MANILA, Philippines - Hundreds of alumni of Maryknoll/Miriam College trooped to the school grounds on Katipunan Avenue, Quezon City, last Sept. 6, to celebrate their homecoming entitled “Turning Point: A Celebration of Change.” The event was hosted by this year’s silver jubilarians, Maryknoll High School Batch 1989, the last batch of high school students to graduate with the school name Maryknoll.
The day was packed with activities, starting with a Mass Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle that was held at the Marian Auditorium for the first time. (Usually the homecoming mass is done at the college chapel.) The Mass was sponsored by Grade School 1989.
Amazing Alumni Achievers
A special portion of the main program was devoted to honoring the 2014 Amazing Alumni Achievers that included pediatric surgeon Dr. Luisa Dychitan Aquino (High School 1979), business leader Alicia Rita Morales-Arroyo (High School 1979), National Museum chief curator Dr. Ana Maria Theresa Pangalanan-Labrador (High School 1979), dancer/artist/director Denisa Reyes (High School 1969), health advocate Aurorita Marco-Mendoza (College 1968), the late life coach Norma Guanzon Tinio (High School 1959), and communications and public affairs expert Katreena Salgado-Bernardino (High School 1983). National Artist for Dance Alice Reyes (a previous recipient of the Amazing Alumni Award) was also given tribute.
Miriam College president Dr. Rosario Lapus, and Maryknoll/Miriam College Alumni Association (MMCAA) chairperson Atty. Remedios “Edy” Lim, and MMCAA president Atty. Mari Fabian welcomed all the jubiliarians and shared updates about the school and the alumni association. Dr. Lapus reported on the opening of the Miriam campus in Nuvali, and the achievements of Miriam’s current students. MMCAA’s Atty. Fabian and Atty. Lim emphasized the importance of alumnae’s continued involvement in the school.
Giving back
As response to the school’s call to support its projects such as scholarships and facilities development, the jubilarian batches raised money for these endeavors. High School 1964, through a video featuring fashion designer Josie Cruz-Natori, announced their batch’s donation while host batch High School 1989, led by batch representative Carla Corona-Castillo, shared that the amount they are giving is a way of giving back to make the college “grow more fully as an institution of excellence.”
Fun times
Without doubt, the much-awaited portions of the homecoming were the presentations of the jubilarians. High School 1979, High School 1974, College 1969, High School 1969, College 1974, Grade School 1959, High School 1984, High School 1964, College 1964, and High School 1989 thrilled the audience with their dance numbers and AVPs and showed that Knollers remain the fun-loving girls that they always have been.
The Miriam College High School Glee Club, gold diploma winner of the 2014 World Choir Games held in Latvia, sang For Good (from the musical Wicked) during the turnover ceremony of Maryknoll High School 1989 to Miriam High School 1990, silver jubilarians of 2015.
The best in years
The homecoming was capped with an after-party featuring live performances of Marissa Sanchez, Darryl Shy, The Bloomfields and DJ Jon Tupaz.
Truly, it was a celebration that everyone enjoyed. Organizing batch High School 1989 received many messages of congratulations for a very successful homecoming, particularly from Miriam College president Dr. Rosario Lapus, former Grade School principal Jamelia Villanueva, MMCAA board members Grace Favila and Jek Nunez.