High School Pearls 1995: Gleaming in Grace, Strength and Full Circle.
Editor’s Note:
For Pearl 1995, Velada 2020 was both a triumph and a tender ache — their Silver year celebrated not in the halls of Assumption, but through the glow of laptop screens. They carried the AC Strong spirit then — showing up, adapting, keeping their flame alive through uncertainty. Yet even as they smiled through those pixelated faces, one dream lingered quietly: to stand together again.
Five years later, that dream unfolds in a shimmering reality. The Pearls finally step onto the stage — not just to perform, but to reclaim what was postponed and to celebrate what endured. Their motto, “Une action tranchante dans votre petit sphère” — a decisive action in my own small sphere — has come to life. Each one chose to act, to reconnect, to dance again. And in doing so, they strung themselves once more into a radiant circle of sisterhood.
From a humble chat group in March to late-night rehearsals filled with laughter and determination, every message sent, every “kaya natin ‘to” whispered in tired joy became a quiet act of grace. One by one, they came — from Manila to Europe, from behind screens to center stage — each Pearl rediscovering her place in their constellation of togetherness.
As Chin Bautista Joson shares, their practices were filled with patience, laughter, and the kind of encouragement that only true sisters give. And when the night finally came — dressed in crisp white and bold red — they were dazzling. Their performance wasn’t just choreography; it was catharsis.
After years of waiting, they danced not only to the beat of the music, but to the rhythm of renewal. It was a homecoming five years in the making — proof that sisterhood never fades. It only grows stronger, brighter, and ever AC Strong.
Our journey for Velada 2025 began relatively late with a steering committee chat group that was set up in March. We quickly grouped ourselves into committees, taking off from how we organized our 2020 online Velada. We had a good sense of who would handle what – with Tina Trillana-Lagdameo at the helm for our dance performance, which she conceptualized together with renowned choreographer, Julie Alagde-Carretas. To make our Velada stage debut as inclusive as possible, Ninna Estrella-Yuson took the lead for our song number, incorporating the voices and videos of our batchmates abroad.
With the creative vision in place (and an extra 3 minutes added to our stage time thanks to the Silvers), the bigger challenge was getting batchmates to participate. We had an ambitious target number in mind: to have at least 30 performers on stage to celebrate our Pearl year. When only a handful showed up during the first practice, we started to have serious doubts that we could meet our goal.
Like a string of pearls, this is where our sisterhood started to come together one batchmate at a time. Ana David, messaged every single batchmate she could find, whether in Manila or abroad, inviting them to participate in whatever way they could. One by one our sisters answered the call: celebrating our Pearl Jubilee by either joining the performance, sending in a video, changing your profile pic on Facebook, cheering for us virtually or in person, or praying for a successful performance. We encouraged Manila-based batchmates who could not join the performance to watch our practices to reconnect with batchmates and friends during breaks.
We posted regular updates in our social media page and chat groups, making sure our batchmates felt included every step of the way. Week after week, our numbers grew until one of our last practice days, we looked around and realized that we did not just meet our goal of having 30 participants but surpassed it – including batchmates who flew in from across Asia, the US and Europe to participate.
Reminders of our Pearl sisterhood were at every rehearsal, with every word of encouragement we gave each other. But the most powerful moments were those in silence when we would patiently wait (and pray) when any of us were singled out by Teacher Julie to review and polish the dance steps. We were inspired by the resilience and grit of batch mates who powered through despite the complex choreography and lack of dance experience.
Even if practices ended late at night, many saved their energy to stay on to share a bite to eat and catch up on the latest chika with each other. That was the part everyone looked forward to the most: that simple, irreplaceable feeling of being together again.
The spirit of “no one gets left behind” was strong, with everyone cheering each other on throughout our Pearl Velada journey. There were no cliques, no barkadas, no section rivalries (most of the time) – only a united string of Pearls that is HS Batch 1995, a sisterhood made stronger and more beautiful over time.
Celebrating our Silver milestone online five years ago was testament to our “AC Strong” spirit — we adapted to the challenges of the pandemic, showed up, and connected in whatever way we could. But deep down, we felt the distance and missed the warmth and energy of being physically together.
To finally be physically together on stage as Pearls, was a huge triumph. It’s the full-circle celebration we’ve been holding our breath for all these years. Carrying the “AC Strong” spirit now means so much more. It’s not just about resilience through hardship, but the joy of sisterhood and the irreplaceable energy of being side-by-side.
Stepping out there wasn’t just a performance; it was our homecoming. It was our entire batch reclaiming that shared milestone and finally celebrating it properly, together.
“Une action tranchante” (A decisive action): This was our guide for the energy of the performance. You can’t just passively dance to songs like “Vogue,” “No Diggity,” “Get Your Freak On,” and “I’m Too Sexy.” They demand sharp, confident, and purposeful movements. They’re all about attitude.
Our outfits were our “action tranchante” made visible. The clean, powerful white suits were already a statement, but adding the sharp pop of red gloves and hats? That was the decisive, bold choice. It was intentional, unified, and screamed confidence.
“Dans votre petit sphère” (In my own small sphere): This is how we approached the performance as individuals. On that stage, each of us had our “own small sphere.” The motto was a reminder to own it.
It guided us to fully commit to our part, whether it was striking a dramatic pose for “Vogue” or owning the stage with a strut during “I’m Too Sexy.” It was about each woman bringing her own decisive energy to the group, which is what made the whole performance so powerful.
It just proves that when every single Pearl takes that “decisive action” in her “small sphere,” the result isn’t just a great performance. The result is a unified sisterhood that is, and always will be, AC Strong.
✨ Pearls in Motion: A Gallery of Grace and Grit ✨
From rehearsals to the radiant spotlight, every photo captures the magic that defined HS 1995’s Pearl Velada journey — laughter echoing in practice rooms, sequins and smiles shining under stage lights, and that unmistakable “AC Strong” spirit that tied it all together. Scroll through this gallery and relive the rhythm, the heart, and the shimmer of sisterhood.
And don’t miss the video — a front-row seat to their dazzling Vogue-inspired performance that proves once and for all: when Pearls take the stage, they don’t just dance… they define it. 💫
From the stage to the story of everyday life, the Pearls of 1995 continue to live out the “AC Strong” spirit through their vocation as educators and mentors. In their ACx feature, “10 Things All Young Girls Should Learn,” Kara Atienza Decleodt and Rina Ledesma remind us that true strength lies in forming character, nurturing curiosity, and guiding others to find their inner voice. The Pearls shine once more, embodying resilience, grace, and purpose in motion. ✨