Message from the To all the alumni: It is a great honor for me to be the one to write this message as our beloved organization approaches its 35th anniversary. First of all, in behalf of all the current members of ETC, I would like to send you my earnest gratitude for your continuing support to all our activities. Your lasting involvement in all our endeavors to fulfill our goals inspires all the members. ETC has been around for 35 years now and it has a history of enduring challenges, welcoming changes, and reaping successes. Learning these makes me, perhaps others too, strive even more. This newsletter tells about some milestones that we have put forth during the previous semester. By connecting with you, we learn about the past and see a vision for the future. For this, I hope that on the 22nd day of February, we will all once again see each other and have a meaningful time together. For the remaining days of this year and for the coming years to come, I hope that we continue our journey with you towards social change.
Rebekka de Jesus
by: Ian Nicole Generalao and Joshua Elias Fred Suero
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P Economics towards Consciousness held an information dissemination and opinion solicitation discussion group regarding the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) at the Concordia Albarracin Hall Open Area, Kamagong Residence Halls (Centennial Dormitory) last August 15. The series of discussion groups aim to raise consciousness of UP students residing in dormitories concerning various timely and relevant issues happening in the country. The recent controversies about PDAF have sparked debates and raised questions on whether it should still be used. The discussion group was facilitated by Baba Fronda and John Mar Molave. It was ended by the insights of each respective dormitory council chairpersons namely John Gabriel Nuque and Ma. Claudette Bote.
(Clockwise from left photo) (1) ETC president AJ Montesa, John Gabriel Nuque, Claudette Bote, and VP for Externals Vida Ventura during the awarding of certificates. (2) ETCers after the discussion group in Centennial Dorm. (3) Dormers and other students gather to join the discussion.
U
P Economics Towards Consciousness successfully held its debate and public speaking competition last August 8, 2013 entitled “Kapihan: Find The Perfect Mix�. The event was conducted at the UP School of Economics Room 114. Different organizations from different colleges were invited to participate including UP Debate Society (UPDS), UP Economics Society (UP ECOSOC), UP Political Society, UP National College of Public Administration and Governance (UP NCPAG) Student Council, UP Kalipunan para sa Agham Panlipunan at Pilosopyang Pilipino (UP KAPPP), UP Samahan Tungo sa Progresibong Administrasyon (UP STPA) and Practice of Administrative Leadership and Service (PALS-NCPAG). It was a multi-perspective discussion of issues due to the presence of students from different disciplines.
By: Maridy Nuyda
In the public speaking competition, the participants were able to express their opinions about the existence of such a thing as a "right vote". Francis Gomez of PALS-NCPAG, the winner of the competition, considered the "right vote" as a subjective matter. In the debate competition, the motion was about the "Abolishment of the Pork Barrel System". Asian-Parliamentary was the set format of the debate. There were 2 sides of the debate: the government and the opposition. In the end, the government side's arguments reigned as they pointed out the inefficiencies (such as corruption) produced by the current pork barrel system and proposed the strengthening of the local government units instead. Federico Gerard Parrenas (UP ECOSOC), Maria Veronica Manalo (UP KAPPP) and Xavier Venn Asuncion (UP STPA), the winners of the debate, were able to find the perfect mix.
(Top to bottom) (1) Jay Yparraguirre, ETC's representative for the public speaking, delivers her speech. (2) Debaters from various organizations argued about the abolishment of the Pork Barrel System. (3) Winners of the Debate Competition and Public Speaking and their organization.
By: Anna Mickaella Lingat
L
ast July 15, UP Economics Towards Consciousness (UP ETC), together with UP School of Economics Student Council (UP SESC), spearheaded this school year‟s first Kapekonomiya entitled “Surveying the Financial Affair of the University of the Philippines”. The School of Economics Auditorium was filled with students who witnessed the heated discussions regarding the Socialized Tuition and Financial Assistance Program (STFAP). Professor Solita Colas-Monsod from the School of Economics is on the reform side while Professor Ramon Guillermo from the College of Arts and Letters is on the scrap STFAP side. Furthermore, Juan Carlo Tejano, the National Chairperson of Bukluran ng mga Progresibong Iskolar is also for the reform STFAP while Sarah Torres, the Chairperson of Student Alliance for the Advancement of Democratic Rights in UP (STAND UP) is for the scrap STFAP.
Student reactors from various organizations were also invited to give their opinions on the issue, namely: Eduardo Gabral (Chairperson of Kasama sa UP), Bea Achacoso (former Vice Chairperson of Nagkakaisang Iskolar para sa Pamantasan at Sambayanan), Amiel Ayson (Vice Chairperson for Students‟ Rights and Welfare of UP ALYANSA), and Franzine Foronda (Councilor for Students‟ Rights and Welfare, UP SESC). Director of the Office of Legal Aid from the UP College of Law, Atty. Rowena Daroy-Morales, was the moderator for the event. STFAP is a tool used by the university to designate tuition brackets to UP students based on their capacity to pay and has been receiving criticisms since it was implemented. The reform STFAP side reaffirms that a socialized tuition is a good measure to use in the face of resource constraints. Professor Monsod elaborated the reasons for focusing on tuition discount by citing the STFAP‟s history and the need for a frequent review. On the other hand, Tejano gave a 13-point proposition which aims to improve the efficiency in STFAP implementation.
Meanwhile, the scrap STFAP side argues that UP‟s public character implies full-state subsidy. Torres pointed out that STFAP has been used by the administration as a smokescreen to increase tuition. Furthermore, Professor Guillermo emphasized social equity as the cause of scrapping STFAP. He advocates a Hundreds of students from UP and other universities filled up the Economics Auditorium for the flat rate tuition fee to make UP education accessible. Kapekonomiya.
By: Danilo Lorenzo S. Atanacio
R
ecently, the Philippines has seen its gross domestic product or GDP grow by stellar numbers. It has exceeded the expectations of many economic experts and the country hopes that the impressive performance will spur investors to take interest in our economy and create jobs that we sorely need. It is hoped that the goal of inclusive growth will finally be achieved with the majority of our countrymen lifted out of poverty. It is easy to get lost in all the numbers and swell with pride that our country is finally back on the right track to the level of development that we aspire for. However, we should not be so hasty to think that the data already indicate that all of our kababayans are benefiting from this growth. That was what I took home from the Alternative Classroom Learning Experience entitled, Gender-blind Development held last August 29, 2013 at the UPSE Auditorium. The speakers of the educational discussion proved this point with their discussions that ranged from personal experiences to data collated by international organizations. The first speaker, Ms. Hender Gercio, Research Associate at the UP Center for Womenâ€&#x;s Studies, emphasized how development is intimately and ultimately linked to the freedom enjoyed by an individual, regardless of his or her race, gender, sex, religion or social status. She narrated how there remains to be a heavy bias against different genders and sexes in the country and even in the international community. This can be seen from the mundane experiences of everyday life all the way to the manner by which the laws are crafted without regard for the many nuances of gender. Ms. Gercioâ€&#x;s eye-opening talk on the
Dr. Marina Durano and Ms. Hender Gercio answers the students' questions on LGBT during the ACLE ED. situation of the LGBT community was complemented by the informative and critical discussion of Dr. Marina Durano, professor of the UP School of Economics on the third Millenium Development Goal or MDG of gender equality and women empowerment. Mrs. Durano pointed out how the fundamental assumptions of the prevailing economic models fail to capture the economic contributions provided by the women in our society. By citing several research works, she argued that the focus on the numbers has failed to provide a complete picture of how the economy works, because in reality, women significantly contribute to the economy in the form of household work and unpaid responsibilities. It was clear from both of their talks that there is much to be done, despite the efforts of different advocacy groups and government offices in our country and around the world, in terms of equality in the level of development experienced by each and every person. The educational discussion gave me the perspectives of those who continue to fight for their rights on the road to inclusive growth.
J
By: Kristina Suerte Felipe
onathan Allen Yabut, or “Jonats” as he is more fondly known, made waves August this year when he won the title of the first „The Apprentice Asia‟. As evident during his interviews, Sir Jonats is a graduate of the University of the Philippines School Economics, but aside from this, Sir Jonats is also an ETCer from batch „Layag‟ His visit to the School of Economics was met with much anticipation from students and professors alike. But, in-between the courtesy call to the School‟s Dean and staff and speaking engagements here and there (one with the UP Economics Society and ABS-CBN‟s Bottomline) in a span of 5 hours, he indulged UP ETC with an interview. Probably his nth interview since Air Asia CEO Tony Fernandes formally hired him, the interview revolved around Mr. Yabut‟s experiences as a UP student and as an ETCer and how these have helped him best 11 other contenders in the race. His answers (which you will find out on Febru-
ary 2014) were interjected with short quips and tales of his favorite moments in ETC. These include hanging out with his buddies at a now-defunct street food stall along the University Avenue and of course, the Final Rites which he claims forever changed his life. Sir Jonats was witty, passionate and humble; there was never a dull moment with him. But all throughout our time with him, he had just one lingering request—to see the ETC tambayan. When we finally led him to the tambayan, he was greeted by the sight of ETCers all too delighted to congratulate him. You can only imagine Sir Jonat‟s expression while he was scanning the pages of his batch‟s logbook! While Sir Jonats rushed off to his next meet-and-greet, ETCers were left with the sensation that while his next visit may be a long time coming, we‟ll see him soon fostering the values of being critical and assertive on a much wider scale.
ETC members with Mr. Jonathan Yabut in the tambayan.
By: Wenny Laine Canoy
I
t all started, that fateful day, the first of June. Graduating from high school did not really sink in to me yet but I had to accept that a chapter in my book has ended and another one is about to begin. I did not have any plans, I did not know what to do, I was not excited for college, unlike what every other freshman should feel after enter-
ing UP. Aside from finding a lot more about my course, the environment I am about to live in and making new friends, I found something I did not expect. I fell in love. I fell in love at first sight. Out of all the others out there, he was the only one that caught my eye. The only one that made me go, “ah, I want to be with you someday”. He was the only one that made me feel that he could fill the missing piece of my puzzle. Who he is? It isn‟t actually a person, it‟s an organization that goes by the name of UP Economics Towards Consciousness. I wasn‟t sure if the first semester was the right time to join. I am currently a freshman and what do I know about college life and joining orgs? I was just beginning. But something inside me was whispering that if I found something that was interesting enough to catch my attention, should I wait and let it slip my hands? With the help of John Mark Maclang, the AVP for MemComm‟s persuasion, I made the decision of joining. I was really shy at first, well, who wouldn‟t be? Going to the tambayan was very difficult for me. How could I just walk into other people‟s territory like it‟s the most natural thing in the world? Kim Edbonn Castillo, the VP for Membership assisted me on my first time. He oriented me and found me a buddy. The following times when I wanted to drop by, I had to swallow all my shyness and understand that there is no reason to fear. In the end, it never was as bad as I thought it
would be. My first time having a member sign my sigsheet was a very different experience. Knowing more about the members was never a tiring task for me. Even if it takes hours or days or even if it becomes the reason I come late for my classes. I like how the things they say and the experiences they share about the org, always, always make me think and somehow broadens my horizon. Another striking experience for me was meeting my batchmates. At first, I thought it was a drag to know and to be close with so many people. Our batch, Mitsa, had more than twenty-five members. Now, I feel so blessed for having an awesome family in college. A collection of brothers and sisters that I can trust and that have my back. My first event with my batchmates was the DG and Publicity Workshop. It was held at the Econ Lounge and of course, this workshop, along with the other one‟s like the ED Workshop and Position Paper Workshop was very helpful on our endeavors as applicant‟s and as aspiring members. Soon, the day of our first discussion group came. Tasks were delegated and it was done with the help of the Externals Committee. Our topic was SK Abolition. It was held at ETC Tambayan at July 24, 2013. It was our first step, it has lots of room for improvement. Our second discussion group was about the Manila Bay Reclamation Project which was held on the thirteenth of August. Our over-all evaluation was better than the previous, and the tasks were delegated more properly. The third was about the Crowdsourcing Bill which was held two weeks after at the FC AVR. We are glad that even Alumni like Arjay Mercado, Katrina Enriquez and Anton Ragos attended our discussion group. It was the best for me, yet. But then again, it can still improve and this time, we had to do it on our own.
Batch Mitsa after their Educational Discussion for the Batch Week When Edbonn Castillo posted the survey for which three committees would you like to be working as an intern at, I did not answer. It wasn‟t because I was undecided, although it was slightly the case, but because I want to test myself. I ended up at the Liaison Committee, and I was glad I did. I highly appreciate the Liaison Committe. Partly because Rebekka de Jesus, the VP for Liaison, was the first ExeComm member that signed my sigsheet, and mostly because of its functions and making sure that ETC‟s voice was being heard by the Alliances and the knowledge and experiences the Alumni could share to members and applicants. The members were all very kind of welcoming Most of all, I am very grateful to them because I learn many things I didn‟t even expect to learn when I became an applicant. Each one is different, but in an essence they have similarities. As times goes by, I learn more about being critical and assertive, about the organization‟s principles and objectives and more about the organization itself. I have to say that it isn‟t something you can breeze through and act on half-heartedly. Like some wise guy once said, “nothing worth it ever comes easy”. Still, it made me fall deeper in love. As I get to know ETC, I find more reasons to stay and to know more. The thought of deferring never really
occurred to me. I decided to join, and I won‟t give up until I give my best into being a member. Also, my batchmates give me more reasons to stay and be strong. The whole application process could be very strenuous, but I believe that all the activities are necessary to let us learn and then gauge our capabilities based on what we have learned and if we really deserve to become members of ETC. I want to know more about issues and about my society, I also want to contribute to the world I live in. I want to feel like I‟m made for greater things. I want to struggle, and to prove that I can struggle. That night when I finally officially became a member is one of the moments I treasure the most in my life. I can‟t explain the joy I felt. I came down with a fever though. But I can really say, everything was worth it. Even after the Batch Week, the happiness never subsided. Every little thing about being a member made my heart skip with joy. Being added to the Facebook group, being assigned to a committee, being part of decisions, being tagged to posts by my Vice President, attending General Assemblies not anymore as applicants, and a lot more. My journey towards social change with ETC has just begun.
By: Wenny Laine Canoy I will never regret participating in the first ever ETC provincial dg which was a five-day trip at Quezon Province held last October 14-18, 2013. It was entitled “Pagtulay sa Pagitan ng Teorya at Realidad: Isang talakayan tungkol sa Pantawid Pamilya Pangkabuhayan Program.” The ETCers who also came along were AJ Montesa, Anne Trajano, Mark Bautista, Jay Yparraguirre, Malou San Luis, and Nathan Casanova, the project head. This was made possible with the help of Dr. Paolo Medina M.D., the Municipal Health Officer of Quezon. We departed from Metro Manila at 2AM and rode a boat at Gumaca, giving us a breathtaking view of the blue water and far-off islands. After almost an hour, we reached the city of Quezon and found an ambulance waiting to drive us to our temporary residence. The place we would be staying at was a Birthing Home. The city mayor, Sir Crispin Clacio, shook our hands and greeted us. In the afternoon, we visited the 4Ps office for an orientation. We were also given tips on how to communicate with the locals. The next morning, we further discussed among ourselves the execution of the discussion group. In the afternoon, we were invited to relax at a beach an hour away from our place. We got home by ten, briefly discussed reminders for the next day, and went to sleep before midnight. The next day, we were ready to go at six-thirty. We had an hour-long drive on motorcycles before we were led to a small port. We rode a narrow boat to bring us to Barangay Sabang, which was on the other side of the island. We arrived at our destination, and it was a small barangay with nipa huts, children everywhere, and men on hammocks. We were warmly served with fresh buko juice. The facilitators, AJ and Anne, changed into their ETC shirts while people gathered in the hut where the discussion group would be held at. Our audience were dominantly women—mostly mothers with their children. The audience were the beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilya Pangkabuhayan Program within the barangay. At first, some mothers stood behind the seats and were shy to enter inside the hut but we made sure to invite them in. As planned, the facilitators started off with an introduction. At the same time, the other members proceeded with their own tasks such as taking photos and videos, typing the minutes, ushering and holding the visual aids.
The people there already had a general idea of the 4Ps, and they were listening attentively despite the bad weather. It seemed that for them, the 4Ps is generally helpful because there were no dissenting opinions during the discussion. They had also shown interest in the economics behind the 4Ps and were unconsciously applying the theories discussed (investment, incentive and efficient). It made me proud that we were able to help in gradually raising their consciousness. The discussion group lasted for one and a half hour. To go back, we had to take the option of trekking through the mountains because the weather was bad for boat rides. Trekking started to get especially tricky when we reached some kind of muddy area. We also had to climb and carefully tread the edge before we reached a waterfall. The water was cool and the experience was priceless. Eventually, we also had to climb down. Our slippers and footwear were really put to the test. When we got down, we reached a shore and I almost wanted to scream „hallelujah.’ But then we had to choose between climbing up again or treading the seaside. We decided to climb up again. Soon, motorcycles were upon us. Trekking took about two to three hours. The next day, Thursday, we attended the Municipal Transition Plan Meeting about the 4Ps and other programs to come. During our last night at Quezon, we gave certificates of appreciation to Dr. Paolo Medina, M.D. and Mayor Crispin Clacio. We enjoyed our night at the doctor‟s house with songs and drinks.
(top to bottom) (1) ETCers with the local government unit officials of Quezon, Quezon. (2) AJ Montesa and Anne Trajano facilitates the discussion on the 4Ps with the local residents.
Everything I gained throughout the trip was priceless. First would be the knowledge I‟ve learned especially from the locals. Second would be the experience. It was my first time to ride an ambulance, to ride a narrow boat, and to trek through the forest. Lastly, I gained a deeper bond with my co-ETCers.
Consciousne
As ETC celebrates its 35th anniversary, we plan to conduct the following activities fo
Week One
The Consciousness Caravan will mark the start of Consciousness Month. Three ikot university. The jeeps will also contain Kamalayan bites— organizationâ€&#x;s statements o UP students, will be launched in Palma Hall, CSSP, as well; it will be displayed a wee where the Alumni are also invited to have a fun time with the members and the apps. different schools are invited to join contests and workshops.
Week Two
The Roving Exhibit will be transferred and displayed at Melchor Hall, College of Engi campus for the week. On February 8, the Econ Leadership Summit will continue.
Week Three
The Roving Exhibit will be transferred to and displayed in another college. Another ex week and we plan to conduct the following events: Feb 11- Grand Pakain in Econ and launching of ETC week. Feb 12- open discussion group with other econ students to be held at the SE A Feb 13- Educational Discussion
Week Four
The Roving Exhibit will be transferred and displayed in another college while the exh will be conducted. As a finale of the Consciousness Month will be held on Feb 22.
ess Month
or the Consciousness Month that will start on 27 Jan and conclude on 22 February.
jeeps and one toki jeep that will flash tarpaulins on consciousness month around the on various campus and national issues. The Roving exhibit, that will introduce ETC to all ek. The Membership Committee will also organize a Big Consol to be held on Jan 27, . On Feb 1, There will be an Econ Leadership Summit, where high school students from
ineering. Meanwhile, the Consciousness Caravan will continue travelling around the
xhibit will be also displayed at the School of Economics. This week is also the ETC
Atrium.
hibit in the School of Economics will remain. On February 20, College Discussion Group