Twin sisters Naeomie Ashley Cruz and Naeomie Patrice Cruz received their BA Communication degree not only as magna cum laude recipients, but also as part of the Top 10 graduates among the undergraduate programs at Miriam College (MC) Loyola Heights’ recent commencement rites last June 28, 2025.
Ashley was the highest-ranking graduate of MC’s class of 2025, while Patrice closely followed in third place among the topnotchers.
“Why did I choose Miriam? It’s actually the other way around, Miriam College chose us,” Patrice said in her commencement speech on behalf of the college graduates. She recounted how Miriam College was the sole institution that initially granted both of them a 4-year scholarship with a 75% discount, which served as an “answered prayer” amidst their family’s financial difficulties. What started as discounted tuition fees became a full-ride scholarship grant for the twins by the time of their sophomore year, merited by their outstanding academic performance.
Hailing from Bulacan, 22-year-old Ashley and Patrice learned about Miriam College through a Google search of the best schools in the Philippines for Communication Arts.
They faced worries and uncertainty prior to entering college due to the anticipated tuition fees on top of their younger sibling’s high school tuition. Seeing the sacrifices their parents made to financially support their studies since high school, the twin sisters were eager to maximize the privilege of education at Miriam by committing themselves to the pursuit of academic excellence.
The twins fondly remember how Miriam College’s Communication program helped them build their confidence through execution and hands-on experience. They didn’t just sit and read, study, or write– they learned by doing, which is the school’s core learning approach.
On top of their exposure to real-world work environment through production classes, they were also trained as well-rounded individuals through the program’s social dimension classes. “We were equipped not only to be competent professionals but also compassionate individuals… Many schools can provide knowledge, but not all can offer an education that develops the mind, spirit, and heart,” Ashley said. The twin sisters recalled how their professors offered guidance beyond the textbook, mentoring students to regard character as important as excellence, if not more.
Ashley and Patrice found joy in togetherness, even beyond their academic pursuits, as “NC Twins” on Bigo Live Philippines, a social live streaming platform. Since their first year, this undertaking has allowed them to hone their hosting skills and generate some income, demonstrating their utmost dedication to their studies and easing their financial burden.
Although the twin sisters learned that they were decimal points shy of summa cum laude, what was truly important for them was finishing their studies with humility and a grateful heart, outweighing any honors or titles.
Ashley and Patrice look forward to pursuing a Master’s degree in a few years. But for now, they are focused on exploring opportunities in the diverse industries of the field of Communication.
Since 2023, the top 1 graduates across undergraduate programs at Miriam have been scholarship recipients. But beyond the streak, the story of the Cruz twins is one of the many testaments of women who found hope and empowerment in accessible, quality education through the institution’s scholarship grants.
True to the legacy of Maryknoll founders, MC nurtures confident, conscientious, and competent women in the tradition of academic excellence and service to God, the community, and nation.
This commitment will only grow stronger from here especially with the celebration of the centennial legacy of Maryknoll education in the Philippines in 2026, where student scholarships is a priority in the goal of raising a Php100 Million Endowment Fund by next year, ensuring that the Maryknoll brand of education through Miriam College remains accessible to young women for generations to come.
MC continues to be a home to deserving and talented ladies who rise above the hindrances brought on by their socio-economic status– it is simply where scholars thrive.
