"WOMEN OF FAITH, WOMEN OF ACTION”
The Assumption Alumnae Association
(AAA) is an affiliation of highly motivated and involved graduates of Assumption College.
The AAA coordinates social action
projects, reunions, spiritual talks and other activities which strengthen ties
between the Alumnae and the Sisters of the Congregation as well as friends of
the Assumption.. It makes sure that all alumnae activities are aligned with the
objectives of the Religious of the Assumption, Philippines-Thailand Province.
The AAA helps to keep alive the Assumption spirit and spread the teachings of our Mother Foundress,
St. Marie Eugenie of Jesus.
HISTORY:
In 1924, the “Old Girls”, a unique name for Assumption alumnae, derived from the French translation of “a former student”, kept their close contact with the Assumption community through the Sodality of the Blessed Virgin Mary. They were also urged to be active members of various lay groups like The Catholic Women’s League (C.W.L.), the Young Ladies’ Association of Charity (Y.L.A.C.), the White Cross Orphanage, founded by alumnae Victoria Lopez-Araneta and Mercedes Zobel McMicking, the Cruzada founded by Esperanza CuUnjieng who later became the legendary Mother Esperanza, and the “Damas de la Caridad de San Vicente de Paul.”
In succeeding years, annual homecomings, fondly called “Old Girls’ Day” provided a venue for alumnae reports on social action activities, veladas (a Spanish term for evening party), news about the Congregation of the Assumption, and a chance to wear the “old uniform” again, complete with flat black shoes and white socks. Assumption meat, Assumption cottage pie, “sotanghon”, and memory-nudging Assumption tarts soon became traditional lunch menu for Old Girls’ Day.
In the 1950s, the Alumnae Association was organized, with members divided into two groups: the senior alumnae with eight board members, and the junior alumnae, composed of post-war graduates, with representatives from each class year.
By 1965, younger Old Girls felt the need to organize formally, and the “Assumption Alumnae Association” (AAA) came into being, with Mother Milagros, r.a. as its first moderator. Remedios Sunico Rufino (H.S. 24) was appointed president of the senior alumnae and Gloria Litton del Rio, H.S.’46, president for the junior alumnae. Gloria del Rio, together with Aurora Silayan Go, (H.S.’51) wrote the first constitution of the AAA, thereby unifying the senior and junior alumnae. Elections were held under the supervision of Conchita Sunico, (H.S. ’32), and Zenaida Quezon-Avancena, (H.S.’37), was elected first President.
Also in 1965, Mother Rosa Maria of the Infant Jesus, the French nun who dedicated 65 years in the Philippines educating generations of Assumption girls, passed away. The alumnae and friends of the Assumption established the Mother Rosa Memorial Foundation (MRMF) to perpetuate the memory of “Notre Mere”, as she was fondly called, with the vision of community development and education of the people in San Simon, Pampanga.
In 1969, a group of alumnae founded the San Juan Nepomuceno (SJNS) mission school in Malibay, Pasay City, to uplift the former garbage dumpsite locality. Thereafter, the Maryville Urban Development Foundation (MUDF) was created in 1992 to oversee the SJNS operations. In 2004, the Pusong Assumptionista project was born to relocate Malibay families at a housing site in Imus, Cavite, under a Gawad Kalinga scheme.
By 1971, a Greater Manila Chapter of the AAA was organized. In 1972, the Negros and Iloilo chapters were formed followed by Cebu and Davao in 1973.
The AAA established the Marie Eugenie Institute (MEI) in 1992. The Institute provides the learning modules on the life, vision and spirituality of our Mother Foundress, a requirement for all faculty and staff in all Assumption schools.
Widening its reach and true to its vision, the AAA established the Marie Eugenie Institute (MEI) in 1992 with Mother Carmen Reyes, r.a. and Ma. Stella “Chinit” Delgado-Rufino as Co-Executive Directors. The Institute provides the learning modules on the life and vision of Mother Foundress, a requirement for all faculty and staff in all Assumption schools.
Today, the annual “Old Girls Day” alumnae reunion is a stronghold tradition, where celebrating jubilarians give back to the school by raising funds for the Assumption mission schools and AAA projects. Other annual AAA activities are the Assumption bazaar and golf tournaments participated in by alumnae and friends of the Assumption.
In 2004, the AAA spearheaded the rebuilding of the 37-year-old Mother Rose Auditorium. In 2007, the AAA provided organizational support to over a thousand Filipino pilgrims to the Canonization of St. Marie Eugenie of Jesus in Rome, and funded official lay-religious delegates of the Philippines-Thailand province to this historic event.
The AAA continues to be vibrant in fulfilling its mandate to help form graduates who are “Women of Faith, Women of Action.”
HISTORY:
In 1924, the “Old Girls”, a unique name for Assumption alumnae, derived from the French translation of “a former student”, kept their close contact with the Assumption community through the Sodality of the Blessed Virgin Mary. They were also urged to be active members of various lay groups like The Catholic Women’s League (C.W.L.), the Young Ladies’ Association of Charity (Y.L.A.C.), the White Cross Orphanage, founded by alumnae Victoria Lopez-Araneta and Mercedes Zobel McMicking, the Cruzada founded by Esperanza CuUnjieng who later became the legendary Mother Esperanza, and the “Damas de la Caridad de San Vicente de Paul.”
In succeeding years, annual homecomings, fondly called “Old Girls’ Day” provided a venue for alumnae reports on social action activities, veladas (a Spanish term for evening party), news about the Congregation of the Assumption, and a chance to wear the “old uniform” again, complete with flat black shoes and white socks. Assumption meat, Assumption cottage pie, “sotanghon”, and memory-nudging Assumption tarts soon became traditional lunch menu for Old Girls’ Day.
In the 1950s, the Alumnae Association was organized, with members divided into two groups: the senior alumnae with eight board members, and the junior alumnae, composed of post-war graduates, with representatives from each class year.
By 1965, younger Old Girls felt the need to organize formally, and the “Assumption Alumnae Association” (AAA) came into being, with Mother Milagros, r.a. as its first moderator. Remedios Sunico Rufino (H.S. 24) was appointed president of the senior alumnae and Gloria Litton del Rio, H.S.’46, president for the junior alumnae. Gloria del Rio, together with Aurora Silayan Go, (H.S.’51) wrote the first constitution of the AAA, thereby unifying the senior and junior alumnae. Elections were held under the supervision of Conchita Sunico, (H.S. ’32), and Zenaida Quezon-Avancena, (H.S.’37), was elected first President.
Also in 1965, Mother Rosa Maria of the Infant Jesus, the French nun who dedicated 65 years in the Philippines educating generations of Assumption girls, passed away. The alumnae and friends of the Assumption established the Mother Rosa Memorial Foundation (MRMF) to perpetuate the memory of “Notre Mere”, as she was fondly called, with the vision of community development and education of the people in San Simon, Pampanga.
In 1969, a group of alumnae founded the San Juan Nepomuceno (SJNS) mission school in Malibay, Pasay City, to uplift the former garbage dumpsite locality. Thereafter, the Maryville Urban Development Foundation (MUDF) was created in 1992 to oversee the SJNS operations. In 2004, the Pusong Assumptionista project was born to relocate Malibay families at a housing site in Imus, Cavite, under a Gawad Kalinga scheme.
By 1971, a Greater Manila Chapter of the AAA was organized. In 1972, the Negros and Iloilo chapters were formed followed by Cebu and Davao in 1973.
The AAA established the Marie Eugenie Institute (MEI) in 1992. The Institute provides the learning modules on the life, vision and spirituality of our Mother Foundress, a requirement for all faculty and staff in all Assumption schools.
Widening its reach and true to its vision, the AAA established the Marie Eugenie Institute (MEI) in 1992 with Mother Carmen Reyes, r.a. and Ma. Stella “Chinit” Delgado-Rufino as Co-Executive Directors. The Institute provides the learning modules on the life and vision of Mother Foundress, a requirement for all faculty and staff in all Assumption schools.
Today, the annual “Old Girls Day” alumnae reunion is a stronghold tradition, where celebrating jubilarians give back to the school by raising funds for the Assumption mission schools and AAA projects. Other annual AAA activities are the Assumption bazaar and golf tournaments participated in by alumnae and friends of the Assumption.
In 2004, the AAA spearheaded the rebuilding of the 37-year-old Mother Rose Auditorium. In 2007, the AAA provided organizational support to over a thousand Filipino pilgrims to the Canonization of St. Marie Eugenie of Jesus in Rome, and funded official lay-religious delegates of the Philippines-Thailand province to this historic event.
The AAA continues to be vibrant in fulfilling its mandate to help form graduates who are “Women of Faith, Women of Action.”