Belay Fernando, cancer survivor, in awe of Filipinas' World Cup journey

Levi Joshua Verora Jr.

<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Co2cGVyKcKw/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style="background:#FFF;border:0;border-radius:3px;box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15);margin:1px;max-width:540px;min-width:326px;padding:0;width:calc(100% - 2px)"><div style="padding:16px"><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;align-items:center"><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;flex-grow:0;height:40px;margin-right:14px;width:40px"> </div><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:column;flex-grow:1;justify-content:center"><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;margin-bottom:6px;width:100px"> </div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;width:60px"> </div></div></div><div style="padding:19% 0"> </div><div style="display:block;height:50px;margin:0 auto 12px;width:50px"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Co2cGVyKcKw/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style="background:#FFFFFF;line-height:0;padding:0 0;text-align:center;text-decoration:none;width:100%" target="_blank"><svg height="50px" version="1.1" viewBox="0 0 60 60" width="50px" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd" stroke="none" stroke-width="1"><g fill="#000000" transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 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style="background-color:#F4F4F4;height:12.5px;transform:rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px);width:12.5px;flex-grow:0;margin-right:14px;margin-left:2px"> </div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;height:12.5px;width:12.5px;transform:translateX(9px) translateY(-18px)"> </div></div><div style="margin-left:8px"><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;flex-grow:0;height:20px;width:20px"> </div><div style="width:0;height:0;border-top:2px solid transparent;border-left:6px solid #f4f4f4;border-bottom:2px solid transparent;transform:translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"> </div></div><div style="margin-left:auto"><div style="width:0px;border-top:8px solid #F4F4F4;border-right:8px solid transparent;transform:translateY(16px)"> </div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;flex-grow:0;height:12px;width:16px;transform:translateY(-4px)"> </div><div style="width:0;height:0;border-top:8px solid #F4F4F4;border-left:8px solid transparent;transform:translateY(-4px) translateX(8px)"> </div></div></div><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:column;flex-grow:1;justify-content:center;margin-bottom:24px"><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;margin-bottom:6px;width:224px"> </div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;width:144px"> </div></div><div style="color:#c9c8cd;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:17px;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:8px;overflow:hidden;padding:8px 0 7px;text-align:center;text-overflow:ellipsis;white-space:nowrap"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Co2cGVyKcKw/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style="color:#c9c8cd;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;line-height:17px;text-decoration:none" target="_blank">A post shared by Belay Fernando-De La Cruz (@belayfernando)</a></div></div></blockquote><div><script async="" src="https://www.instagram.com/embed.js" type="text/javascript"></script></div><p>MANILA – Witnessing Filipinas in the position they are in now makes team coordinator Belay Fernando-Dela Cruz reflect on the many experiences she underwent to be with the women’s football national team.</p><p>In 2019, the former women’s football national team member revealed that she had been battling cervical cancer for a year.</p><p>The undeterred Fernando-Dela Cruz would eventually defeat the “Big C”, and dedicated her life to the beautiful game by having a hands-on role with the Filipinas behind the scenes.</p><p>“I think everything really happens for a reason. It’s super cliché but every moment, every small moment, whether I was able to handle it (cancer), whether I took it as good or bad, those moments led me to this,” she shared.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/05/18/23/feu-dethrones-ateneo-to-take-back-mens-football-crown">FEU dethrones Ateneo to take back men&#x27;s football crown</a></li></ul><p>“(Those moments) prepared me for it, from managing men’s teams, to understanding my body went to rest, being prepared to be there for them, I think every moment led up to this, so I’m really, really grateful for all my experiences.”</p><p>The former Ateneo women’s football team defender had such a busy night during the Filipinas’ FIFA Women’s World Cup adidas jersey reveal on Tuesday, having to speak with several personnel to make the event a success.</p><p>Merely being part of it and the Filipinas in general makes Fernando-Dela Cruz even prouder as a trailblazer, given all the personal challenges she had to overcome.</p><p>“Sometimes, it doesn’t even feel real. I am just in awe of what this team has been able to achieve. I think they’re just scratching the surface, and look how many young girls and boys they have inspired,” she said.</p><p>“They really worked hard for it, for this moment, this culmination. No matter what happens, I’m so grateful to do it in such a big manner. They were at the centerpiece of it all with adidas.”</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/05/18/23/filipinas-take-on-australia-chinese-taipei-in-olympic-qualifiers">Filipinas take on Australia, Chinese Taipei in women&#x27;s football OQT</a></li></ul><p>The Filipinas have copped several milestones in the last two years, including qualifying for their first-ever FIFA Women’s World Cup after a breakthrough semifinal finish in the 2022 AFC Women’s Asian Cup.</p><p>Months after that keystone moment, the national squad also won the AFF Women’s Championship in front of the hometown crowd in Manila.</p><p>This July, the Filipinas will make their World Cup debut official, with matches against New Zealand, Norway, and Switzerland.</p><p>Fernando-Dela Cruz is hopeful the group sets even more records and accomplishments in the future. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/05/17/23/chandler-mcdaniel-determined-to-make-world-cup-roster">Football: Chandler McDaniel out to make her mark, adamant to make World Cup roster</a></li></ul><p>“Hopefully, this is just the ripple in a really, really big wave for Filipino football, not just women’s football,” she said.</p><p>“It’s just been a ride. It’s not always easy. You have to sacrifice a lot of things, missing out on a lot of events, but it’s a once in a lifetime thing, so we’re taking this opportunity and we’re going with it.”</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO </strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=2622148" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div>

Belay Fernando-Dela Cruz reflects on the many experiences she underwent to be with the women’s football national team.

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Belay Fernando, cancer survivor, in awe of Filipinas' World Cup journey

Belay Fernando, cancer survivor, in awe of Filipinas' World Cup journey

Levi Joshua Verora Jr.

Published May 19, 2023 10:08 PM PHT

Read More:

Filipinas

Philippine women’s football

FIFA Women’s World Cup

Belay Fernando-Dela Cruz

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