They Carried the Cross, They Shared the Love: A Heart Offering from High School Batch 1985
As Assumption High School Batch 1985 celebrates forty years since they first walked the halls of AC, they return not just with memories—but with a quiet offering shaped by love, loss, and legacy.
In the stillness of the pandemic, when streets fell silent and anxieties rose—three ladies from Assumption High School 1985 found themselves awake in the late hours of the night, exchanging messages over Viber. What began as restless conversations between Mariann Africa-de Dios, Eileen Hocson, and Margie Lopa-Perez soon transformed into something tangible, prayerful, and enduring: the AC Holding Cross.
“We thought a cross could be a good companion for people who had COVID and were isolated, as well as for their families who felt helpless,” Mariann shares. For Eileen, it was even simpler: “We wanted to remind them they were not alone.”
🌿 From Inspiration to Creation
The concept drew from Mariann’s own practice of holding a small wooden cross in prayer. The gesture brought calm and presence, even when words failed. Inspired, the trio reached out to the San Simon community in Pampanga. With the help of Sr. Maitel Roceles and Sr. Josefina Magat, they connected with Mang Orly. Orly Pagcu is a vocation-teacher, who is now the General Services Coordinator, hand-carved each piece in Dao and Mahogany wood.
Designed to rest gently in the palm, the cross was paired with a prayer card—written by classmate Cris Javelosa-Gamboa—and a velvet pouch in Assumption’s colors of gold, white, and blue. “We wanted the entire experience to carry love and care,” Margie explains.
“The cross is a quiet companion in prayer, a comfort in silence,” Margie reflects. “It was our way of sharing reassurance in a season of uncertainty.”
Sometimes, the act of prayer wasn’t about words at all. Eileen shares: “For me, holding the cross was the best way to ‘pray’ when I had no words to express what I was feeling—just trusting that God knows my heart.”
✨ More Than a Symbol
The cross soon became more than wood and craft. It was a tangible expression of compassion, a “quiet companion in prayer.” Sometimes it even spoke in silence. “For me, holding the cross was the best way to ‘pray’ when I had no words to express what I was feeling,” Eileen says.
The ripple of care extended outward. Proceeds supported Assumption Mission Schools, scholars, and even the family of Mang Orly during times of need. The project’s reach grew as other batches, friends, and families embraced the cross. Some gifted it during milestones such as confirmations. Others shared stories of healing: a woman with depression found sleep only while holding it; a gravely ill child eased his pain with the cross in his hands.
One mother shared how her sick child, unable to unclench his hand from days of pain, found relief the moment the cross was placed in his palm.
“From then until now, no more complaints of pain—and his hand opens freely,” she wrote with gratitude. Another recipient described it as “like a holy stress-relieving ball,” bringing unexpected calm during a time of trial.
💝 Living Out Serviam
As Batch ’85 celebrates its Ruby Jubilee, the cross has become a reflection of their high school motto, Serviam — “I will serve.”
“This project is our way of giving back to the community that molded us into who we are today,” Margie affirms.
For Mariann, it’s also a reminder of gratitude: “Life is fragile. The pandemic showed us that. But as Ruby Jubilarians, I am blessed to mark 40 years since high school, still bound by faith and service.”
The AC Holding Cross began as a simple offering in uncertain times. Today, it continues to connect people in prayer, reminding each one who holds it of a profound truth: we are never truly alone.
Looking for the perfect reminder of prayer and presence? The AC Holding Cross is available! Reserve yours today at +63 917 539 8724.