On the morning of Sunday 22nd June 2025, while lying beside his beloved wife in a quiet hospital room, John-John Cantela took his final breath and went to be with the Lord.

Born on 16th September 1989, in the Philippines, John-John lived a life marked by deep love, unshakable faith, and extraordinary strength. In 2017, he moved to the UK to marry his childhood sweetheart after many years apart. Together, they began building the life they had dreamed of since they were young.

But just months into their marriage, life took a devastating turn. What began as a small concern, experiencing some pain in his ankle, John-John had found a lump. Tests later confirmed what no one wants to hear, it was cancer. At the very same time, his wife was pregnant with their first child, their now beautiful daughter, Isabelle.

What followed was a long journey that would test the limits of any person. He went through rounds of chemotherapy followed by the amputation of his leg below the knee, all while never losing faith in God and somehow always looked joyful. John-John remained a pillar of faith. He continued to trust in God. Continued to love his family. Continued to serve as a leader at his church in Leeds.

Later, cancerous nodules were found in his lungs. More surgeries followed. More chemo. More pain. And yet… still no complaints. He continued to walk (even on crutches) in faith. Even as his body weakened, his spirit stayed strong. John-John was a disciple of Christ, a devoted & loving husband, a tender father, a faithful man of God who never let go of hope and always told people about Jesus.

Now that he has gone to be with the Lord, his family, friends, and church community are all coming together to honour him. We’re raising funds to help cover funeral costs and the transportation of his body back to the Philippines. It’s a huge financial burden during an already unimaginable time of grief, and we are reaching out to anyone who feels moved to help. Be it with a donation, a prayer, or by sharing this story.

John-John may no longer be with us in body but his legacy of faith, hope, and unwavering strength will live on in every life he touched.

Thank you for being part of his story.