From near dropout to cum laude: Filipina architect triumphs

When tuition money ran out and her father fell ill, Rheanna Yzabelle R. De Guzman faced the very real chance that her dream of becoming an architect would end before it began. Two days after her birthday, everything changed: she received the Metrobank Foundation–Boysen scholarship that not only covered her school expenses but became a lifeline that kept her dream alive.

Raised by a single father, Rhonnel De Guzman, and supported by her grandmother, Librada De Guzman, Rheanna navigated financial uncertainty that threatened to derail her studies at the University of Santo Tomas. The scholarship gave her breathing room to focus on academics, internships, and ultimately her thesis, which she defended successfully in her fifth year.

Metrobank Foundation President Philip Francisco Dy said the program’s goal goes beyond individual success. The foundation empowers scholars to contribute to their communities, turning personal achievements into broader social impact. For Rheanna, that meant graduating cum laude and passing the January 2026 Architecture Licensure Examination alongside fellow MBFI–Boysen scholars Joanna Rose Irinco of National University–Manila and Lycel Anne Pineda of University of the Philippines–Diliman.

The support from Metrobank Foundation and Boysen was more than financial. “They saw potential in me that I hadn’t yet seen in myself,” Rheanna said, emphasizing mentorship, guidance, and encouragement that shaped her into a professional ready to build real structures and hope for others. Her journey reflects a full-circle moment: receiving help when she needed it most and now carrying the responsibility to give back.

As she begins her career, Rheanna views her license not as an endpoint but as a starting point. Her mission is to continue the cycle of support, inspiring the next generation of dreamers to persist despite obstacles, and proving that scholarships can be a bridge to real-world impact.

Established in 1979, the Metrobank Foundation, Inc. has long invested in programs like scholarships, arts, math challenges, and social development partnerships, aiming to link personal success with community growth. Rheanna’s story is a vivid example of that mission in action: a reminder that investing in people creates ripples far beyond a single individual’s journey.