BioWeek consisted of a sportsfest, a canvas-bag designing activity, an exhibit, a launch of a book on Ateneo flora, and a culminating night.
BOx’s vision is to be a premiere organization that leads in the promotion and appreciation of the biological sciences, according to President Stephen Michael Co (IV BS Bio).
“Besides that advocacy, it is to show what bio is to the Ateneo community, to create an awareness within the community that the org exists,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino.
BioWeek was created with the Haribon Foundation (an active environmental group) as the project’s beneficiary, said BOx Executive Vice President Ana Margarita Delos Reyes (IV BS Bio).
Save the earth
BioWeek started with the “Biolympics,” a sportsfest open to the students, faculty members, and staff of the Biology Department.
Other activities in BioWeek included “Envi-me,” a canvas bag designing activity, the Natural Science Quiz Bee, with Sanggu President Omi Castañar (V AB DS) as the guest geek, and the BOx carnival.
“Envi-me” was BOx’s way of helping save the environment. “When people see that you sport a canvas bag [designed with catchphrases like] ‘save the earth,’ ‘save the dolphins,’ they will feel that some people care,” Delos Reyes said in a mix of English and Filipino.
Vice President Ma. Assunta Cuyegkeng, Ph.D., was among those who designed a bag for “Envi-me,” said Biology Assistant Instructor Ronald Allan Cruz. “That is a big thing, so I think it is good,” he said.
“I felt that it [Envi-me] was actually very cool [because] it is environmental. I found it very timely,” said Gerard Kristoffer Flores (IV AB PoS).
BOx also launched a compendium on Ateneo flora. The compendium was in the form of a book showcasing different floral species found in the Ateneo.
“In the book, you’ll see the beauty of the Ateneo…the book contains details on these plants, what they are for, trivia…you’ll see how the plants are the same, but in reality, different,” said Delos Reyes in a mix of English of Filipino.
“Snap BOx,” an interactive exhibit displaying the works of Biology majors, was also held.
BioWeek concluded through a culminating night titled “Life Guard.” It aimed to promote the environmental conservation, and guarding all forms of life.
Out of the box
For Co, the Ateneo community was receptive of BioWeek. “We have observed dun sa (that in) Snap BOx…there had been around 70 who viewed the exhibit and had rated it very well parang (like) gave eight to ten out of ten,” he said.
Delos Reyes said that many of those who visited the exhibit were Biology majors and those passing through Colayco Pavilion, where the exhibit was held.
“More than to showcase what BOx is and does…we are advocating the protection of biodiversity and creating awareness that there is so much to learn if we just look around and see Mother Nature,” she said.
Participants Chandrikka Dawn Estacion (I BS Bio) and Cruz agreed with Co’s sentiments.
“It [BioWeek] is really nice because it is a chance to get together, and it also gives others a chance to look at our course, and to give other people insight on how we work every day,” Estacion said.
“I think this is a good opportunity for us to show what we are capable of and to show that we are not just geeks…we have creativity, we have spunk, we have a lot of interest that other people, even non-bio majors, can share in,” said Cruz.
