Good afternoon to our President, administrators, parents, and teachers—especially Ms. Ruby and Sir Tang. To the “gardeners” who planted so much in me and are now harvesting the fruits of your labor by pushing this unexpected plot twist: me, speaking in front of you today. And, of course, a massive congratulations to the Class of 2026.
My school journey started at a small neighborhood preschool. Looking back, it was a prophecy. It was called Joyful Harmony. It was an overview of what building a legacy in the hospitality workforce would eventually be. From there, I moved to St. Scholastica’s Academy Marikina for grade school and high school, and finally, to Miriam College.
My education has been in “exclusive” schools, but my life has been anything but. It has been inclusive—a joyful harmony of many things. That is the seed Miriam College planted in me: the ability to be authentically whole.
Let’s be honest: I was never the “Grade Conscious” type. I don’t have a wall of medals, merits, or awards, and you won’t find me on the Dean’s List. I got the grades to move along to the next quarter, semester, or level—well, except for high school math and French!!! I was never an expert; just a bagets struggling with that baguette. Pun and fun intended.
To those of you sitting there today feeling like your worth is tied to your GPA—let me be the first to tell you: it isn’t. I am living proof that you can lead without a medal and succeed without a 5.0. My empowerment didn’t happen in the library; it happened in the swimming pool, on the basketball court, and through the bonds of friendship I built in the hallways. It happened when I chose to prioritize socialization and service over a perfect transcript. Academics provide the hotel accommodation, but your character is the five-star service that makes the stay unforgettable.
I am a harmony of chaos and quiet. I am the chaos of my big family and the girl who was a swimmer in high school, but jumped into basketball varsity and ramp modeling in college. Those worlds—the rhythm of the pool, the sweat of the court, and the poise of the runway—felt like polar opposites. They weren’t “me” forever, but they were essential in making me a better version of myself today.
I am also the quiet of my room or a corner cafe in Marikina, lost in my painting and my art. I am tall and short: “tall” when standing up for my rights and what is fair; “short” enough to admit
when I make mistakes and need improvement. I am a mix of happiness and anxiety—passionate about my craft and my ambitions, yet navigating the fear of the future and the unknown.
Most importantly, I am a harmony of tradition and the unconventional. I value manners, etiquette classes, and the discipline of the hospitality industry. But I also believe in breaking the norms. When the world expected skirts and heels, I showed up to work in a suit and flats. I wore a coat and tie for the Mabuhay Awards interview, then stood proud in a Filipiniana for the awards night.
This magnet polar mix spirit is why my heart truly belonged to the OrCom (Orientation Committee) back in college. Nothing empowered me more than welcoming the newbies to Miriam—helping them realize they don’t have to fit a mold to belong. Empowering them to start their own legacy at MC was my way of paying it forward.
This is the quality of a Miriam education: it prepares you for “great things” that a grade book can’t measure. It gives you the courage to be a leader in your own way. Whether you lead a boardroom or a community outreach, whether you are the loudest voice in the room or the quietest artist in the cafe—you have been formed to show up. Don’t be afraid to try that career that feels “too big” or that path that looks “too different.” This school has given you the tools to pivot, to adapt, and to excel in spaces you haven’t even imagined yet.
To lead and excel is to find your voice. Speak up and share your thoughts and feelings like a Robin singing in a tree, and other times, by being the “Robin” to your friend Batman when they need a sidekick in the fight. Be like Peter—whether you are Peter Pan, believing and imagining you can fly even when you feel under attack, or Peter Parker, remembering that with great power, comes great responsibility. A power to not be afraid to be the Rock, solid, grounded, and ready to climb the stairs.
But let’s be real: when it comes to the real world, this life, all these leading and excelling will mostly be possible with purpose and impact when you make sure you tick the right boxes of integrity and grit—just like how it is when you grow with the core values of MC.
I come from a family of Maryknollers—my dad’s seven sisters, my sisters, cousins, and nieces among others in our big, big clan. My own ate has been an MC employee for over a decade. Our legacy was built by women like my grandmother, the first woman councilor in Marikina. She wasn’t a Miriam graduate, but she was an empowered woman raising 12 children while leading a city of men.
I grew up surrounded by social action—not just socio-political awareness, but the act of showing up. I saw both the women and men in my family lead neighborhood outreach programs that provided everything from essentials like food, vegetables, bread, cleaning materials, medicines, and school supplies—to “wants” that brought smiles, like toys, Jollibee, and Santa visits during Christmas.
I watched them navigate floods, calamities, and the pandemic, yet still find time to celebrate with others during birthdays or holidays. I saw women who speak up—who protest during family arguments but rally for accountability in the streets. That is the Miriam spirit I had in me: never grade-conscious, but always socially conscious.
Today, my time is “5-star worth” in the hotel industry, which sometimes means less time for family. But I bring that legacy to work. Whether it was helping manage a rugged tourism park like UCM Adventure Park—teaching formal etiquette in a rugged setting—or representing the industry in Malacañang, catering to VIPs, or assisting at the ASEAN Summit, I am there to show the Philippine legacy through my own.
As I stand here, I am reminded that Miriam College is a pioneer of gender-fair education and empowerment. It taught us that our voices have no volume limit and our identities have no boxes. We are trained to be the women who show up—whether in a barong, a suit, or a gown—always ready to lead, always ready to serve.
To the Class of 2026: You are ready. Don’t wait for permission to be great. You don’t need a certificate to start serving others or to start your own revolution. Try everything. Fail forward. Lean into your friendships and your passions, because those are the things that will sustain you when the “semesters” of life get tough.
We are the tradition and the revolution. We are the hospitality workers, the Filipinos, the women, and the Miriam graduates who are always up for it. Be the woman who makes the unconventional shine. Speak up. Show up. Try it. Fail. Survive. Win. Own that semester—and own your spectrum. My name is Cassy, and this is my legacy. Or as I like to call it, LegCassy. Now, I leave you with one final question: How about you? What is your legacy?
Congratulations, Class of 2026!
BIONOTE
Cassandra Tiamzon Banzon, fondly called by many as Cassy, is a seasoned hospitality professional and community leader with over a decade of diverse industry experience. She graduated from Miriam College in 2015 with a Bachelor of Science in Leisure and Tourism Management, where she was deeply involved in student life as part of the Orientation Committee (OrCom), a competitive swimmer, and an athlete who pushed her boundaries by joining the basketball varsity.
Her dynamic professional journey spans high-profile event operations, property management, and corporate hospitality. She has managed operations at UCM Adventure Park and handled food and beverage, alongside hotel sales for events, at Richmonde Hotel. Her dedication to corporate and service excellence earned her recognition at the prestigious Mabuhay Awards. Cassy has also contributed to high-stakes state hospitality, facilitating V.I.P. events at Malacañang Palace and assisting during the ASEAN Summit.
Deeply rooted in a family of Maryknollers, Cassy was raised surrounded by inspiring women leaders dedicated to public service and social action. She proudly embodies the role of a social butterfly, living by the philosophy that one’s network is their true net worth. Beyond her career in hospitality and diplomacy, she is a passionate artist who paints, carrying a lifelong appreciation for culture, tradition, fine arts, and the timeless value of etiquette and manners.
