BEYOND THE accolades and awards, Alex Barairo possessed a fighting spirit that inspired people wherever she went. As a former member of the Ateneo Girl’s Track and Field Team (AGTFT) and the Ateneo Women’s Fencing Team (AWFT), Alex had already surmounted great heights at such a young age.
Despite her passing at the early onset of 2022, Alex’s grit and passion for whatever she put her mind to will continue to live within all of the lives she has touched.
Suited up
Early into her Ateneo life, Alex already left her mark as part of the pioneering batches of the co-educational Senior High School program and the first AGTFT. Even without any formal track and field training, Alex managed to secure a spot on the varsity line-up while also becoming the team’s first captain during University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 79. In the following season of the UAAP, Alex went on to win the AGTFT’s first ever medal in the Girls’ 4×100 meter relay.
Looking back, Ateneo Juniors’ Track and Field Team Head Coach Alvin “Jok” Cobar recalls just how contagious Alex’s drive was. According to Coach Jok, her ambition was what allowed her raw talent to flourish into greatness, a key trait he hoped would rub off on the younger athletes. “Intrinsically motivated siya. Hindi ko alam kung ano yung reason, pero tingin ko ‘yan yung number one reason kung paano niya nakuha yung medal na ‘yun,” commented Coach Jok.
(She was intrinsically motivated. I don’t know what the reason was, but I believe that was the number one reason as to how she got that medal.)
Outside the sport, Coach Jok also mentioned that he and Alex had a special connection because they both grew up in Manila City. As they shared similar experiences, Coach Jok felt his fondness for Alex blossom: “Siguro nakadagdag yun. Kaya siya clingy sa akin not only as a coach, but beyond sa team…talagang nafefeel niya sa akin na meron someone na ka-uri [niya] dito sa Ateneo.”
(That probably added to it. That’s why she was clingy to me not only as a coach, but beyond the team… she really felt in me that there was someone like her here in Ateneo.)
Although Alex had a successful stint in track and field, she made the transition to fencing not long after her high school graduation. Steeped into another unknown sport, Alex brought her signature yearning for excellence to the mats.
For AWFT’s Ella Cabahug, Alex was not only a hardworking athlete, but she also elevated the spirits of all the people around her. “There was always dancing and laughing after training because of Alex, and she would bring so much energy in every session,” Ella shared.
Full steam ahead
Despite the demands of being a student-athlete, Alex continued to find ways to excel in the other aspects of her life. She was an active member in a diverse set of organizations such as the Ateneo Association of Communication Majors, the League of Independent Organizations (LIONS), and even the Ateneo Commission on Elections (Ateneo COMELEC). With her talent in branding and marketing, Alex had an innovative mind that helped organizations on various creative fronts.
Shortly after her passing, LIONS and Ateneo COMELEC talked about how integral Alex was to their respective causes. During her term as a co-director for LIONS’ Communications Department, Alex led the coordinating body’s promotional efforts in the academic year 2020-2021. Similarly, Alex had initially met with the Ateneo COMELEC Communications team last December to discuss how to improve their online image moving forward.
Apart from her extracurricular pursuits, Alex was just as dedicated a student who turned her affinity for sports into a scholarly interest. According to Jessel Barairo, Alex’s mother, Alex was conducting her thesis on the Philippines Sports Commission. “Parang gusto niyang magkaroon ng pagbabago kasi nakita niya yung mga needs ng mga athletes, kasi nakita niya yung mga needs ng mga athletes [na] hindi naproprovide ng tamang allowances… yung pagmamahal niya sa sports, nakadugtong pati sa pag-aaral niya,” said Jessel.
(It seemed like she wanted there to be change because she saw the needs of the athletes who weren’t being provided the right allowance… Her love for sports was even connected to her studies.)
Due to Alex’s many commitments, Jessel was well-aware that her daughter was prone to letting internal doubts and insecurities get the best of her. In order to combat this, she was adamant about reminding Alex to focus on giving her all instead of fixating on the end result. As Jessel would remind her daughter: “‘Do your best in everything you do kasi wala namang mawawala sa ‘yo.’ ‘Yun yung palagi ko lang sinasabi sa kanya kapag may doubts siya.”
(Do your best in everything you do because you won’t lose anything. That’s always what I told her whenever she had doubts)
Ever present
Regardless of where she found herself, Alex kept her mother’s mantra close to her heart. More than just a skilled athlete, stellar student, and talented organization member, Alex is a testament to the never ending possibilities that dedication affords any individual.
“I hope that everyone remembers Alex’s tenacity and drive. I hope all of her loved ones receive the gifts that Alex has given us: Her presence, her joy, her thoughts, and her impact, and apply it into their lives as a way for her legacy to live on,” urged Ella.
Located within each of the anecdotes shared by Ella, Coach Jok, and Jessel are the ways Alex will continue to live on beyond just mere memories. Even though Alex may not be physically present anymore, she has instilled a fire in her friends, family, teammates, and all her loved ones that will continue to glow as brightly as she did.
