By Raya Untalan

By Jelena Villorente and Marielle Orbong

With ongoing tensions in the Middle East, the Philippines has been facing the risk of limited resources and the burden of rising oil prices. In response to the crisis, the Office of the Principal of Ateneo Senior High School (ASHS) recently released an announcement regarding updates on school activities, particularly the postponement of the Grade 11 Prom “Aliora” and the notice on the execution of the Grade 12 Event “Sinaya.” However, its content extends beyond being simply an announcement, as it also emphasizes the university’s call to foster energy conservation, urging the community to make well-informed decisions and actions toward the events. 

With these contrasting decisions between the two batches, it then raises the question of what it truly means to leave a legacy at the height of global conflicts. 

BPC 11: The Turning Point

Despite its far progress, the Batch Project Committee (BPC) 11 had to adhere to the changes made by the school. With its supposed implementation on April 25, the organizing committee had already begun the actual planning and preparations for months, along with the initial payments necessary for its execution.

According to the BPC 11 Head Alexa Gabrielle Sy, before landing on the postponement decision, they had scaled down the materials and resources to be used in the prom — particularly the decorations, dress code, and food options — to adjust to the global dilemma. The early stages of the conflict overseas also pushed them to reduce nearly all aspects of the prom, which left them with more obstacles to attain a quality that would still reach the standards of the juniors who planned to attend. 

Rooted in its purpose to imprint a collective legacy for the batch, the BPC felt torn at first on pursuing its mission amid the pressing matter. Months of planning and huge efforts had been made, and opting to forego the prom implied that the preparation work was going to waste. Moreover, since “Aliora” was announced months ago, Sy mentioned that some students have already paid “significant amounts” for their entrance tickets and acquired the attire that they would wear on the day of the celebration. 

On the other hand, weighing down the gravity of the ongoing crisis and the consequences that postponing would have on the plans and expectations of the student body became a big part in the decision-making of the team. Upon scrutinizing the growing concerns about sustainability, the team ultimately agreed to postpone the event. Sy further explained, “Throughout the entire decision-making process, we constantly asked ourselves: ‘Would we be wasting not only our own efforts but also the batch’s if we pushed for an even further scaled-down prom?’”

While it was a tough decision to halt their logistics process, they acknowledge the circumstance and will stand by in the meantime in order not to compromise energy availability. “At the same time, we view prom not as a way to celebrate and ignore the issues going on, but as an opportunity to hold on to something positive and meaningful amid the uncertainties the country is facing,” the BPC 11 Head asserted, emphasizing the significance of their final deliberations.

BPC 12: A Relentless Pursuit

While the juniors of BPC 11 grapple with the postponement of their batch event, the Grade 12 event pursue vastly converse plans — ultimately choosing to push through with their long-planned Graduation Ball on May 3 instead of leaving the event to remain dormant for an indefinite period. With the present energy crisis posing a challenge to the committee’s supposed goal, the project is now currently being spearheaded by parent volunteers, thus turning Grad Ball into a non school-affiliated event.

According to BPC 12 Head Joshua Benedict Reyes, the fact that the Grad Ball is being held unsanctioned for the first time in ASHS history comes with its own set of pros and cons — but at the end of the day, it serves the purpose of providing the batch with the project they truly deserve.  Through this, the committee was able to blaze an entirely new path and leave the event under the care of the parent volunteers. 

As per Reyes, “The committee took a route never done before which was to plan the event not as BPC, but as mere students alongside parent volunteers. This allowed for the Grad Ball to happen at Manila Marriott Hotel. This significant change is a symbol of change and improvement, that BPC not only hears but listens to the wants and needs of the batch — that measures are being taken to ensure that the batch gets the Grad Ball that they deserve.”

With this conflicting agenda in mind, their adherence to the difficulties of the current crisis now becomes dubious. As people’s priorities shift towards energy conservation and sustainability, their branding of elegance conflicts significantly with the larger society’s necessities nowadays. 

In this light, the continuation of the Grad Ball brings about some noteworthy disadvantages, primarily tied to the exacerbation of the energy issue. Because attendees are automatically required to pay an arguably hefty registration fee, spend gas for transportation, and partake in an event that utilizes a significant amount of energy, there exists the burden of consumption that does not fare well with the gravity of present circumstances. This begs the question — does enjoying such a memorable experience have to come at a lofty cost?

Against the backdrop of the ongoing energy crisis, however, Reyes also recognizes that such circumstances need to be acknowledged when it comes to planning such grandiose events. With parent volunteers now fully in charge of spearheading Sinaya, specific measures being taken to ensure sustainability within the Grad Ball include minimizing costs for the event’s creative design, simplifying the food menu, and reducing offered tokens, among other cost-cutting strategies. In addition, Sinaya will also feature and support local businesses, including one led by a member of batch ‘26, thus also contributing to the Grad Ball’s unique identity for the batch, whilst also maintaining sustainability. 

While the Grad Ball ultimately seems worthwhile as an event, especially noting the fact that it will be held outside the campus, there will always be room for uncertainty to fester, whether it surrounds the ongoing energy emergency or the Grad Ball’s unsanctioned nature. In response to this, Reyes emphasizes the significance of celebration amidst trying times — especially as a testament to the resilience championed by the graduating batch.

“Sinaya exists to honor that strength,” the BPC 12 Head affirmed. “It is a celebration not out of disregard for the world’s struggles, but in recognition of the human spirit’s ability to endure despite them. It is a moment to gather, to reflect, and to appreciate how far this batch has come.”

On Meeting Priorities 

As the two batches proceed with their clashing decisions, the goals of BPC 11 and 12 diverge in fulfilling the responsibilities that they carry as committees — imprinting legacies that reflect the shared identity and experiences of their batches.

With the Grade 11 Prom being postponed, Sy affirms that they will remain open to coordinating closely with the relevant people, offices, and suppliers to continue the vision that they have been working towards for months. She added, “While there are still many decisions to be made regarding the new date, logistics, and overall program, the BPC 11’s focus will always be on creating a memorable, meaningful, and enjoyable experience for the batch — one that truly reflects all the hard work and dedication put into their high school journey.”

Conversely, with the Grade 12 Grad Ball pushing through, Reyes assures that conscious efforts will be made to ensure sustainability amidst the energy crisis by the parent volunteers in order to tailor the best project possible for the batch. As per Reyes, “The graduation ball is really a gift. It’s more of a celebration. It’s this event that just aims to celebrate all the hard work that the students have shown, all the hardships they’ve triumphed, all the adversities that they’ve won over.”

Analyzing the agendas of both batches, perhaps what this dichotomy aims to illustrate is the significance of priority. On one hand, heeding the warnings of the energy crisis has become the main point of action for BPC 11, placing the well-being and capacities of their batch at the forefront of their consideration as they eventually decided on the prom’s postponement. 

On the other hand, BPC 12 primarily kept the wishes of the batch in mind, choosing to struggle through the process of organizing the Grad Ball without the jurisdiction of the school and taking extra steps to ensure sustainability in order to provide a meaningful event for the graduating batch. 

Through a perspective that values safety, it becomes natural to question BPC 12 and their course of action knowing they chose to pursue a path that goes beyond school-affiliated grounds. This creates a field of skepticism for some students who are concerned about security, as well as the fact that their brand of opulence clashes with the sensitivity prompted by current realities. 

Nevertheless, the committee’s trudge towards a successful event was assured to come with consideration, and sustainability will be accounted for throughout the organization of the Grad Ball — portraying a sense of awareness that essentially comes with the event’s planning. 

With these in mind, it is truly the current state of the nation that paints a picture of where each organizing committee’s priorities lie. As far as evaluation goes, it may be conflicting to decide which decision seems more ethical — but ultimately, what matters to each of their committees is being of meaningful service to their respective batches.

In Leaving a Legacy

In the end, as the school year approaches its days of dusk and the country continues to face its difficulties, what becomes significant in the eyes of the school is the values it upholds in consideration of the bigger society, especially when greater things are at stake.

Undeniably, each of the committee’s actions is grounded in wanting the best for their batch, whether it be by easing their energy burdens or providing them with the most memorable event possible,  yet what must come forth from these proactive gestures is accountability and discernment. BPC 11 and 12 both hold the duty of leaving a legacy for their respective batches — but in the wake of a larger crisis, the choices become less obvious, yet still remain in their hands. 

Moving forward, as priorities shift and plans begin to manifest, the committees are called to ultimately shoulder a greater responsibility as their decisions have a significantly larger impact on the outlook of their respective batches. With the global crisis continuing to take its toll, the question of leaving a legacy still looms — yet only time will tell whether such projects truly triumph over these deafening plights.