23/06/2025
MANILA, Philippines — In early 2024, Miguel Anton De Lara, an Architecture graduate from De La Salle–College of Saint Benilde, was preparing for the board exam when life took a devastating turn — he was diagnosed with testicular cancer.
What followed was a painful journey: surgery, four cycles of chemotherapy, and a worsening prognosis that reached Stage 4. He battled memory loss, numbness, and unbearable pain, but he never stopped studying — not even on his worst days.
Despite losing friends, opportunities, and nearly his life, his faith held him up. He called on God, his family, and the few who stood by him.
In October 2024, he was told the cancer had spread to his bones. But a final CT scan revealed what he now calls a miracle — he was cancer-free.
Fueled by grace and gratitude, Miguel took the January 2025 Architecture Licensure Exam with one mission: to finish the race. He didn’t make it to the top 10, but for many, his courage, resilience, and faith made him a true topnotcher.
"This life, this victory — it's not mine. It belongs to God."
📸 Photos courtesy of Miguel Anton De Lara
