Community Design Review

Last Saturday, on July 20th, we had our first community design review of the multipurpose building.  The students have been working very hard over the weeks leading up to the review, where every-other-day they had to present progress drawings of the design.  They started from a broad concept and continued to tailor the design to meet the needs of the community.  We used the survey results from the community workshop conducted last May, to develop the program for the building.  The multipurpose building will have three distinct functions; a daycare, assembly/mass, and medical clinic.  The building will have removable partitions to separate the program, with the ability to transform the rooms into one, large space for vending/assembly.  Also, as part of the site work, we're introducing a wastewater management system, called aquaponics.  This system will be managed by the community where they will raise fish and grow vegetables by using the water runoff from the site.  We received positive feedback from the community giving us a "green light" to proceed to the design development phase.

The physical model for the schematic design.

Efren, the fifth year student, explains the form of the building to the community.

 Here, he uses the physical model to show the building in its context of the housing community.

One of the residents from Core Shelter handles the roof from the model and positively comments on the use of the native "amakan" material applied to the underside of the roof.  "Amakan" is a woven panel made of native grass typically used for interior finishes. 

 

Estudio Damgo Design Team group photo, from Left to Right: Cheyenne (Yen), Leigh, Daryl, Efren, Dominador and Maria from Caritas I housing, Erlmida and Johna from Core Shelter housing, Sir Dean Sinco, Rhea, and me (Anna).

  

 

After the community review, Mark Espedilla, gave us a tour of the aquaponics in the greenhouse on campus.  Estudio Damgo is teaming up with Mark and the Agriculture Department, to design and implement the aquaponics system with the building project.  Here he explains how the water is siphoned from the trays to water the plants.

It's More Fun in the Philippines!

While American's enjoy the peak of summer break, Filipino students return back to school for a new academic year.  Foundation University started classes on June 13 and we are well into the new school year.  To make school more fun and to take advantage of living on a tropical island, the Department of Architecture and Fine Arts (DAFA) hold an annual sand sculpture competition to explore the basics of material science in three dimensions.  The challenge is to team up to create a sculpture using only sand, water, and beach tools.  Students are eliminated if any castles or castle-like forms are made.  This year, students were asked to create sculptures based on FU's theme, "What are you waiting for?".  Many showed characters striving to a top of a mountain or open books with positive images for success in their academic studies.  As an instructor of DAFA, I was a judge for the competition.  It was a fun day in the sun, and even more fun to get dirty with my fellow colleagues to make our own version for the event.  This type of beach activity is what separates the Philippines from the US in academics.  It's more fun in the Philippines!

-Photos by FU's Creative Department

All lined up for the start of the sand sculpture competition.  It was cooler to have our feet in the water while the announcements were made.

Only basic tools were used to make the sculptures.  This student made a watering can out of a plastic bag.

One of FU's resident artists, Takeshi-san offers some advice to a team of Fine Art Students.

 I am among two other DAFA instructors judging the competition.

Working on our version, a unicorn leaping through a ring of fire adorned with seashells and rocks.

Group photo of the DAFA instructors.

Hurry - the tide is coming in!  This sculpture of a swimmer is returning back to the sea with the incoming tide.

Dal-uy Festival

Dal-uy Festival is the celebration of hopes and dreams.  Every year Foundation University honors Founder's Day by lighting lanterns and sending them off to the Central Vasayas Sea.  Each student, staff, and faculty are encouraged to write their wishes, hopes, and dreams for the coming year.  This year, the theme is "What are you waiting for?" and it marks 64 years of academics at Foundation University.  There are over 4,000 students this year, making an impressive, glowing display on the waterfront.  I'm happy to share in many more positive traditions with FU.

-Photos by Hersley-Ven Casero

Filipinos love fireworks.  It is typical for every significant FU event a fireworks display will be the headliner for the activity.  As often as this may occur, does it rarely get old, especially since the Dal-uy event was held on July 3.  I marveled at this year's display in honor of America's own "Founder's" Independence Day.

 Over 4,000 lanterns graced the waterfront with messages of wishes, hopes, and dreams.

Here, the Director of Finance and Administration and Dean of the Department of Architecture and Fine Arts is launching his lantern with his support staff behind.

Pleased to send my lantern off among the thousands of positive messages.