MANILA, Philippines – For Rheanna Yzabelle De Guzman, the recent oath-taking ceremony for newly licensed architects at the Philippine International Convention Center was more than a professional milestone—it was the culmination of a journey that nearly ended due to financial hardship.
Raised by a single father and supported by her grandmother, De Guzman's dream of becoming an architect faced a severe threat during her second year of college. Her father's heart disease forced him to stop working, cutting off the family's primary income source and leaving her education in jeopardy.
"When my father had to return home due to heart disease, our world shifted. His savings could only carry my education until my second year. At that point, the dream of becoming an architect didn't just feel far away; it felt impossible," De Guzman recalls.
Two days after her birthday, hope arrived in the form of a scholarship from the Metrobank Foundation–Boysen program. The support covered tuition and academic expenses, providing stability during a period of uncertainty.
"They didn't just see a student in need," she says. "They saw a professional in the making."
Freed from financial pressures, De Guzman focused on her studies at the University of Santo Tomas, graduating cum laude and eventually passing the January architecture licensure examination.
She wasn't alone in her success. Fellow scholars Joanna Rose Irinco of National University–Manila and Lycel Anne Pineda of the University of the Philippines Diliman also passed the same exam, demonstrating how targeted support can unlock potential.
For De Guzman, earning her license represents not an endpoint but a shift in responsibility.
"Our journey doesn't end with this license," she enthuses. "It begins with the responsibility to build—not just structures, but also hope."
Her story highlights how educational support programs can transform individual lives while contributing to the development of professionals who see their work as serving both practical and social needs.