The Blueprint of a Full Circle: From the Brink of Impossibility to Licensed Architect

Wazzup Pilipinas!? 

For Rheanna Yzabelle R. De Guzman, the path to becoming an architect was never a series of clean, effortless lines. It was a blueprint marked by grit, prayer, and a "full-circle" journey that nearly ended before it truly began. On March 21, 2026, as she stood at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) for her professional oath-taking, the weight of that journey finally settled into a triumphant reality.

A Foundation Under Pressure

Rheanna’s story is rooted in a small, tight-knit household led by her father, Rhonnel, a former Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW), and her grandmother, Librada. The stability of their world shifted violently when her father was forced to return home due to heart disease. Suddenly, the financial architecture of their lives crumbled. By her second year of college, Rhonnel’s savings were exhausted.

"At that point, the dream of becoming an architect didn’t just feel far away; it felt impossible," Rheanna recalled. With no clear path forward, the family turned to the only resource they had left: "a quiet hope that the Lord would provide".

The Turning Point

The provision arrived in the form of a life-changing gift. Just two days after her birthday, Rheanna received the news that she had been selected as a Metrobank Foundation–Boysen scholar.

This was more than just a financial lifeline; it was a vote of confidence. Rheanna reflects that the foundation did not merely sustain her education but saw a "professional in the making" even when she couldn't see it in herself. This belief "lit a fire" within her, allowing her to pivot from the exhaustion of survival to the pursuit of excellence.

Building a Legacy of Excellence

With the burden of tuition lifted, Rheanna poured her energy into her craft at the University of Santo Tomas. Her dedication culminated in several major milestones:

Academic Triumph: She graduated cum laude with her Bachelor of Science in Architecture.

Professional Certification: She successfully passed the January Architecture Licensure Examination.

Shared Success: Her fellow MBFI–Boysen scholars, Joanna Rose Irinco and Lycel Anne Pineda, also achieved their licenses alongside her.

The Responsibility of the License

Standing before her peers and distinguished guests, Rheanna spoke of the "full-circle moment" that brought her from a virtual scholar’s forum during the pandemic to a physical stage as a licensed professional. Yet, she emphasized that the license is not a finish line.

"Our journey doesn't end with this license," she told the crowd. "It begins with the responsibility to build, not just structures but also hope... a story of how we kept this cycle alive by paying it forward to the dreamers who come after us".

For the Metrobank Foundation, Rheanna’s journey is the embodiment of their mission to "Excel, Engage, and Empower". As Foundation President Philip Francisco Dy noted, empowering individuals is about inspiring them to give back and build stronger communities. Rheanna Yzabelle De Guzman is now ready to do exactly that—designing a future that is as sturdy and hopeful as the foundation that supported her.

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