Ateneo Batch ’99 brings hope to communities through Project Paglaom

By Ryan Mostar

For more than two decades, Ateneo de Naga High School Batch ‘99 has quietly extended help to families, students, and community partners—small acts of service that, over the years, have grown into a shared commitment. That long-standing spirit of generosity now comes together under a unified initiative: Project Paglaom, inspired by the Bicolano word for hope.

“Project Paglaom is our way of giving hope to those who need it most,” said Batch ’99 president Von Karl Bedural. “It reflects unity, optimism, and the belief that better days are always within reach.”

The decision to formalize the program was strengthened after Typhoon Uwan severely damaged Daldagon Elementary School in San Ramon, Siruma—one of the batch’s recent outreach beneficiaries. The storm left classrooms destroyed, learning materials gone, and young students displaced from the stability of their school environment.

To help address this, Batch ’99 has begun raising funds to support the rebuilding of the school and assist the wider community’s recovery efforts, ensuring that students can soon return to a safe and nurturing place to learn.

This initiative also complements the ongoing work of batchmate Randall Dagooc, who has been independently coordinating relief efforts in Siruma. “Randall has done incredible work, but he is just one person,” Bedural shared. “Through Project Paglaom, our batch hopes to widen that circle of help and bring renewed hope to the community.”

More than a response to a single crisis, Project Paglaom marks Batch ’99’s commitment to turning years of outreach into a sustained, structured program—one that allows alumni to rally together and create meaningful, long-term impact.

“We’ve always believed in the strength of collective action,” Bedural said. “With Project Paglaom, we aim not only to meet immediate needs but to support communities in ways that last.”

Although the formal introduction of Project Paglaom is scheduled for December 30 during the Alumni Homecoming, the initiative is already underway—raising funds through personalized merchandise such as desk calendars, shirts, tumblers, caps, umbrellas, lanyard keychains, and more. The proceeds will support our outreach efforts, inspire wider participation, and strengthen the spirit of service that has long defined Batch ’99.

Through Project Paglaom, Batch ’99 shows that when hope is shared, it becomes a force that rebuilds classrooms, uplifts families, and creates lasting change—leaving the community stronger because we chose to care together.