Bayanihan Ng Pilipinas: An Architectural Response to the Rising Social Issues of the Philippines

Abstract

How can indigenous culture be used as a tool in the development of a new system and architecture that aids the reduction of rising issues in the Philippines? Bayanihan ng Pilipinas, directly translated means ‘a cooperative endeavor for the Philippines’ and investigates this question through the design of a new, innovative, self-sustaining community on a site surrounding Sakbit Avenue, Tatay, in the Philippines. This thesis explores architecture’s potential to address social issues and indigenous culture’s potential to restore identity, in the development of Philippine culture that has brought the country to its present state. Despite enduring centuries of colonization and external influence, Filipino culture has maintained true to the roots of its identity in all aspects with the exception of architecture. Succumbing to western tradition, the architectural identity of the Philippines has been lost. Drawing from numerous themes and highlighting elements that provide an identity to the archipelago known as the Philippines, this thesis is a translation of these into architecture and spatial qualities. Alongside its loss of architectural identity, the Philippines has experienced rising social issues, the most prominent of which, being poverty. The project makes use of a small peninsula on the outskirts of Metro Manila as a site for a social housing scheme, built by the locals, for their own use and benefit. New tourism ventures provide economic support for the implementation of the scheme while solving social issues that exist between the local and foreigner groups. In its development, the project unearthed unexpected social issues and proceeded to utilize architecture and design to solve them. This thesis intends to act as a catalyst and precedent for the spread of the architectural solution and identity that is found within it, to aid in the reduction of rising issues in the Philippines.