Sintang Lakbay launched at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, a pioneering initiative integrating inclusive mobility, culture, and history. Photo / Leo M. Sabangan II[/caption]

Graduates of the country’s first polytechnic university have been the top hiring choice of companies for several years, owing largely to academic excellence, the value of grit, and spirit of team-work that animates PUP students, faculty, and administrative personnel. Rather than reinforce trends in over-specialization that have plagued climate policy initiatives in other universities, PUP and its partners have chosen to integrate disciplines that elevate scholarly outcomes, ensure participatory research, and build public interest in policy development.

In celebrating its 120th year, PUP reaffirms its dedication to accessible, quality education that cultivates critical thinking and social consciousness. This milestone marks a pivotal moment for the university as it confronts the challenges of historical amnesia and the urgent realities of climate change, embracing its role in shaping a more informed and sustainable future. The history ride, coinciding with Earth Day, underscores the critical role of studying history in understanding past human-environment interactions, to develop pathways that promote sustainable and equitable solutions.

“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,” said PUP President Manuel Muhi.

Using bicycles as the primary vehicle in the historical tour, Sintang Lakbay aims to facilitate active interaction with urban landscapes, restoring working-class memory in national history, and mobilizing public contributions to remembering through art and research. It supports a transformative project that redefines how we perceive our history, identity, and future in the context of the climate crisis, contributing to a more resilient and sustainable society with the intent of institutionalizing this within the campus of PUP.

Fread De Mesa, of 350 Pilipinas accentuates the transformative power of inclusive mobility amid climate crisis. “Bicycles are a practical tool for holistic climate action, offering a clean, healthy, and affordable solution to reduce transportation pollution, build sustainable communities, and curb carbon emissions causing global warming.” he adds. ‘By promoting inclusive mobility, we not only enable active engagement with urban landscapes but also foster a deeper connection to our working-class roots and historical narratives. This approach serves as a catalyst for change, inspiring communities to take ownership of their future and champion sustainable practices.’”

“To establish truly durable national and local climate policy, we must integrate disciplines, and rarely is this more easily expressed than through the medium of active transport and inclusive mobility. Bicycles are central to Philippine revolutionary history, dating from the time Katipuneroes were recruiting members to acts of resistance against US and Japanese occupation, and today they are central to the campaign for a fossil-free future. Our partnership with PUP and 350 Pilipinas helps show how fossil capital and carbon history are so deeply intertwined with our national past, and what moves we can consider to secure a peaceful future where Filipinos enjoy the very fruit their ancestors fought for, that of ginhawa,” said Renato Redentor Constantino, managing director of the Constantino Foundation.

Sintang Lakbay marks the beginning of  a series of history tours around PUP campus, promoting inclusive mobility and engaging with urban landscapes to reimagine the past, understand contemporary issues, and shape future actions. Upcoming initiatives include additional bike rides, public art installations, citizen research, and lectures.

Photo / Leo M. Sabangan II