Rissa Mananquil Trillo, the editor-in-chief of Allure Philippines, has publicly shared her courageous battle with cancer that began over a year ago, marking her 47th birthday with a powerful message of resilience and mental strength.
In an Instagram post featuring portraits from her birthday celebration, Trillo revealed she first received her diagnosis on March 8, 2025—International Women's Day. "Last year, on March 8—International Women's Day—I heard the words I never thought I would: 'It's cancer'," she wrote.
Trillo emphasized that she refused to let the diagnosis define her identity or change how others treated her. "So I focused on what I could control—how I showed up, and how I held my mind," she explained.
"Because when people hear the word 'cancer,' it can feel like everything stops, like it's the end of the story," Trillo reflected. "But I made a choice early on—it wouldn't be mine."
The former model disclosed that 2025 became her year of intensive treatment, undergoing chemotherapy, brachytherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy. Despite never imagining cancer would become part of her life story, she approached the challenge with determination.
"I never imagined cancer would be part of my story. But once it was, I knew how I wanted to face it," Trillo stated, adding that she chose to fight the disease "mentally first."
Through her journey, Trillo learned a profound lesson about inner strength: "Strength isn't always visible—and winning often starts in the mind."
Reflecting on the past year, she noted that her personal meetings with people were intentional choices rather than coincidences. "It meant I chose to be there. It meant I gave what I could, when I could," she said.
Calling her birthday "a quiet milestone," Trillo described it as a reminder "of what the body and mind can endure" and "how much there is to be grateful for."
"I'm finally ready to tell this story," she concluded. "More, soon."
Trillo did not specify the type of cancer she faced or whether her treatments have concluded. She was appointed editor-in-chief of Allure Philippines in April 2025.