August Editorial: In the Spirit of Hope, We Rise.
August 2025 swept in like a whirlwind of joy — one event after another, each brimming with energy, purpose, and laughter! What a ride it’s been for the Storyteller Stewards and the AAA Board of Trustees, who have been running full speed yet loving every moment.
In this August edition of Assumpta, we bring together a tapestry of stories that reflect the heart of our community and our shared devotion.
From the Philippines to the rest of the world, Assumption alumnae, friends, and families are coming together to honor Our Lady of the Assumption. Whether in the quiet pews of our beloved chapel in San Lorenzo, in the vibrant gatherings in Bacolod and Cebu, or in warm circles of prayer in Alabang, Los Angeles, Bay Area, and Vancouver — we celebrate togetherness through small yet deeply meaningful gatherings. The Feast of the Assumption reminds us that Mary’s journey to heaven is also an invitation for us to lift our lives heavenward, through faith, love, and service.
In this month’s “Getting to Know Your r.a.” feature, we meet Sister Irene Cecile Torres, r.a., PhD—the newly appointed President of Assumption College—whose story unfolds like a quiet but steady rising tide. She shares her journey from her early years, to her call to religious life, and now to a leadership role embraced with both strength and surrender. In a world that often feels volatile, uncertain, and fragile, Sr. Irene’s vision is not to hold all the answers, but to walk with others—listening deeply, welcoming diversity, and fostering a shared responsibility for the mission. Rooted in the spirit of St. Marie Eugénie, she sees each challenge as an opening, each uncertainty as an invitation to make Christ known, loved, and served in new and creative ways. Her leadership is a call to courage and collaboration, a reminder that even in shifting times, our purpose remains clear when we walk forward together.
Alongside these, you will find the inspiring story of High School Batch 1985’s AC Holding Cross initiative — a beautiful example of how faith, friendship, and a shared mission can create ripples of hope and help far beyond what we can see.
In this issue, we also celebrate how Assumption women move—and move others. From the lush fairways to the rhythmic beats of dance, every carefully chosen venue becomes a stage for joy, purpose, and sisterhood.
At the AAA Golf Tournament 2025, the course became a canvas of compassion. Beneath the soft morning light, players in skirts, spikes, shorts, and cleats—with laughter in their swings and kindness in their hearts—teed off not just for birdies, but for broader horizons. Each stroke bridged distances: between classrooms and communities, between sport and service, between memory and mission. The tournament wasn’t merely a day on the green—it was a living, breathing celebration of faith in motion.
HS 1990 serves sass and strategy in “Dink It Like an AC Girl”—a spirited pickleball match where quick rallies become quick bonds, and every playful point turns teammates into sisters. It’s proof that sisterhood finds new ways to shine, even on unexpected courts.
And in HS 2000’s “Beats, Breathe, Beast,” movement becomes a meditation. Music pulses, bodies stretch, breath deepens—and what begins as a workout unfolds into a quiet hymn of gratitude. Flowing through each pose, participants discover that physical strength and spiritual stillness can inhabit the same moment.
We shine a spotlight on Cris Celdran of HS 1990, co-founder of I Can Serve, whose life work lights a path for women facing breast cancer with dignity and strength. What began as a mission has grown into a movement — lovingly driven by survivors, sisters, and servant leaders.
In this month’s “Helping Hands,” we follow Sr. Sylvia Jopillo, R.A., to the dusty streets of Cumanayagua, Cuba — where empty shelves and long queues can’t overshadow the stubborn glow of hope. She shares how handmade lessons, borrowed roads, and laughter in the face of loss reveal a truth she now carries in her bones: God’s grace is never scarce.
“One AC. One Heart” was the very first AAA event dedicated to our College alumnae. More than a simple gathering, it became a beautiful springboard for rekindling memories, sparking fresh connections, and reminding everyone that Assumption College will always be their home. With doors wide open and hearts beating as one, the event set the tone for a future where the alumnae come together in faith, friendship, and a shared Assumption spirit.
Finally, we remember Judy Araneta Roxas. We do not only look back on a life well-lived — we also look forward, carrying with us the light she so generously shared. Her faith in action, her quiet strength, and her unwavering generosity remind us that true greatness is found in service, humility, and love. As we honor her today, may we find courage in her example, and may her legacy continue to live in every heart she touched, every community she uplifted, and every woman she inspired to lead with conviction and grace.
So, wherever you are this August — whether seated in a pew, a pickleball court, a yoga mat, or in quiet retreat — know this: you are part of a sisterhood being lifted, carried, and called. We move forward, together.
In grace. In joy. In HOPE.
