Anne, as she is known to family and friends, thrived on the rhythm of family routines. But in mid-2024, a small, painless lump on her thigh quietly changed everything. By August, that lump became a life-altering diagnosis: Stage 3 Myxofibrosarcoma, a rare soft tissue cancer that had already spread to her lungs.

“Sa simula, I was shocked, nalungkot, naisip ko ’yung mga anak ko, ’yung pamilya ko (At first, I was shocked and sad, and I thought of my children and my family),” Anne recalls. “But I never questioned God, asking ‘why me?’ Ang unang pumasok sa isip ko, may purpose si God sa buhay ko kaya lalaban ako (The first thought that came to my mind was that God has a purpose for my life, and that’s why I will keep fighting),” she adds.

Before cancer, Anne’s days were simple yet purposeful. She tended to the needs of her children—aged 16, six, and four—juggled meetings at work, checked on construction progress at their new home, and managed the small crises that naturally come with parenting.

“Work, alaga sa kids… the usual life of a mom and wife,” Anne says when asked to describe her life before the diagnosis.

Stress and uncertainty were normal. “Masyado akong naging busy sa stress ng buhay, lagi kong naiisip parang may kulang (I became too busy with the stresses of life; I often felt that something was missing),” she shares.

But cancer, she would soon learn, was a storm she could never have imagined. On August 6, 2024, she was diagnosed with soft tissue sarcoma. Surgery came first. Two weeks later, on August 20, doctors confirmed it was Stage 3 Myxofibrosarcoma.

“Ang nakakagulat, ’yung akala kong maliit na lump, eh 16 cm na bukol na pala (What’s surprising is that what I thought was just a small lump turned out to be a 16-centimeter mass),” she explains.

What followed was a year of ozone therapy, strict diets, and supplements. Just when she thought the worst was behind her, a sharp pain in her back revealed that the cancer had returned—this time in her lungs—requiring chemotherapy.

“Until June 2025, may nararamdaman akong masakit sa likod ko hanggang sa hindi ko na kinaya ’yung pain kaya nagpa-ER na ako. Doon sa X-ray, nakita na may maliliit na nodules sa lungs ko. Doon nagsimula ang chemotherapy ko (I had been feeling pain in my back until I could no longer bear it, so I went to the ER. The X-ray showed small nodules in my lungs. That was when my chemotherapy began),” Anne says.

Since her cancer journey began, Anne started using “Annestrong” in her social media posts—a clever blend of her name and the word strong.

“Annestrong” quickly became more than just a hashtag; it emerged as a statement of resilience, perseverance, and hope. Like a personal mantra—I am strong—it came to symbolize courage, determination, and the unbreakable spirit she carries every day.

“Hindi tayo dapat panghinaan ng loob (We should not lose heart),” Anne says. “Fight lang ng fight (Just keep fighting) because we have a big God, bigger than the disease, bigger than our battles,” she adds.

Chemotherapy, Anne says, was brutal but became manageable over time.

“I am usually admitted to the hospital for five days for every cycle,” she says. “Iba-iba ang naging side effects sa akin every cycle, but I can say they were manageable because of the medications given before and after chemotherapy (The side effects varied every cycle, but with proper medication, they were manageable).”

During chemotherapy, some days felt like her body was betraying her. The weakness, nausea, and fatigue were overwhelming. Still, she learned to celebrate small victories—finishing a cycle, having good blood counts, or even getting through a single day without vomiting.

“Nakakatakot ang mga side effects ng chemo, lalo na kapag nababasa mo. But if you face it with courage and faith, knowing that God is with you in the fight, kayang-kaya ang mga side effects (Chemo can sound terrifying when you read about it, but with courage and faith—believing that God is with you—you can endure and overcome it),” she says.

Amid all the challenges, support became Anne’s strongest lifeline. Her mother cooked meals and offered endless encouragement. Her husband held her hand through the darkest nights.

Her children, though young, brought laughter and joy that reminded her why she had to keep fighting.

Dealing with cancer was not new for Anne and her family. In 2018, she lost her father to gastric cancer. “Napakahirap at sobrang sakit (It was extremely difficult and very painful),” she recalls.

While losing her father remains a painful memory, it also strengthened Anne’s resolve to overcome the challenges she faces now.

“I’ve learned to celebrate small wins. I celebrate whenever I finish a chemo cycle. I celebrate when my blood counts are good. I celebrate when I don’t experience nausea or vomiting,” Anne says. “I am going through one of the hardest battles in life, so I thank God every time I celebrate even the small things.”

Amid the trials of her illness, Anne found solace in a new church community that embraced her family with open arms. Their prayers, visits, and countless acts of kindness became a daily source of strength, quietly renewing her faith and giving her hope with each passing day.

“God truly touched my heart when He led us to our new church. Bago lang nila kami kakilala, but the warmth, support, and love from God’s family in the church were overwhelming. Grabe! They lifted my soul, hugged me, and prayed for me (Even though they had only just met us, the love and support they showed were overwhelming),” Anne shares.

As she weathers this storm, Anne realizes that courage is not about being fearless but about being brave even when fear comes in crushing waves. She clung to her faith as a lifeline. Daily prayers, devotionals, and healthy routines became her armor.

Psalm 118:17 guided her every day: “I shall not die but live and declare the works of the Lord.” Those words were more than comfort—they were a promise she chose to believe.

For Anne, cancer changed more than her body—it changed her perspective.

Anxiety gave way to gratitude. The clamor of everyday life faded, leaving room for appreciation of small joys: a sunny morning, her children’s laughter, her husband’s steady presence.

Anne discovered resilience she hadn’t known she possessed and a patience that carried her through the toughest treatments.

“Courage is embracing vulnerability. It is not being fearless, but being brave despite the fear,” Anne says. “There is always hope in our darkest moments. If our hope comes from God, then there is victory,” she adds.

Looking ahead, Anne dreams of completing their family home, traveling with loved ones, and sharing her testimony to inspire others battling illness.

“I am looking forward to the ministries God will entrust to me—praise and worship, Bible study, choir,” Anne says. “I am excited to share my healing testimony, especially with those who are experiencing the same situation.”

Her deepest hope is to continue serving God alongside her children, instilling in them the same lessons of faith, courage, and hope that sustained her.

“I want to share with them how God prepared my heart and mind and helped me overcome this,” Anne says. “I am excited to serve God with my family, especially my children. I want to see them experience how God works in their lives and to see them serving the Lord as well.”

To anyone walking the difficult path of illness—or standing beside a loved one who is—Anne’s message carries quietly but powerfully: “You are not alone in this battle. You have God.”

“He will never let you go through this without Him. Just have faith,” Anne says. Even in the darkest moments, Anne assures there is always hope. “It’s okay to cry. It’s okay not to be strong all the time. Rest in the presence of God. Thank Him even for the small things. Being grateful every day will give you hope,” she adds.

Anne encourages others not to lose hope or faith: “There is always hope with God. Forget all the negative things that make you feel like a failure. Instead, remember that God has a purpose for you that is far greater than your plans. One day, you will see yourself smiling and be amazed because you have surpassed everything with God.”

While the journey is undeniably difficult, Anne believes worrying is a futile attempt at control.

“We don’t have control over our lives,” she explains. “Life is full of troubles, struggles, and problems. But God will never allow us to face these without Him. We will never be alone.”