ICONS OF HOPE: Dr. Ces and Dr. Peachy

Dr. Cecilia R. Montales
Executive Assistant for Health, City Government of Taguig
Patient Services Committee Chair, ICanServe Foundation

Dr. Marie Irene R. Sy
Executive Assistant for Health, City Government of Taguig

“Cancer reminded us that doctors are not invincible. We are people, too.”

DR. CECILLE MONTALES: I was doing breast self-exam in the shower when I felt a lump on my right breast. I reacted like a doctor more than a patient and immediately scheduled a check-up. After becoming a patient, I became a more compassionate doctor. I developed patience, having experienced long wait times for consultations and procedures, and the financial burden of treatment. I also discovered how difficult it is to access vital information and resources, like where to buy mastectomy bras, wigs, and other practical items during and after treatment. That experience highlighted the importance of support groups—spaces where fellow cancer patients share advice, emotional strength, and encouragement. In these communities, we don’t just survive—we truly live through and beyond cancer. I joined ICanServe in 2008 to give back. I believe God gave me a second chance because He wanted me to help other cancer patients. Beyond fulfilling that mission, I’ve also gained a sisterhood of women with the same purpose. My volunteer work keeps me grounded in that mission. I became involved in ICanServe’s flagship program, Ating Dibdibin, a comprehensive breast cancer control initiative in partnership with local governments. In Taguig City, where I work, we proudly became ICanServe’s third partner city. It was in Taguig that ICanServe first launched its patient navigation program. Our trained navigators guide patients from diagnosis through treatment and follow-ups. Because of them, we have saved hundreds of lives. As the lead trainer for Ating Dibdibin and Chair of ICanServe’s Patient Services Committee, I’ve had the privilege of working with incredible local leaders, healthcare providers, and most especially, brave and generous cancer patients.

In 2024, our local government received the Galing Pook Award for Ating Dibdibin, our joint initiative with ICanServe and the City of Taguig, led by Mayor Lani Cayetano. The program was also internationally recognized by The Lancet Oncology journal.
It’s deeply fulfilling to see the program Peachy and I began working on in 2012 grow into a national model. Knowing that Ating Dibdibin is helping—and saving—lives brings me immense joy. It’s also a beautiful way to honor my friendship with Peachy.

DR. PEACHY SY: Cecille and I are close friends. I was diagnosed with laryngeal cancer a year before she was. It happened just a month after I gave birth. Overnight, I went from doctor to patient. I had always known the science—but as a patient, I came to understand the soul of medicine. I learned that healing isn’t something you do alone. Cancer took many things, but it gave Cecille and me a bond—one forged in radiation, sealed with empathy, and sustained by friendship. Losing my voice to cancer—literally and figuratively—was a deep personal loss. My voice was my tool for teaching, comforting, and advocating. Without it, I felt vulnerable and unmoored. I also learned that healing isn’t purely physical. Cancer treatment goes beyond surgery, chemo, and radiation. It means coping with fear, fatigue, and the unknown. This experience reshaped how I practice medicine. I learned that sometimes, what patients need most isn’t a prescription—it’s presence, patience, and hope. I became more humble. More human. More grateful.

I’m blessed to work alongside Cecille on health programs in Taguig. Our friendship grew from caring for each other, to caring for an entire city.
I’ve regained my voice, and I advocate for head and neck cancer awareness, and for breast cancer care. Watching Cecille navigate her diagnosis also made me more aware of the gaps in access—especially to early screening and treatment—for women in underserved communities. Working side by side has made everything more meaningful. We may speak different languages, but the message is the same: You are not alone. You deserve care. Early detection saves lives.

#ICSat25
#SurvivorStories

Photos by: Dan Rivera
Acknowledgment: Central Signal Health Center, Taguig City

Icons of Hope is a social media campaign that features cancer survivors who share their own stories, learnings and the lives they now live. It is part of ICANSERVE Foundation’s 25th anniversary celebration in collaboration with Camera Club of the Philippines. With thanks to Owen Santos and Zonia Bandoy.