Negosentro | UP ETC Turns 45! | UP Economics Towards Consciousness (UP ETC), the sole official academic-political university-wide organization based in the UP School of Economics, is now in its 45th year. The late 70s was a time for social and political turmoil, and as the Marcos dictatorship could neither hide behind the facades of peace and progress, it sought to protect itself through outright repression, to quell dissent among people. It was in this context that twelve economics students formally established the UP Economics Towards Consciousness on February 10, 1979, initially as an underground organization, seeking to debunk the mythical “golden age” of Marcos’s economy. Composed of students taking Economics, Business Economics, and other degree programs, UP ETC has consistently created venues linking classroom discussions to social realities.
Forty-five years later, UP ETC continues to create positive social change on both local and national levels by engaging with social issues critically and assertively. In our 45th year as an academic-political student organization, we will be holding our annual month-long celebration of Consciousness Month (CM). The theme for Consciousness Month 45 is “Espasyo: Syudad at Probinsya Patungong Kaunlaran, Espasyo para sa Mamamayan.” This year’s theme seeks to open the discourse on urban development issues and how we can create spaces that promote people-centric development across the country’s urban centers. Espasyo plans to delve into subtopics such as public transport, gentrification, sustainable urban planning, and the delicate balance between rural and urban living.
True to its name, UP ETC will be holding events that are consciousness-rising for the greater UP Diliman community. One of our events is a film viewing to commemorate EDSA People Power and how it created a space for Filipinos to oust the Marcos dictatorship and strive toward democracy. Another consciousness-rising event is the educational discussion on domestic work and the care economy wherein we want to tap on gender dynamics and unpaid reproductive labor. Lastly, we’ll be holding CM’s flashship event – Kapekonomiya.This year’s installment of Kapekonomiya will tackle a multiperspective conversation on Urban Divide. This project is a widely attended educational forum that allows the exchange of ideas over a cup of coffee, and it is open to all.
Aside from raising unity and consciousness, ETC is also known for being action-oriented. We won’t let Consciousness Month end without encouraging other organizations and individuals to forward their advocacies as well. This month-long celebration will culminate with a lobbying workshop that shall empower groups and individuals with the knowledge of effective lobbying techniques.
Here’s what you can look forward to and more! Join us in the spirit of camaraderie and reflection as we look back on the 45 years of unity, consciousness, and action together. Check out ETC Consciousness Month on Facebook to know more!
