ABOUT US

The UP Economics Society (UP Ecosoc) is a non-stock, non-profit, socio-civic organization committed to fulfilling its socio-civic responsibilities for the university, and for the nation at large. 
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We strive to promote economic understanding as a step towards change and development in Philippine society by molding our members into holistic individuals that shall mobilize the students of the University to share this task.

The UP Economics Society was founded by a group of honor students of the College of Business Administration in 1958. Today, UP Ecosoc is one of the largest and most respected organizations in UP Diliman, embarking on various undertakings that realize its role as prime movers of youth dynamism. 
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The organization assists high school and college scholars through the Economics Society Scholarship Program (ESSP).
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Mission

The principal mission of the Society is to mold its members into citizens who not only strive for societal advancement, but also inspire others to do the same.

Vision

The Society envisions itself as an organization that positively impacts Philippine society through
its commitment to various forms of service.

OUR STORY

How Ecosoc Began

The UP Economics Society was formed by a group of College of Business Administration honor students on September 1958. The organization’s efforts were aimed towards service to the academe and to the community not only through academic excellence but also through socio-civic undertakings. It struggled to gain independence from the College of Business Administration to establish the School of Economics.

1960s

Ecosoc found itself leaving a great impact in the university through its many contributions within the community. The organization has spearheaded drives which raised funds for projects and donations to the CBA. Those years were indeed productive years for Ecosoc in as much as the Formal Scholarship Fund for Economics majors was founded.

One of the many important contributions of Ecosoc during this decade was to consolidate all of the Economics-centered student organizations in the country. It is one of the founding organizations of the Junior Philippine Economics Society which aimed to establish and promote goodwill among economics students and helped create awareness and commitment to to improve the economic, political, and cultural welfare of the Filipinos.

1967 also marked the metamorphosis of the society from a confined group of honor students to one open to all Economics Majors. It was then that Ecosoc received its first Most Outstanding Organization Award within the university.

1970s

In the seventies, Ecosoc became highly politicized and involved in university and national issues. In 1975, it launched Economic Consciousness Week to instill awareness of current economic trends in the country and thus help create an atmosphere conducive to discussion of basic issues. Ecosoc also spearheaded the formation of the Economics Student Council. It was none other than Dean Jose Encarnacion who delegated to the organization the task of organizing the council.

1980s

The start of the eighties saw Ecosoc sustain its ideas and renew its commitment to its thrusts. Aside from the symposia, tutorials and convocations that were sponsored, its socio-civic projects were at the heights when visits to Bacoor, Bicutan and the various housing areas in the campus were made. Nurseries and medical clinics were sponsored to reach out to the underprivileged in our society. Company tours, contest and fundraisers were also undertaken. As contribution to the Diamond Jubilee of the University, Ecosoc co-sponsored a socio-cultural activity involving the alumni and the parents of the Economics majors. Aside from this, the Society sponsored an Alumni Homecoming. To cap the Society’s Silver Anniversary, it received the prestigious Wenceslao Vinzon’s Award as the Most Outstanding Organization.

In 1986, Ecosoc received the Presidential Award for Outstanding Organization in the entire UP system nationwide. In 1987, it duplicated this feat. Our chief attraction is the opportunity to meet people and to be with people. People with a common resolve to serve, who, in the process, derive a lot of satisfaction; economists who are firm in the belief that people are the best capital, and service is the best investment.

In commemoration of its 30th anniversary, in 1988, it sponsored an Alumni Homecoming held at the Executive House. A Bingo Social was also held to obtain funds for the scholars it supported. It was also during this time that Ecosoc began to grant its members discount privileges by coming out with the official membership cards. A year after, Ecosoc sponsored a concert of Freddie Aguilar to help build a school in Lagro.

1990s

1990 was a reason to celebrate as it once again received the Presidential Award for Most Outstanding Organization in the entire UP system. 1990’s fundraisers were the Pinoy Wrestling and a disco/concert/fashion show held at Faces Disco – “Sari-Sari Night." The following year, Ecosoc sponsored the movie premiere of “Home Alone” at the Meralco Theater, after which a disco-party was held at Mars Disco. September of 1991, it featured two of the country’s up and coming bands – Artstart and G-steps at the Faces Disco, where our own Ecosoc band pitted talents with them. At the beginning of 1992, ECOSOC introduced exciting and generous fundraisers. “2 Legit 2 Quit” featured the advance screening of two blockbuster movies, “Dead Again” and “Other People’s Money”, both premieres were held at the Meralco Theater. The second night was followed by a concert of the famous Side A band at the newly opened Music Hall.

Ecosoc takes pride in its many achievements. The many achievements of UP Ecosoc have not been ignored, as it has received the now defunct Wenceslao Vinzon’s award for Most Outstanding Organization four times. It has also been bestowed the Presidential Award for Most Outstanding Organization, the most coveted award in the entire UP System. Recently, the organization received the Gawad Chancellor for Most Outstanding Organization and the Alpha Phi Omega Oblation Award for Best Organization both in 1999. Its manifold contributions to the UP School of Economics are, namely: the establishment of the Scholarship Funds, the establishment of the Junior Philippine Economics Society, its membership in UNISON, its helping to organize the Alumni Association and spearheading the formation of the Economics Student Council.

2000s

With the start of the new millennium, the society boasts of one of the largest memberships in the entire UP System, now standing at around two hundred. The society has become known for its various activities, all of which aim for the well being of its members and the achievement of its goals of Service, Excellence, and Tradition. These include company tours, talks and symposia, seminars, various sports events, variety shows, semestral fundraisers, etc. Ecosoc continues to conduct weekly day care sessions for younger children from Pook Ricarte, and semestral Free Clinics for various communities.

Until the first semester of 2003, the society had been sponsoring weekly tutorials for the Grade Six students of Balara Elementary School, with free art, writing, and sports workshops for selected students of the same school. However, a modification in the class schedules of the sixth grade classes from the afternoon to the morning prompted a major change. At present, the society now sponsors the weekly tutorials of the San Vicente Elementary sixth graders – but with the same passion and commitment that has marked their endeavors.

2010s

The past decade has seen the innovations of the society with its large-scale events. Early in the decade, the Ad Hoc team, headed by the president, has eyed on joining the party scene to expand our reach to fellow college students. With previous iterations of party-like events such as Rush Hour and Renegade, the Ecosoc Month 54 Team left their mark upon the creation of LIV which would eventually be one of the most iconic annual events of the organization. The color-filled night event was one of the most anticipated night of Ecosoc Month, amassing over a thousand attendees every year and celebrating music from popular DJs. The society also actualized Musikapella, a choir competition for high school students. Headed by the Executive Vice President, this yearly event would proceed to be the main fundraiser of Task Force for the coming years. 

Ecosoc has also started bolstering its impact within the UP community. It was during this decade when Ecosoc would start taking charge of one of the nights in UP Fair: Roots Music Festival. Being one of UP Ecosoc's biggest annual events, UP Fair Roots showcases the biggest and brightest local talents in one big celebration of Original Pinoy Music. The organization also fosters its thrust of Service to the Diliman community by being the main organizer of UPFront, the largest and most recognized University Student Council elections. Partnered with the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs, Ecosoc promotes the development of critical thinking and making an educated vote through the Miting De Avance.  

In 2011, for the first time in its history, the UP Economics Society Scholarship Fund catered to the education of one UP School of Economics student, in an effort to promote economics as a tool for national development. In 2012, the society embarked on a new partnership with the GK-NTC Pinag-isang Palad community, with whom Ecosoc holds community-building activities such as the health mission and house builds.​

Ecosoc at present

Today, the UP Economics Society remains true to the young, idealistic vision that created it and to the collective sense of service and camaraderie that sustains it. One of the organization's objectives, that of directly contributing as much as the members possibly can to alleviate social problems – has motivated our establishment of weekend nurseries and day-care activities at nearby Pook Ricarte which are directly supervised by the members themselves. As an academic organization, the society conducts study groups and tutorials, creates infographics, and forms statements regarding social issues. Ecosoc continues provide scholarships through the Economics Society Scholarship Program. Through the ESSP, the organization has been funding the education of 14 Ecosoc scholars.