By Arabella Balderama and Alex Lauricio

On March 4-5, 2024, the Alon and Araw Club participated in an event hosted by AIESEC, also known as the Association Internationale des Étudiants en Sciences Économiques et Commerciales, pitching a booth near the Loyola Schools’ (LS) Gonzaga Cafeteria. 

Their booth consisted of many different merchandise, including shirts and pillows created from plastic collected in their community in Zambales.

“We’re here today to sell merchandise…to showcase the products that we have…Whatever proceeds we earn here will help in sustaining the programs that we have in the community,” expressed Ms. Gabi Del Rosario, one of Alon and Araw’s founders.

“While being here in Ateneo, we hope that we will open up more partnerships that can further help us sustain and even grow the things we are doing,” she added, acknowledging the fruits of having a wider network, such as the collaboration Alon and Araw has with the Ateneo Senior High School (ASHS).

The Alon and Araw Club is a non-profit organization which integrates sports education and personal growth through different activities that protect the environment.

With the main aim of achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal number 14—life below water—Alon and Araw strives for its community and the youth to pursue practices that reduce marine pollution.

“Gusto naming ma-develop sila [youth] into eco-conscious leaders, who will continue the work we do, to be ocean defenders as well,” Ms. Gabi said. 

Partnerships-bound

Despite the long car ride from the Zambales to the busy streets of Katipunan, Alon and Araw representatives made their way to the forefront of Ateneo-Loyola Schools (LS), setting up a small booth near Gonzaga Cafeteria. Several vendors and stalls lined the pathways leading to Gonz in celebration of an organizational event—My Neighbor AIESEC.

AIESEC is an international organization aimed at molding youth leaders and providing a strong platform for their advocacies to be known—including the environmental initiatives that Alon and Araw stand for.

The invitation sent to Alon and Araw is a strong indication of the Zambales-based organization’s growing reputation and success in their projects, generating a following for their “ocean defenders” both within Zambales and outside its coastlines. 

Apart from setting up a mini booth near Gonz, Alon and Araw engaged in discussions with different institutions, organizations, and students across the different spaces within Ateneo. This includes environmental discussions hosted by the Ateneo Institute of Sustainability (AIS), education partnerships with other NGOs, as well as a special alumni interview for Ms. Gabi.

By showcasing their advocacies to the Atenean student body, they aim to raise awareness for their cause and forge partnerships with organizations both inside and outside Ateneo—partnerships that are crucial in continuing the mission of Alon and Araw.

Aside from meetings, Alon and Araw also visited the ASHS, meeting up with partner organizations as well as attending educational discussions and events.