March 14, 2011 AYALA ACTIVITY CENTER CEBU: The University of San Carlos College of Architecture and Fine Arts (USC-CAFA) held a Design Awards and Exhibit commenced March 14, 2011 and ends March 17, 2011. The launching of new elective subject entitled “CONSTRUCTION SITE PRACTICE” was included in this 4-day event. This is in partnership with the Philippine Alliance of the Homeless Peoples’ Federation Philippines (HPFPI) and the Philippine Action for Community-led Shelter Initiatives, Inc. (PACSII) in Mandaue City particularly in LTHAI and MMVHAI communities.
During the event, the LTHAI housing design, the housing project proposal for SMASH (Mahayag) and NEW PARADISE Relocation Site (Paknaan, Mandaue City), the Inter-locking Compressed Earth Block from PACSII were being displayed.
Present during the activity were USC-CAFA Faculties including Archt. Bela Lanyi SVD and Archt. Danilo Ravina, university students and representatives from PACSII, Engr. Noel Zeta, Carlo Bongcac, Gomer Sericon, Leopoldo Chavez, representatives from Housing and Urban Development Office (HUDO) headed by Mrs. Cora Tumulak and mothers from LTHAI.
The said subject will be implemented this year’s Summer Classes that would start on April 2011. The elective subject aims to familiarize the student with “the reality of the construction site and to help homeless people” through a combination of supervised actual construction practice (1st 4 weeks), a review seminar (5th week), and the submission of a 15-page reflection paper.
Subject Provisions
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| Engr. Noel Zeta of PACSII offers support for the school's new elective subject. |
This elective subject also provide the students to A) rich venue for mutual learning where University of San Carlos (USC) faculty and students provide technical support (knowledge, skills, expertise) to urban poor communities in their self-help upgrading initiatives , and the community and the Philippine Alliance providing the space for the students to deepen their knowledge and skills through actual hands-on learning and real-world application of their craft, within a community-driven and highly participatory context; B) Raises awareness of the plight of the urban poor, and C) Contributes to the formation of an urban professional network that emphasizes the important role architects and engineers play in applying their skills in building capacities of the poor to collectively plan, implement, and manage their own upgrading initiatives, thereby contributing to the development of their communities and cities.
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| Archt. Danilo Ravina were among the USC volunteers at LTHAI |
Archt. Ravina added that in this subject the student will learn the practical side. Moreover, the first thing enrolees have to do in this Construction Site Practice is to mold ICEB blocks since it is basic in architecture to feel the material. Archt. Lanyi also added that this serves an opportunity to grow in the profession.
Learning Experiences
During the launch, 2 architecture students shared their experiences working with PACSII and LTHAI community. According to Liza Sheen Ganda and Cybill Valerie Solamo by joining PACSII they gained new knowledge and opportunity to meet people from the community and by being exposed it eliminates their shyness.
