Written by Prince Soriano
Illustrated by Aki Banguis and Matthew Profeta
Published 21 February 2022
The Ateneo Biological Organization (BOx) raised PhP 32,816.40 in its recently concluded online concert Happy BOx Year 2022: A Year of Giving, which featured guest bands as well as various student performers.[1]
The new year’s fundraiser, which was streamed live via the official Facebook page of Ateneo BOx, was held last February 5 for the benefit of victims of last year’s Typhoon Odette. The fundraiser was conducted as one of many projects in line with the advocacy of BOx to “appreciate life in all forms.”
The concert was originally set to be a year-ender Christmas event but had to be postponed in consideration of the finals season in the Loyola Schools (LS), according to the concert’s project co-head Raja Meneses.
In an interview, Meneses further mentioned that the decision was made in order to “‘plan and execute [the concert] more smoothly and effectively.”’
Student volunteers from the Ateneo BOx, co-headed by Meneses alongside Gaby Veneracion and Clarice Agatep, planned and organized the execution of the project. LS students Jae Gangat and Arianna Lopez hosted the event.
Diverse talents featured
LS students and guest local bands performed in the two-hour online event. The event featured various local bands and musicians from around the country, namely 3AM, Sunshine Chasers, Gaze, Jodi Dango, and Thursday Honey, who performed musical acts that also featured original songs.
Meanwhile, the Atenean performers included BeatBOx and VoiceBOx, the respective dance and chorale groups of Ateneo BOx, as well as freshman Maxine Robles.
Meneses mentions that the marketing team scouted for Atenean performers and “wanted to raise their platform.”
A ‘dream’ collaboration
The benefit concert, which was available for the public to stream for free via Facebook Live, raised funds for Typhoon Odette victims through a raffle. Participants who donated a certain amount were entitled to raffle tickets; winners of major and minor prizes were announced during the event.
Ateneo BOx partnered with the Ateneo Disaster Response and Management (DReaM) Team, which has ongoing relief operations for typhoon victims.
The proceeds of Happy BOx Year 2022 will benefit families and communities affected by Typhoon Odette, through the coordination of the Ateneo DReaM Team with local government units and partner institutions.
Typhoon Odette (international name Rai), which was considered a super typhoon by the US Joint Typhoon Warning Center, devastated families and caused widespread damage in southern parts of the country last December 2021.[2][3]
References
- Ateneo Biological Organization – BOx Facebook page. We thank you for your generous support for Happy BOxYear 2022: A Year of Giving [Internet]. February 11, 2022 [cited 2022 Feb 17]. Available from: https://www.facebook.com/AteneoBOx/posts/1742926902573625
- Maru D. ‘Odette’ now a super typhoon, JTWC says. ABS-CBN News [Internet]. 2021 Dec 16 [cited 2022 Feb 17];News:[about 2 p.]. Available from: https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/12/16/21/us-jtwc-odette-now-a-super-typhoon
- National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. Situational Report No. 42 for TC ODETTE (2021) [Internet]. Quezon City, Philippines: NDRRMC; February 7, 2022 [cited 2022 Feb 17]. Available from https://ndrrmc.gov.ph/attachments/article/4174/SitRep_No._44_for_Typhoon_ODETTE_2021.pdf
Ateneo BOx 