By Roy Navarro

By Lia Atienza

The Intercultural Relations District (IRD) of the Ateneo Senior High School (ASHS) launched the celebration of United Nations (UN) Week 2025 with an opening program on Tuesday, October 21, at the first-floor foyer of the Main Building.  

Hosted by the Ateneo Publicity and Communications Organization (APCO), the opening program featured the theme of this year’s UN Week celebration, “mUNdo,” appreciating the diverse cultures around the world from October 21 to 24. 

The Music Industry Organization (MIO) also performed songs by Wave to Earth and other international artists to showcase the various cultures within music.

“UN Day is a reminder of the strength of global unity, acknowledging cultural differences and reinforcing global cooperation towards the realization of a brighter future for our planet,” said Aki Gonzales, IRD Head.

A Week of Culture and Inclusivity

Booths by IRD  organizations are stationed along the second-floor foyer of the ASHS Main Building, sharing and celebrating the different international cultures and advocacies of the organizations. 

This includes the French Legion’s “Barquette?!”, Zoom Photography and Nihongo Dantai’s “ND’s Purikura,’ and Silk Road’s “Chopstick Game.”

ASHS Sandigan Alunsina’s “sALUNpas” and ASHS Model United Nations’ (ASHS MUN) Mirror Board are also found on the first-floor foyer of the main building. 

“May it be through collaborations, events, or merchandise and game booths, each org was given a chance to highlight the individuality of their members for the cultivation of a community that celebrates such in unison,” Gonzales added.

Food concessionaires like Yi Fang Fresh Fruit Tea and Khalifa’s Shawarma are stationed along the second floor foyer as well, courtesy of the IRD. 

Moreover, the ASHS Hanmuneon are set to hold their annual “Hanmune-On That Beat,” on October 22 and 24, in collaboration with the Indayog ng Atenistang Kabataan (IndAK). 

The ASHS community is also invited to participate in IR-Dress Up Day on October 24, where the student body culminates the UN Week celebration by showcasing and appreciating different cultural attire from around the world.

“As love and understanding for one another is heavily rooted in [the] awareness of each other’s contexts and beauty, mUNdo, alongside the IRD and partnered organizations, aimed to serve as a channel for cross-cultural dialogue and global education,” concluded Gonzales.