By Heather Pascua, Glaiza Salanio, and Arabella Balderama

Last Monday, November 13, the Ateneo Senior High School (ASHS) community officially launched the Katipunan Fund Drive (KFD), at the first floor foyer of the ASHS Building.

A kick-off performance by the Blue Babble Battalion livened up the students as the KFD launching program commenced.

The short event, which was emceed by the KFD Heads, Ms. Irish Cariaga and Ms. Kaia Catacutan, began with opening remarks from the ASHS Principal, Mr. Noel P. Miranda.

“We are about giving. We are about generosity … We are a school for others,” Mr. Miranda said, motivating the ASHS community to share generosity, love, and to understand the bigger picture of KFD.

Students then stood tall as they sang the National Anthem headed by Ms. Jen Concepcion, the Assistant Principal for Formation, and recited the Panatang Makabayan led by Aryann Dacquel. 

Shortly after the flag ceremony, Kylie Sy, the CEO of 11-Moscoso’s KFD last school year, shared a reflection regarding her experience from the KFD last school year. 

“Ka-Bayan-I”

In line with this school year’s theme of being persons for-and-with others, KFD’s “Kabayani” was chosen to encapsulate the holistic formation that Ateneo education strives to achieve.

“Ka is rooted from kapwa as we emphasize that one lives through and with their fellow human being. This fellow feeling is what we collectively experience as a Bayan, while we instill the love for the nation through compassion and contributing to a greater cause. The last letter, I, stands for the self,” Ms. Irish and Ms. Kaia explained.

They emphasized that KFD aims to be an avenue for camaraderie, debunking the thought that KFD is a competition.

Ms. Irish and Ms. Kaia also encouraged students “to find a deeper purpose when selling and marketing their products,” which would benefit the Catholic Social Involvement Program (CSIP) partner communities, Jesuit Missions, and scholars.

The CSIP Department wanted to remind the ASHS community to be “proactive in collaboration” and to be “selfless in serving the nation” through KFD.  

“The department strives to remind the students that they individually play a significant role in the greater scheme of things. They could use their practical talents to help others. As they do things with purpose, they also fortify their skills and expand their knowledge which will prepare them for their future endeavors,” Ms. Irish and Ms. Kaia concluded.