by Penny Angeles-Tan | Jul 9, 2021 | Business
To rebuild public trust and attract hotel guests worried about hygiene, social distancing, and safety at the top of their concerns, Hotel Sogo pioneered anti-covid technologies based on research and benchmarking from best practices around the world.
The worldwide pandemic the country is continuously experiencing resulted in millions of lives lost and massive unemployment. The crisis has likewise destroyed the public’s trust whenever their health safety is at stake.
As quarantine policies restricting movements of the population were lifted, the majority of the people, as well as businesses, started to go back to a sense of normalcy, the people’s continuing distrust, affects various businesses, including the hospitality industry.
Contactless Features
no contact key
To regain the public’s trust, at the top of Hotel Sogo’s priority is reducing touch points and intensifying no-contact fixtures. Based on pre-pandemic research carried out by Hotel Sogo, data shows that guests had a minimum of 59 Touch Points (TPs) during a typical hotel stay. Due to new protocols that include contact-less fixtures, TPs have been reduced by 40.7% to achieve a reduction of 66.1% with more advanced technology centered on cellphone use.
At the onset of the pandemic on March 202, Sogo was the first hotel to use UVC (254nm) to fight Covid-19. Taking the cue from hospitals abroad, remote-controlled carts have been deployed for room disinfection. Compartments for utensils, key cards, and cash were also fitted with UVC LEDs but kept away from personnel since 254 nm UVCs, while great for killing viruses that may harm the skin and eyes.
Airconditioners with automatic UVC disinfection
UVC disinfection in all the rooms
Hotel Sogo also expanded UVC disinfection for its room air conditioning units. All room ACs are fitted with specially manufactured UVC LEDs. The UVC light attacks the DNA/DNR of micro-organisms through germicidal irradiation, killing bacteria and viruses and preventing their spread. As it is turned on with the aircon, room air is always sterilized each time it passes through the unit, ensuring the best possible room air quality for our guests.
FAR UVC disinfection was also extended at elevator lobbies. After extensive research, Sogo has acquired and tested the FAR UVC 222 nm lamps that effectively kill viruses while being harmless to humans. Just recently (2020 Q4) produced commercially, it is quite expensive and is sold by only a few manufacturers abroad. Sogo is the first hotel to install these revolutionary excimer lamps in all its elevator lobbies.
In its lobbies and hallways, ventilation ACR Air Change Rate is doubled. The ACR or the number of times the air is replaced for all general spaces is set at ≥ 4 per hour by ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating & Air-Conditioning Engineers). Sogo is doubling its current ACRs for intensified inflow of covid-free fresh air to accelerate indoor air replacement.
Automatic doors with temperature screening
Automatic thermal scan controlled entry doors were installed in most branches. Guests on their own, get scanned before entry, and if within the safe temperature limit, main doors will open automatically without the need for any contact.
Each branch has an Anti-Covid Team that regularly swabs high touch point surfaces that pass through ATP Fluorescence Detectors to verify microbial presence and effectivity of the new protocols. Anti-microbial coatings were applied on furnishings, fixtures, and touchpoints. Widely used in hospitals and mass transports in China, Hong Kong, and Japan, these Polymer coatings are formed after spraying millions of nano-capsules with contact killing and anti-adhesion features that last for weeks. It effectively kills bacteria and viruses, including H1N1 and Covid. Sogo applies these overall furnishings and touchpoints.
To further sanitize indoor air, Sogo installed air-purifying equipment having several levels of filters: Pre-filter, Activated Carbon, HEPA (H11), with built-in Cold Catalysts, Ion Generators and UVC lights that eliminate allergens and pollutants such as dust, pollen, odor, bacteria, viruses, and even reduces carbon dioxide levels.
K9 Covid Crew
Covid sniffer dogs are being utilized for regular covid screening of employees. Patterned after Dubai and Helsinki Airports where sniffer dogs screen passengers and report a > 94% accuracy rate with dogs detecting the virus days before symptoms even start. Sogo has tied up with a leading K9 company, to have specially-trained Covid sniffer dogs regularly screen its personnel for Covid.
To date, Hotel Sogo continues to invest and rely heavily on research-proven technologies that alter the spread of Covid-19 to assure the safety of its guests. The hotel also continues to accept frontliners and essential workers across all Hotel Sogo branches, and can also accommodate those who prefer a long-term stay for work purposes.
Hotel Sogo is also ramping up its effort in helping the country’s indigent communities through Sogo Cares, the hotel’s Corporate Social Responsibility program. Continuously, Sogo provides basic necessities, such as food and water to indigent communities. Recently, it donated food packs with linens and towels to some fire victims in Manila; essential needs such as bottled waters, linens, pillows, surgical masks, pillowcases, and mattresses to the Philippine General Hospital with the help of AFP and donated in different community-pantries in Bulacan and Quezon City.
For more information about Hotel Sogo, check out https://www.hotelsogo.com.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Feb 14, 2021 | Medical
Take my word for it, you DON’T want to get sick with COVID-19. I am one of the lucky ones who can say that I survived COVID-19. I was also lucky enough that my case was relatively mild because I was allowed to isolate and quarantine at home. It was mild in that I didn’t need hospitalization, and I could still smell and taste but since then I have had to endure constant headaches and I have had difficulty sleeping.
I read somewhere several years ago that when you have a headache you should grab fistfuls of your hair and tug and release. This massages the scalp and eases the headache. You can just imagine how often I have done just that to ease the pain.
It has been several months now, and I still get headaches every day. I don’t like taking meds so when that happens, I just take a nap in hopes that it will go away when I do. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. An ice bag or cold compress on my nape or on my head sometimes works.
It didn’t occur to me that those were COVID-related until my sister told me earlier that in COVID survivor support groups many have mentioned that they are still experiencing those symptoms today.
How it began
On June 19, 2020, I had to bring one of the carpenters working on our house to East Ave. Medical Center because one of our dogs playfully nipped him. It wasn’t a bad scratch, but he was scared of getting rabies and no matter how much we assured him (and showed him the records) that all the vaccinations of our dogs are complete, nothing would appease him, so I felt I had no choice, I had to bring him to the animal bite center. The additional expense and high-risk exposure to COVID-19 but I didn’t feel that I had any choice.
We were at the hospital for at least two hours and I even had to walk a couple of blocks to BPI sometime in between because the hospital did not accept debit card payments. The whole time we were there I tried not to think about the possibility of catching COVID-19, but I knew it was a possibility. Even before the pandemic I didn’t really step out of the house unless it was absolutely necessary, which was twice a month grocery and medicine runs, occasional convenience store and bakery run, and going to work (twice a week) or events (occasionally).
Since the pandemic started and everyone was in quarantine, going to work and events were no longer necessary, and I rarely went out. We even had supplies delivered whenever possible.
The following day I had a general feeling of malaise and thought I was just tired. The day after that I couldn’t get up at all. I had chills, a very bad headache, a raging fever, and the sniffles. For fear that it could be COVID, I decided right then and there to isolate myself. My family would occasionally peep into my room and check in on me. They would also bring me food. I don’t recall losing my sense of smell or taste, but I do recall that I ate everything given to me. In my head, all I could think of was that I needed to eat so that I would recover quickly.
I took an RT-PCR test
One week later I decided to go to St. Luke’s to get swabbed. Two days later and the results came out.
Upon receiving the results, I immediately informed our barangay, and they scheduled a visit from QCESU (Quezon City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit) so that everyone here at home could get tested, too. Thankfully, they all tested negative.
Even before I got the results, at the recommendation of my doctor I isolated myself for two weeks. Since I am the household kusinera this meant that I had stopped cooking for them since June 21, but I continued to prepare my own food. Isolation was not so difficult to do since I have my own space in the house, and we made sure to sanitize often and not work around the kitchen at the same time. It was lonely but I was ok.
I was still experiencing chills, weakness, and headaches and had to rest often, but I didn’t allow this to stop me from working. Thankfully, working from home means that I could pace myself so long as I go things done on time.
I took a second RT-PCR test
At this point, I had already been in isolation and quarantine for three weeks. I was required to do another swab test and to my dismay, this is what it said.
Another two weeks in isolation for me. Sigh. Afterward, I took the antigen test and was cleared of the virus and was positive for the antibodies. I wanted to donate but couldn’t as I am anemic.
In the five weeks that we were in quarantine I don’t know how we would have survived if not for the kindness and generosity of our neighbors and our BHERT (Barangay Health Emergency Response Teams). My cousin a few houses down offered to do our grocery shopping for us. The owner of the carinderia a few houses closer would message me the menu and then would bring over food on credit so that we wouldn’t have to cook and worry about payment. Our next-door neighbor would bring over food in trays for dinner or snacks, particularly those that she felt my mom would enjoy. Even dog food was delivered to us by the nearby pet shop. They don’t normally deliver, but they did for us. We got through this all with their help and the prayers of our family and friends.
I count myself blessed for surviving this pandemic and I pray every day that my family and friends stay safe and are spared.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Feb 5, 2021 | Business
The COVID-19 pandemic did not prove to be a barrier to excellence in this year’s submissions to the Asia Young Designer 2020 (AYDA2020) competition. If anything, it may have even helped the students in coming up with innovative and empathic designs.
The theme for this year is FORWARD: HUMAN-CENTRED DESIGN. It reflects the need for designers to provide practical and socially conscious design solutions for a rapidly growing population in a globalized world. It encourages our students to create designs that transcend beauty – designs that also respond and empathize with the needs of the humans the spaces are being designed for.
More than 400 entries were received this year and so many designs were so inspiring that our judges had such difficulty trimming them down. After reviewing all the boards and design statements and much discussion, they were able to choose the top 10 in Architecture and Interior Design.
AYDA2020 Panel of Judges
Every year, notables in the Architecture and Interior Design industry are brought together to assess the works of our talented students and to award the prize and internship opportunities. Here are our judges for AYDA2020:
In Architecture:
- Ar. Leo Pariñas, President & CEO of LPPA Design Group (Head Judge)
- Ar. Boon Che Wee, Director at GRA Architects Malaysia
- Ar. Ana Mangalino-Ling, Partner & Associate at JSLA Architects
- Ar. Nina Bailon-Arce, Partner at Arce-Bailon-Arce Architects
- Ar. Ma. Benita Regala, Department Manager at Housing Technology Development Office National Housing Authority
- Ar. Eduardo Casares, UAP Chairman Committee on Commissions
- Ar. Renato Heray, UAP National President and Owner of RAH Architecture and Landscape Corporation
- Ar. Richard Garcia, Vice President of Visionarch
In Interior Design:
- IDr. Cara Marcelo, Founder of CMM Interior Design and Consultancy (Head Judge)
- IDr. Chat Fores, Founder of Chat Fores Design Studio
- IDr. Fendarie Su, Founder of Santa Fe Interior Architecture SDH BHD
- IDr. Cynthia Almario, founder of Atelier Almario
- IDr. Ivy Almario, founders of Atelier Almario
- IDr. Michael Pizarro, Founder of Michael Pizarro Interior Design
Architecture Top 10
BALSAHAN by Joana Marie L. Ramirez of Mapua University
Capipiza Fish port is already the ‘known’ fish port in Tanza Cavite, which is far from the facilities of Navotas Fishport the Countries’ premier fish port of the Philippines. The income level of this community is lower than many other groups engage in the urbanized cities. Also, in many cases, these people are below the poverty line. The income annually depends only on the seasonality of fishing. The earnings are distributed in an uneven pattern, which often inhibits savings and leads to indebtedness.
To address the problem in line with architecture, the fish port will be designed which will help them not only to provide additional income sources, rather to function as a sustainable market too.
The project “COMM[UNITY]” is designed to act as a means of sensing challenges and problems faced in the urban landscape by creating a space that promotes creativity and innovation using street culture as a bridge to unite the people. Street culture transcends social classes, communities, cities, and even borders.
This gives it the unique ability to fill in the gaps by leveraging diversity thus creating equal opportunities.
In response to the current pandemic, Ecopod was designed to provide a sustainable alternative additional educational space to schools in need and to enhance existing opportunities for temporary classrooms, providing a temporary space that is genuinely intended for teaching and learning which can be built alongside existing schools, in parking lots, or any area available.
Ecopod is a combination of the word “eco” which means not harming the environment and “pod” which is another term for the small social bubble. Ecopod is a sustainable structure that is designed for smaller groups to limit interactions and practice social distancing inside a room.
Derived from the words eskinita meaning “alley” and kita or “profit”, the project aims to create a centralized street market unit by taking advantage of the space above the road. It aims to give a platform for street vendors and blooming small businesses to grow especially amidst this pandemic.
ESTERO RECYCLING HUB by Napoleon Marion Clarke F. Mui of the University of Santo Tomas
The community of Estero dela Reina consists of informal settlers that have no proper means of disposing of their waste. Some are seldom visited by garbage collectors due to the fact that they are not considered as legal residents, hence adding to the pollution of the waterways. Consequently, they are forcibly trying to be relocated which can threaten their already existing culture along those canals. The recycling hub aims to provide both a sustainable solution for their living problems as well as be a structure that relates to their existing bond which is the kanto culture.
The concept for this project is taken from the existing conditions that are present in their community: informalities and random arrangements that make them socialize with one another. One of the things that makes people participate more is by making them comfortable through the familiarity with the informal environment that they are already used to.
The triangle homes are homes which means a place of emotional needs, like family and relationships that everyone can build up. Home and house are different from each other, house is a place, home is we can feel loved.
The simple idealization of what the human needs are one of the keys for the structure to be possible. How it can bring the on-grid to off-grid? The idea for the simple design is an off-grid. The location of the design is an on-grid.
Hu-mangrove project is a prototyped floating structure that grows and expands its numbers, creating a self-sustaining community as time passes by. Each floating pod will cater to up to 20 to 30 family dwellers. It has mixed-use spaces for living, working, and livelihood activities. The project has modular types of unit that depends on the number of families.
These units will suit and fit the different cultures and lifestyles of every family of the neighborhoods. The community has a flexible platform at the center that can convert into different spaces depending on what the community needs, which serve as social, recreational, working, educational, and commercial use.
Project N.O.A.H. (Nurturing New Onset of Architecture for Humanity) will give them the new concept of living in the future. The idea of the whole project came from the famous Bible story of NOAH’s Ark that in disasters such as storms and floods, Lives had been saved by building an ark. Evolving the concept from the Bible’s story, I have come up looking forward to what our future can provide.
Silong is a regenerative development that represents “pag-asa” or hope. Inspired by the sunrise as a symbol of longing, the development is full of bright, vibrant, and natural colors also of bamboo, the main building material used. The overall idea is to strengthen the community bubble and to find ways for the community to commune and interact, not only with each other but more especially with nature.
Silong is intended to be a shelter, whether a housing facility, an evacuation center, or a place of activity. Ultimately, it is meant to be a continuous experience between the natural and the built environment, eliminating the notion of boundaries.
Creating a new place to cater to Divisoria vendors and people with no class barriers, a platform that welcomes people from different backgrounds to discover and to interact while reducing carbon dioxide emissions using algae.
The Cube embraces informality as it encourages foot traffic bringing more vibrancy to our city and encourages our urban setting to become a more people-oriented and more walkable city. Treating vendors as people, not problems by providing a dignified space by proper planning.
Interior Design Top 10
Bagasse Mountain Resort is a sanctuary of wilderness and wellness in Don Salvador Benedicto, Negros Occidental, Philippines. The resort explores the relationship of neuroscience and interior design to give emphasis on spatial memory to create sustainable, corporeal, and human-centered design considerations.
Starting from this perspective, a reflection is proposed on how memory as a tool and measure of human knowledge can offer solutions to problems in sustainability and hospitality.
BAKHAWAN by Ryan Japhet A. Gablines of the University of San Carlos
The concept takes inspiration from the reverberation of a Badjao’s tambol. With each tap is a call that we need to listen to and channel it through spaces. From circular forms, the design was morphed by connecting the circular spaces with organic pathways, which reflects the rich culture of the Badjao and the sea.
The circle which symbolizes the community also resembles wholeness and unity (Adams, 2013). Surrounding the entire space are growing mangroves, which serve both as a home for marine ecosystems and a natural barrier against strong tidal waves (Lugo & Snedaker,1974).
As buildings continue to rise, public spaces such as plazas are reduced and neglected. Considering the high land values and bid rents of the plaza complex, decision-makers and real estate developers increasingly try to fill the complex with business establishments, but in the process, they also try to destroy, remodel and block the landmarks surrounding it to maximize land use.
Complejo de Plaza is about incorporating and considering the important components of an urban open space that can improve the social community and provides a significant contribution to the economy and environment.
Kabagtao is a new rise of a developing community that is for the people who reside near the bodies of water. It is derived from three Bisaya words, namely: “Kabag-ohan” which is new, “Lutaw” for floating, and “Tao” for human beings.
A combination of three concepts and resulting in a new approach that is built within the currents which mainly is for the purpose of a new future civilization.
MEMORABILIA by Jazzy Caroline Q. Kho of the University of Santo Tomas
Memorabilia, coming from the Latin word memorabilis, is an English term that means “matters or events worthy to be remembered”. Memorabilia, located in Pampanga, Philippines, is a memory care facility for people who have Alzheimer’s disease. It aims an eco-friendly insight for the patients to feel.
The design is a domesticated environment that recreates a friendly Filipino neighborhood to help treat or ease the patients’ memory loss. The concept of this design is to give off a village type aura where each patient lives in a calming Filipino neighborhood, whilst the theme of these houses are patterned to when these patients were in their teenage years.
PARAISO: THE ECO-SITIO by Renzo V. Montenegro of the University of San Carlos
Paraiso: The Eco Sitio aims to integrate members of the informal waste sector formally into the waste management system and provide them with socially inclusive opportunities. It also aims to empower them and provide them with income improvement which can also accompany the developing waste sector in the country by establishing recycling and material recovery facilities.
This project will help acknowledge the informal waste sectors’ contributions and provide proper ranks for them as they have the capacity to improve and develop our waste management system. This will not only help alleviate them out of the poverty line but also help with the environmental crisis in the country.
PIERIDAE CANCER CARE CENTER by Alyssa Len A. Rodriguez of the University of Santo Tomas
It is proven how cancer diagnosis could provoke an existential crisis and a number of difficult emotions including anxiety, fragility, fear, and disconnection. The concept of the Pieridae Cancer Care Center provides a blueprint that aims to alleviate the death sentence, by negating the negative effect of receiving one.
The center avoids tropes of institutional or hospitality interiors and instead focuses on a sense of domesticity that is flexible enough to accommodate people of all ages, gender, and backgrounds. The center, in the overall aspect, highly democratizes the luxury of comfort. Located within the premises of PCSI (Philippine Cancer Society Inc.) and with the help of other local cancer support organizations, the center will respond to the need for cancer caring centers in the Philippines.
PUNTA SALAG: SILOY ECO-RESERVE by Ynes Sofia A. Manguerra of De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde
Punta Salag is a combination of 2 terms that stem from some of the biggest influences of the Filipino roots. “Punta”- a Spanish term for “Point”, and “Salag”- a Cebuano term for “Nest”; when combined together, the elegant phrase translates to “Point Nest”- creating the name “Punta Salag”.
Punta Salag is an eco-reserve that is located in the small town of Alcoy, Cebu. The municipality is home to one of the most unrecognized yet beautiful birds that are endemic to the island of Cebu, the Black Shama. Locally, the bird is referred to as the Siloy.
PUYANAN by Lauren Ghenrich L. Khoo of De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde
Puyanan is a Cebuano term that translates to “Habitat” or “Circular Dwelling” in English. This Pavilion will be housing all of Cebu’s culture, history, and heritage, for users to experience and enjoy. The aim of this is to give its users the ultimate retail experience and hopefully, together with, have a part of Cebu instilled in them — for them to bring culture from one home to another.
TUKLAS by John Earo J. Roque of the University of Santo Tomas
A library and center for Kapampangan culture slot into the ruins of the abandoned Gabaldon School building built in the 1900s makes up Tuklas. A dedicated space for the community where people can gather, learn, and reconnect to their roots.
The establishment is chosen for its rich history and its accessible location from notable Schools in the province of Pampanga.
Winners of AYDA2020
Each of the top 10 finalists a cash prize of ₱10,000 plus opportunities for internship. On top of that, recipients of special awards receive additional prizes.
The Gold Award recipient will receive a cash prize of ₱50,000, internship opportunities, and will also represent the Philippines in the upcoming regional competition where he or she has the chance of winning the Platinum Award and be declared the Asia Young Designer of the Year.
The Silver Award recipient will receive a cash prize of ₱30,000 plus internship opportunities.
The recipient of the Best Green Innovation Award will receive a cash prize of ₱10,000.
The recipient of the Best Colour Choice Award will receive a cash prize of ₱10,000.
The recipient of the People’s Choice Award will receive a cash prize of ₱5,000.
The Best Mentor Award is given to the mentor of the Gold Award winner. He or she will receive a cash prize of ₱10,000.
The award for Best Supporting College/University is given to the school with a finalist and has sent in the most entries. They will receive a cash prize of ₱10,000 plus paint vouchers worth ₱10,000.
The award for Best College/University is given to the school of the Gold Award recipient. They will receive a cash prize of ₱10,000 plus paint vouchers worth ₱10,000.
Special Awards
The recipients of the Best Colour Choice award are:
The recipients of the Best Green Innovation Award are:
The People’s Choice Award is garnered from votes made by their supporters on Facebook. They are:
The Best Supporting College/University goes to the school of a finalist who has sent in the most entries to the competition. In both Architecture and Interior Design this award was given to De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde.
Major Awards
The Silver Award is given to the finalist who placed second in their category. They are:
The Gold Award is given to the finalist who placed first in their category. They are:
Paul John Jandoc and Margaret Therese Hagad will represent the Philippines at the upcoming regional competition where they have the chance to win the Platinum Award and get declared the Asia Young Designer Award for the Year!
The Best College/University goes to the school of the Gold Award winner. At the same time, the Best Mentor Award goes to the mentor of the Gold Award winner. They are Ar. Tim-Paul Villanueva of the University of Baguio in Architecture and IDr. Karol Ann Antonio of De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde in Interior Design
Congratulations to all the winners! You make us all proud.
For more information about the Asia Young Designer Award, visit the website at https://www.youngdesigneraward.ph/ and the social media accounts as follows:
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Jan 8, 2021 | Awards and Competitions
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), Citi Philippines, and the Microfinance Council of the Philippines, Inc. (MCPI) have launched its annual Citi Microentrepreneurship Awards (CMA), which aims to recognize the achievements and contributions of microentrepreneurs all over the country. Now on its 18th edition, this year’s CMA has been modified to respond to community needs resulting from the impact of the COVID-19 crisis.
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno
Citi Philippines CEO Aftab Ahmed
Through a virtual launch held via Zoom, BSP governor Benjamin Diokno and Citi Philippines chief executive officer Aftab Ahmed revealed that the 18th CMA will have two components: the COVID-19 rehabilitation support package and the recognition of outstanding microentrepreneurs amid the crisis.
“More than ever, it is vital to sustaining our microentrepreneurs, who provide essential products and services in the “last mile”. Predominant in low-income areas and serving as engines driving local economies, microentrepreneurs also nurture swathes of the Filipino population depending on them for post-pandemic recovery and rebuilding. Through CMA 2020, we highlight the creativity and internal fortitude of our microentrepreneurs to serve as a great inspiration,” said BSP governor Diokno.
“We are happy that through the CMA program, we can help microentrepreneurs overcome some of the financial challenges that they are facing and to improve their business proposition, their products, and their services. These businesses need to learn to adapt as well as implement new strategies. This will be particularly important in the coming months as we start moving towards normalization,” added Citi Philippines CEO, Aftab Ahmed.
2018 CMA Regional Awardee for Visayas Rosario Amoroto
2017 Youth Microentrepreneur of the Year Keith Varias
The first component focused on responding to the rehabilitation needs of previous CMA winners, with each winner getting a cash incentive of up to ₱50,000 each. Among the COVID-19 rehabilitation support package recipients are the 2017 Youth Microentrepreneur of the Year Keith Gonzales Varias and the 2018 CMA Regional Awardee for Visayas Rosario Amoroto.
On the other hand, the second component will highlight the important role of microentrepreneurs in rebuilding local economies during the COVID-19 crisis. The awards are open to microenterprises with assets less than ₱3 million. Three island group winners from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao and two other special awardees, namely the Youth Entrepreneurship awardee and the COVID-19 response champion, will be recognized.
All five awardees should have successfully rebuilt their enterprise to a level that is now contributing to local economies during the COVID-19 crisis while maintaining a healthy repayment record on their loan even as they continue to rebuild their enterprise. Additionally, the COVID-19 response champion should have supported, innovated, or led pandemic response initiatives to help others.
The three-island group winners, the Youth Microentrepreneur, and the COVID-19 response champion will get ₱100,000 each, as well as one-year microinsurance coverage. A National Winner will be selected from the five winners who will be receiving an additional ₱100,000. All winners will be determined by the NSC and recognized in a simple awards ceremony in June 2021.
Through these efforts, the CMA will ultimately highlight role models for aspiring and hardworking entrepreneurs and generate greater awareness and appreciation of microfinance and microenterprise development as a tool for employment generation and poverty reduction.
Take my word for it, you DON’T want to get sick with COVID-19. I am one of the lucky ones who can say that I survived COVID-19. I was also lucky enough that my case was relatively mild because I was allowed to isolate and quarantine at home. It was mild in that I didn’t need hospitalization, and I could still smell and taste but since then I have had to endure constant headaches and I have had difficulty sleeping.
![COMM[UNITY] by Kim Russel Manjares of Lyceum Of The Philippines University – Cavite](https://i0.wp.com/slvrdlphn.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Kim-Russel-Manjares-150x150.jpg?resize=150%2C150)
The project “COMM[UNITY]” is designed to act as a means of sensing challenges and problems faced in the urban landscape by creating a space that promotes creativity and innovation using street culture as a bridge to unite the people. Street culture transcends social classes, communities, cities, and even borders.
In response to the current pandemic, Ecopod was designed to provide a sustainable alternative additional educational space to schools in need and to enhance existing opportunities for temporary classrooms, providing a temporary space that is genuinely intended for teaching and learning which can be built alongside existing schools, in parking lots, or any area available.
Derived from the words eskinita meaning “alley” and kita or “profit”, the project aims to create a centralized street market unit by taking advantage of the space above the road. It aims to give a platform for street vendors and blooming small businesses to grow especially amidst this pandemic.
The community of Estero dela Reina consists of informal settlers that have no proper means of disposing of their waste. Some are seldom visited by garbage collectors due to the fact that they are not considered as legal residents, hence adding to the pollution of the waterways. Consequently, they are forcibly trying to be relocated which can threaten their already existing culture along those canals. The recycling hub aims to provide both a sustainable solution for their living problems as well as be a structure that relates to their existing bond which is the kanto culture.
The triangle homes are homes which means a place of emotional needs, like family and relationships that everyone can build up. Home and house are different from each other, house is a place, home is we can feel loved.
Hu-mangrove project is a prototyped floating structure that grows and expands its numbers, creating a self-sustaining community as time passes by. Each floating pod will cater to up to 20 to 30 family dwellers. It has mixed-use spaces for living, working, and livelihood activities. The project has modular types of unit that depends on the number of families.
Project N.O.A.H. (Nurturing New Onset of Architecture for Humanity) will give them the new concept of living in the future. The idea of the whole project came from the famous Bible story of NOAH’s Ark that in disasters such as storms and floods, Lives had been saved by building an ark. Evolving the concept from the Bible’s story, I have come up looking forward to what our future can provide.
Silong is a regenerative development that represents “pag-asa” or hope. Inspired by the sunrise as a symbol of longing, the development is full of bright, vibrant, and natural colors also of bamboo, the main building material used. The overall idea is to strengthen the community bubble and to find ways for the community to commune and interact, not only with each other but more especially with nature.
Creating a new place to cater to Divisoria vendors and people with no class barriers, a platform that welcomes people from different backgrounds to discover and to interact while reducing carbon dioxide emissions using algae.
Bagasse Mountain Resort is a sanctuary of wilderness and wellness in Don Salvador Benedicto, Negros Occidental, Philippines. The resort explores the relationship of neuroscience and interior design to give emphasis on spatial memory to create sustainable, corporeal, and human-centered design considerations.
The concept takes inspiration from the reverberation of a Badjao’s tambol. With each tap is a call that we need to listen to and channel it through spaces. From circular forms, the design was morphed by connecting the circular spaces with organic pathways, which reflects the rich culture of the Badjao and the sea.
As buildings continue to rise, public spaces such as plazas are reduced and neglected. Considering the high land values and bid rents of the plaza complex, decision-makers and real estate developers increasingly try to fill the complex with business establishments, but in the process, they also try to destroy, remodel and block the landmarks surrounding it to maximize land use.
Kabagtao is a new rise of a developing community that is for the people who reside near the bodies of water. It is derived from three Bisaya words, namely: “Kabag-ohan” which is new, “Lutaw” for floating, and “Tao” for human beings.
Memorabilia, coming from the Latin word memorabilis, is an English term that means “matters or events worthy to be remembered”. Memorabilia, located in Pampanga, Philippines, is a memory care facility for people who have Alzheimer’s disease. It aims an eco-friendly insight for the patients to feel.
Paraiso: The Eco Sitio aims to integrate members of the informal waste sector formally into the waste management system and provide them with socially inclusive opportunities. It also aims to empower them and provide them with income improvement which can also accompany the developing waste sector in the country by establishing recycling and material recovery facilities.
It is proven how cancer diagnosis could provoke an existential crisis and a number of difficult emotions including anxiety, fragility, fear, and disconnection. The concept of the Pieridae Cancer Care Center provides a blueprint that aims to alleviate the death sentence, by negating the negative effect of receiving one.
Punta Salag is a combination of 2 terms that stem from some of the biggest influences of the Filipino roots. “Punta”- a Spanish term for “Point”, and “Salag”- a Cebuano term for “Nest”; when combined together, the elegant phrase translates to “Point Nest”- creating the name “Punta Salag”.
Puyanan is a Cebuano term that translates to “Habitat” or “Circular Dwelling” in English. This Pavilion will be housing all of Cebu’s culture, history, and heritage, for users to experience and enjoy. The aim of this is to give its users the ultimate retail experience and hopefully, together with, have a part of Cebu instilled in them — for them to bring culture from one home to another.
A library and center for Kapampangan culture slot into the ruins of the abandoned Gabaldon School building built in the 1900s makes up Tuklas. A dedicated space for the community where people can gather, learn, and reconnect to their roots.
Each of the top 10 finalists a cash prize of ₱10,000 plus opportunities for internship. On top of that, recipients of special awards receive additional prizes.
The Best Supporting College/University goes to the school of a finalist who has sent in the most entries to the competition. In both Architecture and Interior Design this award was given to 
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