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

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Levi Joshua Verora Jr.

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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.