‘The Legacy We Carry’: Alumni voices bring 100 years of the Maryknoll/Miriam College story to life
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A century of education, service, and transformation comes alive in The Legacy We Carry: 100 Years from Maryknoll to Miriam.
The commemorative book tells the story of Miriam College, formerly Maryknoll College, through the people whose lives were shaped by the school—and who, in turn, carried its values into the wider world.
The story begins with the pioneering Maryknoll Sisters, who brought with them a mission rooted in faith, service, compassion, and a commitment to education.
Over the decades, those values took root in generations of students, shaping not only what they learned, but also the lives they chose to lead. It is through the stories of these alumni that the book traces the institution’s legacy.
“We wanted to capture not only professional achievements, but also quiet acts of service, courageous choices, and the values that remained long after graduation,” says Atty. Sam Celiz, Centennial Book Project head.
The idea for the book began as early as August 2023, as preparations for the institution’s year-long centennial celebration gained momentum.
What followed was a three-year collaborative effort involving alumni volunteers, writers, editors, photographers, and members of the wider Miriam College community, culminating in the book’s completion in time for the institution’s founding anniversary celebrations on Sept. 11 and 12.
The Maryknoll/Miriam College Alumni Association spearheaded the book project, with veteran journalists Beting Laygo Dolor and Mona Sabalones-Gonzalez serving as co-editors.
Among the contributing writers are former Miriam College President and former Commission on Higher Education Chairperson Dr. Patricia B. Licuanan; broadcast journalist Kara Magsanoc-Alikpala; Palanca award-winning authors Carla M. Pacis and Leah C. Eriguel; heritage conservation expert Tats Manahan; writer and independent film producer Gay Ace Domingo; and Tatler Philippines Managing Editor Chit M. Lijauco.
Studio 5 Designs, Inc. brought the book’s stories and images to life, under the leadership of Founder and President Marily Ysip-Orosa. Its creative team shaped the book’s visual identity and transformed its wealth of material into a cohesive volume.
According to Celiz, choosing which stories to be featured proved to be one of the project’s greatest challenges. Through consultations, alumni networks, and referrals, the team uncovered a wealth of stories spanning different generations and walks of life.
“We looked for lives that reflected the values and mission passed down from Maryknoll to Miriam—alumni who transformed compassion into service, conviction into leadership, creativity into beauty, and faith into loving action,” Celiz says.
“Some became prominent figures. Others made their deepest impact quietly—in their families, communities, or places of work.”
Readers will encounter the stories of remarkable women such as National Artist for Dance Alice Reyes; music icon Celeste Legaspi; historian and author Gemma Cruz Araneta; journalist Pia Ranada; director Olive Lamasan; Masungi Georeserve administrator and environmentalist Ann Dumaliang; journalist and editor Jo-Ann Maglipon; award-winning writer Cathy Babao; and actress-turned-consecrated layperson Chin-Chin Gutierrez, among many others.
The book also honors the Maryknoll Sisters whose pioneering work helped shape the institution’s early years as well as the Filipino lay leaders who carried the mission forward.
“In many ways, the book is a love letter to the pioneering Maryknoll Sisters, to the generations who carried their mission forward, and to those who will carry that legacy into Miriam College’s second century,” shares Celiz.
The Legacy We Carry: 100 Years From Maryknoll to Miriam will be launched on Sept. 12 during Centennial Night at the Fairmont Makati. The book is priced at P5,000 and may be ordered through the Maryknoll-Miriam College Alumni Association.
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