IN PARTNERSHIP with the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF), the Ateneo Biological Organization (BOx) hosted LoveBOx 2025: A Sky’s Serenade last February 21 at Bellarmine Field.
Now in its third iteration, the annual fundraising concert aimed to raise awareness about the endangered Philippine Eagle. Proceeds from the concert would be used for PEF’s research and conservation.
Highlighting the event’s purpose, one of LoveBOx 2025 Event Directors Aki Banguis shared that the organizers focused on the conservation of eagles, considering it as an environmental issue that may resonate more with the Ateneo community. He added that they hope to encourage Ateneans to “use their platform to safeguard national heritage.”
The event this year featured performances from various local artists, including Adie, Over October, The Ridleys, Munimuni, and Autotelic, as well as Atenean talents VoiceBOx, BeatBOx, and Kyle Plantilla.
Soaring celebration
Leading up to the concert, LoveBOx also featured a three-day bazaar and a culminating talk centered on animal welfare.
Moreover, PEF Conservation and Education Officer Hannah Keziah Ablin emphasized during the concert that initiatives like LoveBOx make a difference in their advocacy since PEF is a nonprofit organization. She also stated how the Philippine eagle represents the “interconnectedness of life” in our country.
“As we celebrate [our] love for music, we also celebrate a deeper love: love for nature, love for wildlife, and love for our national treasure—the critically endangered Philippine eagle,” Ablin expressed.
According to LoveBOX’s secretariat committee, a total of 1,706 Ateneans and non-Ateneans alike attended the concert this year. With the number, co-event director Maisie Odiaz expressed her hope that the concert served as a platform to put forward the advocacy to a larger audience.
Reaching greater heights
While LoveBOx primarily aims to promote animal and environmental awareness, BOx President Prince Soriano also mentioned the EDSA People Power Revolution during the event, noting how varied life forms show that “unity is not futile.”
“[I]t is a challenge—it is a dare to love beyond what is easy and beneficial, see beyond our differences, and recognize the dignity we all carry, just like every other form of life,” Soriano explained.
For Shaina Guiyab (4 AB MEC), LoveBOx was an opportunity to spend time with her friends while positively contributing to the cause.
Meanwhile, Reese Ocampo (1 AB POS) expressed her appreciation for events like LoveBOx, which allowed her to celebrate music and shed light on the current situation of the Philippine eagles at the same time.
Moving forward, co-event director Lane Ringor hopes that LoveBOx will move beyond being a one-night event into an annual tradition in partnership with the University to bring people together toward a certain cause.
ERRATUM: A previous version of this article quoted BOx President Prince Soriano saying, “recognize the dignity beyond worry.” However, Soriano clarified that the correct quote is “dignity we all carry.” The article has been edited to reflect necessary changes. We apologize for the oversight.
