{waiting watching wishing}

Friday, March 14, 2008

{because i'm a self-proclaimed stage sister...}

[my not-so-baby brother is the incoming chairperson of the School of Economics Student Council. i'm posting a copy of his convocation speech and campaign poster not ONLY because i'm a self-proclaimed stage sister (imagine having campaigned for my brother four years in a row from freshie batch rep to media and pub councilor to usc councilor to econ chair...hahaha), but because his campaign period covered the time wherein i felt myself growing more and more disillusioned given the unstable national political situation compounded with the dirtiness of this year's local (university) elections.. during those times i was desperately looking for someone or something i could believe in. i think that's why i'm such a big Obama fan, because Barack Obama has managed to inspire millions not just across America but throughout the whole world through his message of hope and change we can believe in. while i harbor no illusions that any person can singlehandedly change the world so to speak, i've recently seen how much of an impact a leader with not just charisma, but more importantly an inspiring message can make.

When i first heard my brother deliver his speech, i almost cried. Not because of its relevance in my life, because quite frankly i'm not an Econ major so i cannot relate, but because of the message of hope, of having something collectively to believe in such that not just one person but a group of people may be inspired and motivated to work towards that thing/goal it believes in. During those days wherein i felt that there was no hope at all, his message somehow alleviated the heaviness I felt.

I'm so proud of you, brother bear. I'm sure you'll do a terrific job this coming academic year. Do your best to inspire your college to work towards an Econ you all truly believe in.

--
[NOTE: for those who do know my brother, imagine him delivering this... in all fairness to my froggy brother, he has a future in inspirational speaking. hahaha!]

They call it the dismal science. A dreary and desolate field of study, perpetually clouded by assumptions. Oversimplifications. Numbers.

But this is not what Econ is supposed to be about. It is not about recessions. And it is most certainly not about depressions. Let me tell you what Econ is all about.

Econ is all about hope. Hope and upliftment for the future. Econ is the GDP growth that will help us fulfill our dreams and our country’s dreams. The chapters we will remember even after we graduate from this school. The life lessons we will apply everyday for the rest of our lives.

Econ is you. Econ is me. Econ is what defines us into who we are and how we intend to progress into the future. Econ is what molds our hopes and shapes them into reality. And whether we like it or not, Econ is in our blood - it is something we believe in. And this is precisely why we chose Econ when we filled up our applications to go to UP. Be it right off the bat or from a shifting perspective. It wasn’t business administration. It wasn’t accounting. It wasn’t statistics or pol sci or socio or math. It was Econ.

And like that choice we made when we applied to UP, when we applied to this school, we are presented now with a similar choice. A choice that will determine everything. A choice that will determine whether or not we have a convincing future to aspire for. This choice is not quantum physics or calculus, it is, in fact, a simple one. A simple vote.

The past week, during my campaign, I have presented a solid platform, containing solid goals and solid mechanisms. Yet at the heart of all these projects is Econ. An Econ we believe in, through endeavors we believe in, through a council we believe in and through a network we believe in.

My campaign addresses that which is required in any relevant student council: a council with solid projects and endeavors, a council that reaches out to the people with proper and accessible venues for consultation, a council that fosters accountability and transparency and a council that stays true to its UP roots by having a strong presence in the university playing field.

Specifically, I’m talking about a Scholarship Fund to aid worthy and deserving students pursue further education. I’m talking about Project-proposal generation by the people for the people. I’m talking about Standard Performance Mechanisms to ensure reliability and accountability. I’m talking about Greater Consultation and Visibility within the student body. I’m talking about Bringing SocialBack to the Science to branch out, to explore and to become more integrated within the University. This is my vision for Econ. My vision for next year’s council.

But apart from this, my campaign focuses on the most important thing we can do right now. I’m talking about reengaging the Econ people. To get us excited and interested. To get us involved and passionate. To get us to believe!

Econ: this is our moment. This is our time. And if you stand by me tomorrow. If you vote for me tomorrow. If you are willing to go get your friends to vote, if you get your batch invigorated, if you get the freshies involved, we will not just win the Econ elections, we will win back our hearts, we will win back our dreams and we will win back our school. Our School of Economics. Our Student Council. Our Econ.

And together you and I will win that which we have fought for our whole college lives: An Econ that We Believe In to the core of our very being. My name is Noel Reyes. I am your Econ Chairperson. And now is our time to show the world just how strongly we believe. For it is no longer ECON, We believe. No More. Rather, It is WE BELIEVE in ECON.

Posted by arianne at 10:09 PM