Jan Vincent Lanuza, News, Communication Management Office
The PUP Center for Environmental Studies, in partnership with the 350 Pilipinas, Renato Constantino Foundation, Research Institute for Culture and Language (RICL), Research Institute for Human and Social Development (RIHSD), PUP Department of History, PUP College of Architecture, Design and the Built Environment (CADBE), and the National Service Training Program Office (NSTPO) organized the Sintang Lakbay: Siklistang Sinta Environmental and Historical Bike/ Walk Tour last April 22. It is part of the University’s 120th Anniversary festivities and also in celebration of the annual Earth Day.
With the theme of “Towards Inclusive and Pro-People Mobility, Sustainability, and History-Conscious Community,” the event serves as means to promote climate action in response to the growing global environmental concerns whilst integrating the important role of history towards societal development.
In an interview with 350 Pilipinas, PUP President Manuel M. Muhi noted the significance of this occasion, saying “We are determined to echo the Constantino Foundation’s call to ‘remember better’ by demonstrating the many ways the planet’s carbon history can be fully and effectively integrated with Philippine history, culture, and the sciences. Likewise, our partnership with 350 Pilipinas helps set the university’s strategic direction by advancing pragmatic yet long-term climate policy reform in energy and transport.”
“The public can expect more exciting activities from PUP in the coming months, because these are partnerships that will help our academic programs further bloom even as we contribute to realizing long-term resilience and sustainable development in the country,” Dr. Muhi added.
Employee and student organizations such as the PUP Padyakeros, PUP Sentral na Konseho ng Mag-aaral (SKM), and the PUP Office of Student Regent (OSR) also attended the collaborative event.
In conjunction with the Sintang Lakbay, the NSTPO also held ECOWALK 2024: Lakad-Alay ng mga Iskolar ng Bayan para sa Kalikasan in support of the advocacy held by the said bike/walk tour.
The itinerary of the Sintang Lakbay bike/walk tour started at the PUP Obelisk followed by multiple stops at PUP Antique House at the Institute of Technology (ITech) Building, LRT Pureza Station, Hipodromo Street, Sta. Mesa Fire Station, Prudente ambush site at Magsaysay Boulevard, and the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church before finally returning at the University grounds.
As mentioned by Renato Redentor “Red” Constantino, Managing Director of the Renato Constantino Foundation, a second bike/walk tour will be held on June 16 and a third one that will be announced in the future, both occurring at the University.
Following the bike/walk tour, a ceremonial signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the University and 350 Pilipinas, as well as with the Renato Constantino Foundation was held to provide more educational and career chances to students. This is in accordance with the free quality education of the Sintang Paaralan.
During the MOU signing between 350 Pilipinas, an agreement was inked centering on “the preservation, conservation, and revitalization of the environment and reduction of its carbon footprint and contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).”
Under the PUP-350 Pilipinas partnership, the University have agreed to collaborate and create campaigns and activities that focused on climate action, provide spaces for a Solar-powered charging station for the students, and assist its partner in any way that suits their needs (trainings). Meanwhile, 350 Pilipinas consented in providing PUP trainings and seminars that concerns climate, climate Justice, inclusive mobility, decarbonization, renewable energy, and Solar Tek Pak.
Afterwards, a dialogue regarding a proposed MOU between the University and the Renato Constantino Foundation was arranged, centering on Siento Beinte Project—an initiative that focused on history tours, crowdsourcing history, and unruly mycelia lectures. All these promote the concept of a Usable History, breaking new grounds in activism and politics and use “climate change to argue for a full-throated defense of history and the nationalist alternative, using art, poetry, culinary memory, theology, geography, the sciences, linguistics, anthropology, archaeology, and so on.”
Through this partnership, the two parties will commit on playing substantial roles in shifting the fight against climate change through history awareness and restoration.
Currently, the PUP-Renato Constantino Foundation MOU remained under review with the legal team of latter, waiting for finalization and signing.
350 Pilipinas is a non-profit organization consisting of volunteers supporting the Philippine climate movement and aims to “create a secure and promising future by empowering individuals and communities, fostering justice, prosperity, and equality, all while ensuring a climate-safe environment.”
Meanwhile, the Renato Constantino Foundation is an organization that continues the legacy of the esteemed Filipino historian in nationalist historiography by initiating, sponsoring, or financing programs and projects for its advancement.
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