By Dominique Simone Saraspi

With the aim to celebrate each advocacy of groups of students in the Ateneo de Manila Senior High School (ASHS), the Council of Student Committees (CSC) officially launched its most anticipated Advocacy Week starting on Monday, November 28.

Named Anihan, this event is motivated by rural Filipino feasts and is made to “empower the student body” through channeling and honing their advocacies “to spark, inspire, and ignite transformative change”.

On November 29, the CSC had a collaboration with the ASHS Humans of Senior High (HOSH) and launched project “Kislap” to conduct insightful interviews with the “humans” of the ASHS who relentlessly worked and stood up for their advocacies. 

On November 30, the CSC had a collaboration with the ASHS Junior Marketing Association (ASH-JMA) and instigated project “Merkado”, where the ASH-JMA sold simple products that are statements of Pride so queer people “may feel a sense of belonging” in the LGBTQIA+ community.

On December 1, the CSC had a collaboration with ASHS Grafiction and commenced project “Hiraya”, emphasizing the CSC Sandigans in their personalized forms, and reiterating the significance of advocacies. 

Meanwhile, Kanlaon launched Disaster Preparedness Bingo Card Race, Lakambini and Mayari cooperated and inaugurated the exhibit Gapas and Gapos: A Tribute to Survivors, Mapulon initiated Crystal Gazing: Anonymous Letter Messaging Service, and Matanglawin launched Adopt a Taklobo! — Donation Drive.

Furthermore, CSC Chairperson Matteo Francesco Suzara and Undersecretary Marie Amelie Salita stated that they consider Anihan to be a success since all the Sandigan mini events, core collaborations, and onsite and online promotions were “successfully” implemented as they have “gained so much traction and appreciation from the student body”.

“In my perspective as a Council Chairperson, I have received so much positive feedback via messages on IG [Instagram] stories and FB [Facebook] posts, as well as through twitter threads of students detailing how much they enjoyed Anihan,” Suzara said.