Aleiana Duque

WRITTEN BY WIRA DOSADO

That’s what really made that uphill battle worth it because there were people constantly pushing you up and waiting for you to get there, to stand with you up on the hill.

WORDS BEAR meaning that leave a rippling impact. Little did Aleiana “Lee” Duque (4 AB PSY) know, a hobby could change how she views the world and how she makes her mark. Even at a young age, Lee found company in reading books.

She affirms that reading shaped her language and worldview. Her perception was further complemented by friendships she had forged with sociopolitically sharp people who awakened her social consciousness and motivated her to pursue an advocacy.

When she entered Ateneo, Lee lived that advocacy and passion in various ways by serving as a member and, then shortly after, the Co-Commissioner on the Commission on Anti-Sexual Misconduct and Violence (CASMV) in Sanggunian. She was also an actress and playwright in Tanghalang Ateneo, taking part in two online plays, Lamon Babae, and Obra Maestra. Her involvement in extracurricular activities are matched with academic excellence, as she is graduating Cum Laude. Contrary to her seemingly-straightforward achievements and experiences, Lee faced diverse obstacles beyond expectation. Regardless, it is her passion for her advocacy that made her sincere, sympathetic, and strong.

CREATING IMPACT

As early as her high school days, Lee already advocated for women’s rights. Over time, she remained persistent in learning and building on causes, eventually speaking up for LGBTQ+ rights and mental health in Ateneo. Although she was driven by purpose, she met challenges that tested her commitment.

While Ateneo Senior High School students are familiar with Lakambini, a committee on gender equality and sensitivity, many are unaware of the uphill journey of establishing the cluster. Lee observed the unspoken culture of sexual harassment of in the school halls. It took several months to share difficult conversations with survivors, to shift the stubborn stance of the administration, and to convince passive and opposing parties to support their cause.

Despite the complications, she keeps in mind the supporters and survivors of the advocacy. Through Lakambini, she was able to create a sense of safety, belonging, and community. For Lee, this made the fight worth it. “Until now, that number is growing. That population of people who support us includes the people who were once against us,” she says.

Entering college, Lee was set on joining Sanggunian with the same fervor. Her expectations were thwarted after she realized that student government was much more different and demanding. What dawned on her, though, was the importance of collective effort to change institutional and cultural impact in Ateneo. This is what she strived for as co-commissioner of CASMV: To lobby for comprehensive and representative policies and hold institutions accountable. Despite the most sensitive cases during her term, she was more brazen to tackle issues ahead through the community.

“That’s what really made that uphill battle worth it because there were people constantly pushing you up and waiting for you to get there, to stand with you up on the hill,” she reminisces.

MAKING A MARK

While she feels strongly about her advocacy, Lee humbly admits that it was time to heal for herself. Her support system brought validation and solace to her decision. Moreover, she was grateful and inspired by advocates who want to continue what she and the committee has started.

Her advocacy doesn’t end, as Lee integrated her beliefs with theater through Tanghalang Ateneo. Being able to look into her own world view and reconcile those with the text and the characterization is something that she found intense but wonderful. She felt fulfilled because it integrated her two loves–the arts and her advocacy.

Ultimately, Lee seeks to continue her legacy beyond Ateneo. At the core of her desire to pursue a Masters in Counseling Psychology is her advocacy of women and LGBTQ+ rights, and mental health. She also opens herself to the grand dream of law school in the future, as well as the prospect of becoming a writer who can express her creativity in writing and sharing it with other people.

“At the end of the day, that’s what you want to do: You want to be able to connect with people you’ve never even met and to give them that lasting impression that shapes their identity, even in the slightest form,” Lee shares.

At the end of the day, that’s what you want to do: You want to be able to connect with people you’ve never even met and to give them that lasting impression that shapes their identity, even in the slightest form.