We always have mixed feelings whenever we look back at our High School Life. It  brings fondest memories and moments of youth, naivety, reckless imprudence, childish thrills as we explored and exploited the limits of our freedom. Ah, adolescent life, we were labeled “confused”,”cute-not cute”, “makulit-tahimik”, “irresponsible”, “magaling”, for we were neither in childhood stage nor in adulthood. We were actually preparing for a lifelong vocation of greater and higher responsibility leading to our complete transition to personhood.

In the end, Assumpta is the single most important influence outside our home. And our Assumpta education is the most important legacy jointly bestowed by our parents, our teachers, the sisters of the Religious of the Assumption and our community. The Assumpta formation for young people is not just a preparation for the next level in the education ladder or the next best thing for a growing and developing adolescent. ASSUMPTA PREPARED US FOR LIFE. WE WERE PREPARED TO LIVE LIFE.

To most of us who were struggling lower and middle class in those times, the value of a private school education is an “impossible dream”. We can’t help then but to stare in awe at other young people wearing school uniform. . . very secure. . . very confident. . . they have a clear direction where they are going to.

In one way or the other, our parents too made sacrifices in order to give us the best education they can afford. This was equaled by the generosity of Mother Rosa Memorial Foundation and some anonymous benefactors that paved the way to realize our “impossible dream”.

It was in Assumpta Technical High School that we started to make our small steps in shaping our soul. But mind you, it was not a “dole-out” program. We were encouraged to strive and to thrive in realizing the Gospel life, inspired and demonstrated by the community of sisters of the Religious of the Assumption.

The Gospel value increased manifold as it gave us an identity and a name to be proud of. We are Assumptans!

Where did we draw our strengths all these years? It all came from the memories and moments we shared and celebrated together—as friends, as a family, and as a community.

While our elementary years served as our initial foundation, it was our high school life that  molded us, refined our concepts, our perceptions, our behaviors, our faith that also served as our gateway to the future.

It was in Assumpta that we re-discovered our confidence and the value of camaraderie and community. We learned to become and to belong. We celebrated life together forging our creativity and uniqueness.

It was also in Assumpta that we came face to face with our history as sons/daughters of farmers, laborers, fisherfolks, government employees, teachers, vendors and migrant workers. We learned to appreciate the value of all these works because of the academic and technical skills we gained from Assumpta.

We were guided by Mr. Marucut to discover our potentials and capabilities in agriculture and animal husbandry. Mr. Canlas and Mr. Manalastas combined their creative energies for us to put together project in carpentry. Mother William engaged us our mental capacities to transform mathematical equations into functional electronic gadgets. Mrs. Banawa and Mrs Saclao encouraged us to do good in math and chemistry so that we can come up with presentable and delicious foods in our cooking class. Mrs. Ferrera and Mrs. Romero made us realize the power of effective communication, the speed in typing and writing steno as well as the importance of basic accounting.

Who could forget our mentors in creative and performing arts: Mrs. Manalastas, Sr. Fe, Sr. Jo, Sr. Rosa, Sr. Eli, Sr. Patricia, Sr. Mercedes, Mother Ana, Mother Josefa and, of course, our mentor in music Mother Pilar.

Who could forget Ahmal and the Night Visitors, The Boor, and our Ciriaco Tibursio version of Charles Dickens' Ebenezer Scrooge

Twenty five years need not change the innate goodness in us manifested in values and integrity kept intact through the years.

Our stature in life may be as diversed as the stars but we all have found our sense of worth, our direction, our purpose. For in life, what counts is not what you are but who you have become as a person. So let us not measure our accomplishments by accumulated material wealth or by the authority of our position.

We have all come and gone a long way. Some of us have reached the pinnacle of success. Well of course, success is both relative and fleeting. True success comes to those who in their daily struggles managed to find fulfillment in the lives they lead.

The homecoming is a must for everyone, albeit the sad memories, frustrations and heartaches, if only for the chance to meet each other again, renew ties, finish unfinished business, overcome regrets, patch things up and move on.

Let this be a step forward in bringing the batch closer together to pay forward what has been given to us in terms of a good education and a life full of hope and dreams.

Let us aspire to become contributing members of society and the world in general in whatever fields of endeavors we are in—be it as a businessperson, a corporate person, a mentor, a brother, a sister, a son, a daughter, a parent or a friend. Let us take this opportunity to use our God-given talent and share our blessings.

Happy 25th Anniversary