Assumption College leads as Host of the 56th WNCAA
This year marks a proud milestone for Assumption College as it takes on the role of host for the 56th Season of the Women’s National Collegiate Athletic Association (WNCAA), an event that brings together schools, athletes, and communities in a shared celebration of sportsmanship, unity, and women’s excellence.
The hosting journey began with a press conference last 3 September 2025 at the Pardo Hall of the HSY Building, setting the stage for a season filled with promise and passion. Guiding the event, Sister Irene Cecile Torres, r.a., college president of Assumption, inaugurated the program by launching this year’s inspiring theme: “Breaking Barriers, Building Legacies.” She underscored the importance of affirming that women belong in every arena—be it court, field, or stadium—and championed a sisterhood that transcends competition.
The season officially roared to life with the Opening Ceremonies last 6 September 2025 at Makati Coliseum, where Assumption proudly welcomed the delegates with a dynamic program of parade, torch lighting, and motivational messages led by school leaders.
Our very own Old Girl, Mariana Lopa (High School 2006), delivered an inspirational message that truly resonated with the athletes. As a former AC basketball varsity player, she reminded them that hard work always bears fruit. The discipline of training and listening to their coaches will shape not only their skills but also their character. Most importantly, she encouraged them to embrace and enjoy the journey. Mariana closed with a powerful reminder — that one day, these very athletes might find themselves standing at the podium, inspiring the next generation, just as she had inspired them that day.
With the theme “Breaking Barriers, Building Legacies,” this year’s WNCAA shines as a platform not just for athletic competition, but also for the cultivation of leadership, teamwork, and character among young women.
AC Moms and Athletes: A Legacy of Strength and Support
What makes this season extra special for Assumption College is the unique bond between its athletes and their mothers—many of whom are alumnae themselves. These moms, who once walked the same halls and carried the Assumption spirit, now find themselves in the cheering stands, supporting their daughters as they proudly don the blue and white.
For the daughters, being an AC athlete is both a privilege and a responsibility, as they balance academics, training, and the values instilled in them by their Assumption education. For the moms, it is a journey of joy and discovery—raising daughters who push limits, embrace discipline, and embody grace under pressure. Their Assumption background equips them with a perspective that blends encouragement, resilience, and faith, making their support for their daughters not only practical but deeply rooted in shared values.
Together, these mother-daughter pairs exemplify the heart of this year’s WNCAA: a legacy of excellence passed from one generation to the next, with Assumption College at the forefront of nurturing both athletes and leaders.
A Shared Legacy: Mia Lopez Empig (High School 1998 and College 200) and Lulu Empig (AC Hardcourt Team)
For Mia Lopez Empig watching her daughter Lulu compete as an Assumption athlete is both a homecoming and a promise fulfilled. “I feel proud, not only of her achievements but also of the character, discipline, and faith that shine through as she competes,” she shared. Her Assumption education instilled in her the values of faith, excellence, and service — principles she now passes on as she cheers her daughter on.
For Lulu, the experience is just as special. Representing Assumption this year, especially with AC hosting the WNCAA, is both an honor and a responsibility. “Carrying those values, especially perseverance, inspires me to always give my best both on and off the court,” she said. Their proudest moments aren’t just in the spotlight, but in the quiet support they give each other: one in uniform, the other in the stands.
Wins are celebrated with prayer and family meals; tough days are met with pep talks and faith. What binds them is a shared identity — past and present Assumption women — living out the same values of discipline, resilience, and joy.
Together, Mia and Lulu embody the WNCAA’s spirit of breaking barriers and building legacies: one generation inspiring the next, with Assumption values lighting the way.
Making Waves: Julie Ann Guartico De Castro (College 2003) and Nathalie de Castro (AC Swimming Team)
For Julie Ann Guartico de Castro, watching her daughter Nathalie compete for the Assumption Swimming Varsity is a deeply emotional homecoming. “Seeing her carry on the Assumption tradition and values through sports makes me feel even more connected to my alma mater,” she said. Her Assumption education taught her respect, humility, discipline, and faith — values she now passes on to Nathalie as she navigates the highs and lows of being a student-athlete.
For Nathalie, the experience of being an athlete while Assumption hosts the WNCAA is both an honor and a motivation. “It feels extra special, like we’re welcoming everyone into our home. That makes me even more determined to represent Assumption with pride,” she shared. From early morning training to tough races, she carries the spirit of perseverance, guided by her mom’s reminder that effort matters more than medals.
Beyond the pool, the journey has strengthened their bond as mother and daughter — and widened their family to include the entire swim community. Wins are celebrated with simple meals and laughter; tough days are met with prayer, encouragement, and faith. Together, Julie Ann and Nathalie embody what it means to be Assumption women: strong, grounded, and united by a legacy that is both personal and communal.
Game, Set, ACtion, LegACy: Jenny Santos Silayan (High School 1993) and Maxine Silayan (AC Tennis Team)
For Jenny Santos Silayan, watching her daughter Maxine compete for the Assumption Tennis Varsity brings both pride and vulnerability. “It’s difficult to watch as a parent, especially during tough matches,” she admitted. Yet for Jenny, those moments are essential — because sports, like life, are as much about the journey as they are about the result. “Win or lose, the journey of being an athlete is what matters most — the training, the preparation, the acceptance of defeat, and the humility in victory.”
That journey is something Maxine has taken to heart. Representing Assumption this WNCAA season is, for her, both an honor and a responsibility. “We’re not just representing our team, but the whole school spirit — and that motivates me to give my best on and off the court,” she said. Inspired by her mom’s own multi-sport background in gymnastics (oh yes, Jenny’s in hardcourt back in the day), golf, and climbing, Maxine has learned that talent is only one part of success; grit, discipline, and balance are what truly define an athlete.
The lessons extend far beyond tennis. Jenny beams when she speaks of the quiet victories: her daughter’s ability to stay calm after a bad game, to humbly accept wins, to pray before and during a match, and to juggle schoolwork, varsity training, and volunteer commitments with a smile. “It is rewarding to see my daughter become a better person through sports — the discipline it takes to improve, the strength to move on from setbacks, and the faith that grounds her,” Jenny reflected.
Their shared moments as a family are simple but meaningful: wins and losses alike are marked with food, laughter, and encouragement. In past seasons, their proudest memories include finishing 1st and 2nd place — milestones that Maxine treasures, not just for the medals, but for the teamwork and support behind them. For Jenny, the true pride lies in seeing her daughter embody the Assumption spirit. “It is awesome that we both cheer and play for Assumption. We share the same school spirit and pride. Win or lose, it is our journey as AC girls,” she said.
And with Assumption hosting this year’s WNCAA, the significance of that journey feels even greater. “All the more now that we are hosting, we represent our school with pride, win or lose,” Jenny shared.
In a heartfelt message to Maxine, Jenny adds: “Continue to do your best in all your endeavors — in school, varsity training, campus ministry, and beyond. May you always be bubbly in the good moments as well as the difficult ones. May God always be the force that keeps you going. Know that mom, dad, and all your siblings are always rooting for you.”
For Jenny and Maxine, the Assumption spirit is not just stitched on a varsity shirt — it is a legacy lived each day: a mother who once carried the torch on the hardcourt, and a daughter now carrying it proudly on the tennis court.
Women of Faith and Women of Action — Breaking Barriers with Grit, Building Legacies with Grace
As the 56th WNCAA unfolds, Assumption College stands proud — not only as host, but as a living witness to how values endure and evolve through generations. On the court, in the pool, and across every arena, Assumption daughters compete with courage while their mothers cheer with faith and wisdom, both bound by the same spirit that shaped them. Together, they remind us that true victories are not just scored on the scoreboard, but in the lives touched, the legacies built, and the barriers broken. This is the Assumption story: one of faith and action, of grit and grace — forever breaking barriers, building legacies. Watch the opening ceremonies of the 56th Season of WNCAA.