympathy and compassion.” We each have a different reaction when we’re diagnosed with breast cancer. But no matter what our reaction towards the diagnosis is,...

Christina Dy Visual Artist, Dancer, Founder and Creative Director of Polecats Manila “I am now living life slower, but more intentional.” Instead of making every minute count and optimizing my life, I’ve shifted my mindset to living a slower life and doing less. If I...

Ina Vergel de Dios Board of Trustees Member, ICanServe Foundation “You will find a way through.” I had my first bout with cancer when I was only 27. I didn’t know much about breast cancer then. I did not even know anyone with breast cancer, for that matter. There...

Cecile Guidote-Alvarez Founder, Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA) Producer & Host, Balintataw radio program (DZRH) Director, Earthsavers Dreams Ensemble – UNESCO Artist for Peace “Age is not a hindrance to learning and healing.” I had breast cancer...

Elizabeth “Libet” C. Virata Chairperson, Fund Raising Committee, ICanServe Foundation Chairperson, Helping Women and Others (HWAO) Foundation “My life hasn’t changed; it’s my awareness of life that has changed.” When I was still in my teens, I was struck by the...

Jo-Ann Camacho “Our lives are always worth the fight!” I thought I was immortal and will never get sick. However, I found out that I was vulnerable as well. I was humbled tremendously. I was on vacation around October 2023 when I felt a hard lump in my right breast...

Marge Jorillo Vice President for Corporate Communications, GSIS Board of Trustees Member and Treasurer, ICanServe Foundation “Totoo pala, your life truly does flash before you.” I found out I had breast cancer in May 2005, thanks to the reddish brown discharge I had...

Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) Survivors Gina Torres Evangelista Jhalyn Mancenido Siwa “To our newly-diagnosed sisters, know that you are not alone.” GINA TORRES EVANGELISTA, Certified Aromatherapist I was diagnosed in March 2009 with Stage IIIC Triple Negative...

Bettina Aboitiz “I almost forget I ever had cancer.” In 2014, during a routine screening, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I didn’t have a lump, no pain, no symptoms. It was just another annual check-up. But that mammogram caught something I never would have found...

Dr. Cecilia R. Montales Executive Assistant for Health, City Government of Taguig Patient Services Committee Chair, ICanServe Foundation Dr. Marie Irene R. Sy Executive Assistant for Health, City Government of Taguig "Cancer reminded us that doctors are not...

ABBYGALE ARENAS DE LEON Certified Image Consultant, Managing Director, Personi-fi Image Studio, Inc. Binibining Pilipinas - Universe 1997 “Small victories matter; celebrate them.” Early detection is a lifesaver — it gives you the best chance to fight and win. I...

MALOU FORES, co-founder and CEO of Mamou “I value and cherish every waking moment that I am blessed with.” If my cancer journey has taught me one thing, it is that nothing is permanent, and that life is determined by the choices and decisions we make for ourselves…...

BIBETH ORTEZA, writer, actor, director, spokesperson and member, board of trustees, ICANSERVE Foundation “I find the humor in my tumor.” I’ve always never given in to despair or sadness — not as a child, not even when I was diagnosed. During my fourth chemo in March...

FRANCES YU, Director, Nena’s Sanctuary Independent Director, Century Pacific Food, Inc. and Shakey’s Pizza Ventures, Inc. “I learned to value life in a way that I did not before.” In everything that happens to me, I try to see and be grateful for the obvious, and also...

Cora and Dr. JC Masangkay Irene Lee and Dr. Chelsea Manalansan Mimi and Dr. David Martin “Our children inspired us to keep fighting. Now that they are doctors, they care for us like no one else can.” We were all diagnosed around 20 years ago, when our children were...

ALEXANDRA LAMB MORAN Business Development Director, John Clements Consultants, Inc. “Every moment matters on your path to recovery.” I believe it is essential to take charge of your health without delay. Don’t put it off. A cancer diagnosis can be terrifying and...

BETTINA OSMEÑA, founder, Gourmet Corner PH Member, Board of Trustees, ICanServe Foundation “I never knew I had it in me to be very strong.” I used to sweat the small stuff, but stopped doing that a long time ago. After my diagnosis in 2003, I have had a few...

BADMINTON BEAUTIES Bangge Mabanta, Vangie Khu, Carla Paras-Sison, Sheila Cruz, Be Fojas “We play for fun, for laughs, for wellness.” We all played badminton even before we knew one another, that is, before we got diagnosed. We met through the ICANSERVE online group....

DORIS NUVAL, Vice President, ICanServe Foundation Consultant, Knowledge Channel "The cure to cancer is 50% attitude and 50% medical protocol." I have met and seen quite a few (Stage 4) ladies who have licked the disease, kicking cancer’s ass with their infectious...

VECK ARJONA Volunteer, Advocacy Committee, ICanServe Foundation TINA VILLASIS Volunteer, ICanServe Foundation “What started as our journey of fear and uncertainty has turned into our mission of hope, healing, and advocacy.” Breast cancer has touched two generations of...

TONI ABAD Marketing Consultant “I learned to listen to my body and discovered the healing power of nutritious food.” When I was faced with the daunting challenge of a cancer diagnosis, food transformed from a simple necessity into a powerful ally in my journey toward...

TANG SINGSON, member, Board of Trustees ICanServe Foundation “I honestly believe that survival rates are higher when cancer is detected early.” I continue to volunteer because I believe in the advocacy of ICanServe. Early detection can truly save lives! I want people...

MARITONI FERNANDEZ, actress, owner, Herb-All Organic Trading Corp. “There are millions of us living full lives after breast cancer.” This year, I’m a 24-year survivor of breast cancer. Throughout it all, Jesus was my ally — it is my strong faith and relationship with...

Miriam College HS Pink Batch ‘98 - Ria Villena-Osorio, Steph Puno, Kathy Santos-Cruz, Iris Henson-Chan, Giselle Arroyo ”Lift everything up to God. He is in charge." We all went to Miriam College High School, and graduated as the Pink Batch of 1998. In 2017, three of...

KERI ZAMORA, founder, Caring Keri Foundation “I discovered I am strong and resilient.” Of course, it was not just me dealing with this on my own. The resilience I discovered was boosted by the support of my family, especially my husband Francis and my sister Ruby, and...

PATTY BETITA, image enhancement speaker, model coach, talent mentor, Binibining Pilipinas International 1991 “I am a survivor. I am whole and beautiful.” I was diagnosed with Stage 1 breast cancer in 2008 but only came out and announced it in public in 2015 via the...