Initial Meeting. ​Last January 9, 2018, technical assistance was formally sought by the Municipality of Rizal through a formal letter signed by their local Chief Executive – Mayor Antonino A. Aurelio. An initial meeting was then scheduled the next day with Dean Armin B. Sarthou, Jr., Dr. Nappy Navarra (Research Program Director), Asst. Prof. Jose Antonio Bimbao  and Arch. Edra Belga (URA 2 for Extension Program). During the initial meeting, specific technical needs of the Municipality of Rizal has been discussed.
 
It was determined and was mutually agreed upon that the College will provide interventions for the following (conceptual) projects:

• Architectural and landscape design for Tayak Hill Ecological Center
• Landscape and urban design of selected strategic resource sites within Rizal Town

 
The technical assistance project was seen as a good opportunity for the students to engaged actual projects and actual client. It was also a way for the College to fulfill the mandate of the University to provide technical assistance (extension) services to organizations and communities outside the University.  Subsequent meetings were facilitated and coordinated later on by the Extension Program through the supervision of Asst. Prof. Olivia Alma Sicam (Extension Program Director). The classes and supervising faculty members included:

• LA 132 (Landscape Architectural Design) under Asst. Prof. Jose Dan Villajuan and Asst. Prof. Jose Antonio Bimbao
• AR 55 (Tropical Design) under Asst. Prof. Nicolo Del Castillo
• AR 162 (Urban Design) under Asst. Prof. Maureen Anne Araneta, Asst. Prof. Maria Faith Varona and Asst. Prof. Kelvin De Chavez.

 
Academic Field Activity. An academic field activity (AFA) sponsored by the Municipality of Rizal was conducted last February 3, 2018, in order for the students and faculty supervisors to ascertain actual site conditions within Tayak Hill and in other sites of interest in Rizal Town. The AFA was led by Mayor Antonino Aurelio himself, as he personally welcomed and accompanied the UPCA contingent around their municipality.

Design and Planning Charette. ​A month later, a planning and design charrette (workshop) followed on March 5, 2018. Ten (10) officials from the Municipality of Rizal headed by Mayor Aurelio visited the College to participate and provide crucial inputs to the initial analysis, and plans presented by the students.  Representatives from the Municipality of Rizal’s sponsor for their Ecological Center – My Shelter Foundation, and an observer from the University of Cincinnati were also present.  The charrette schedule was divided into two sessions. The morning session focused on the planning and design of their Ecological Center at Tayak Hill Nature and Adventure Park. This session was facilitated by Prof. Del Castillo and Prof. Bimbao with their participating AR 55 and LA 132 classes. The afternoon session focused on the macro-planning analysis of the Municipality of Rizal, with special focus on its New Government Center (NGC). This session was facilitated by Prof. Araneta, Prof. Varona, Prof. De Chavez and Prof. Bimbao with their participating AR 162 and LA 132 classes. The planning and design charrette left the students with valuable inputs from the ‘client’ about how they can improve and deepen their designs so that they will be more responsive to actual clients’ needs. 

Final Presentation & Exhibit.  A final presentation, critique and exhibit of the various student outputs was held last May 18, 2018. Again, officials of the Municipality of Rizal’s local government unit (LGU), headed by Mayor Aurelio were in attendance to provide their evaluation of the student’s works. The response and feedback from the LGU officials were overwhelmingly positive. The College faculty and students were delighted to hear that their hardwork for the semester had paid off. 

One of the faculty supervisors - Prof. Del Castillo notes in his e-mail to the faculty the concrete milestones of the project, as well as the importance of such extension work:
 
Excerpt from Prof. Del Castillo’s E-mail:
“The classes of LArch 132 (under Jose Antonio Bimbao & Dan Villajuan), Arch 162 (under Maureen Araneta & Faith Varona) and Arch 55 (my section),  tackled various concerns of the town. Arch 162 presented urban design possibilities. LArch 132 presented more detailed possibilities in various locations in the town. Arch 55 and LARch 132 presented various iterations of how they can build a showcase MRF for their (so far) lone tourist attraction (Tan-aw Park, a forest reserve amid the foothills of Mts. Banahaw and Cristobal).

When we presented the works of our classes to Mayor Antonino Aurelio and town officials last 18 May (F), their response was that of elation and surprise. They expressed that they never knew how rich their town was in terms of possibilities with their resources. In short, the students' presentations gave them new dreams, new possibilities, new aspirations for their town. This reaction is where I would say we draw our fulfilment from.

In turn, I was enlightened with the realization that we could do this on a regular basis. Having accomplished our teaching targets with our classes, we have also hit two more targets -- serving our people, and provided students with design and research topics that are real and not hypothetical.”

​There are a total of 220,000 units of jeepneys all over the country, 67,000 of which are in Metro Manila. As part of the government's Public Utility Jeepney (PUJ) Modernization Program for the public transportation industry, Hyundai is doing its part in developing its own Modern Jeepney in partnership with the University of the Philippines College of Architecture (UPCA).
 
Each team will be comprised of undergraduate students who will be tasked to create a conceptual design for the body of a Modern Jeepney. The primary concerns of the conceptual design are the space for the commuters and the driver, and the creative form of the vehicle’s body. There are two (2) types of passenger seating for Public Utility Vehicles (PUVs), front and side seating, which the students must explore in their design.
 
Technical aspects such as the engine and other mechanical parts will not be a concern in the design. The dimensions are based on the Philippine National Standard for PUV Class 2 and 3, which can be downloaded from the UPCA website.

​To enter the competition, the team must:

• Form a team comprising of:
  1. Two (2) to three (3) undergraduate students (at least 18 years of age) currently enrolled in the University of the Philippines (UP). At least one member shall be a student of UPCA.
  2. One (1) or two (2) members of the team may be students from the UP College of Fine Arts (CFA) and the UP College of Engineering (CE).
  3. One (1) faculty adviser from UPCA.

• Download and duly fill out the registration form from http://upca.upd.edu.ph/blog-upca-extension.
• Submit the completed registration form together with the members' UP Form 5s, to the competition secretariat at the College of Architecture's Research and Extension Office; look for Arch. Edra Belga or Arch. Jeric Rustia.
• Secure your Registration number through the Secretariat at the Research & Extension Office of the UP Diliman College of Architecture (you will be receiving a photocopy of your signed registration form and assigned entry registration number upon submission).
• Employees of Hyundai Asia Resources Inc. and UP College of Architecture (except for Entrants’ advisers) including their relative up to second degree of consanguinity or affinity are disqualified from joining the contest
• Submit CD’s of their digital files to the Secretariat  at the Research & Extension Office of the UP Diliman College of Architecture.
• The Competition Secretariat shall receive the final entries only until April 24, 2018 (Tuesday) at 5:00 pm in the afternoon.​

The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) released last Monday, September 22, the results of the September 2014 Master Plumber Licensure Examination. Three of the successful examinees who garnered the highest grades are graduates of the UP Diliman College of Architecture. Topping the list is Jay Mark Morales Estavillo, with 83.10 percent average grade. Next is Regina Hong Iglesia, who ranked fifth, with an average grade of 80.80 percent and Elise Sophia Sumera Francisco, who ranked sixth, with an average grade of 80.70 percent.


For the complete list of the successful examinees in the September 2014 Master Plumber Licensure Examination, click here. 

The College of Architecture Admission Committee on Graduate Studies hereby recommends the following second batch of applicants who successfully passed the graduate examination held last May 2 and June 13, 2014 for admission to the Master of Architecture (M Arch) Program this 1st Semester, A.Y. 2014-2015, upon fulfillment of conditions specified in their summaries of evaluation :

ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE CONSERVATION

1. COBILLA, Jeffrey D.

HOSPITAL DESIGN

1. AMBROSIO, Fenella Rose C.
2. BAGCAL, Gailord Benedict A.
3. JOSE, John Ernest F.
4. NUÑEZ, Glen Jayson O.

For those applicants listed above, please drop by at the UPCA Administration Office ASAP to sign your admission slip. You are also required to undergo medical examination at UP Health Service afterwards.

The College of Architecture Admission Committee on Graduate Studies hereby recommends the following first batch of applicants who successfully passed the graduate examination held last May 2 and June 13, 2014 for admission to the Master of Architecture (M Arch) Program this 1st Semester, A.Y. 2014-2015, upon fulfillment of conditions specified in their summaries of evaluation :

ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE CONSERVATION

1. AQUINO, Nelson L.
2. BELGICA, Marvin M.
3. DE GUZMAN, Roy John M.
4. HIWATIG, Allyssa L.
5. MEIMBAN, Russel Niels V.
6. VASQUEZ, Harvey A.
7. VILLAMOR, Zachi L.

URBAN DESIGN

1. AFABLE, Arantxa Monica M.
2. ALBERTO, Lea Shezel L.
3. ALVERNE, Lavinia B.
4. BERMEJO, Joan Mae March M.
5. CHUA, Lester Bio L.
6. CUNANAN, Jose Andrei F.
7. FERNANDEZ, Jelourd H.
8. LUNA, Markel Cesar A.
9. MACAVINTA, Vincent Raim A.
10. NIETO, Sarah Elizabeth D.
11. OCHOSA, Erika Kassandra Therese
12. ONGKIKO, Angelica Christine
13. RICALDE, Miguel Motano A.
14. SANTOS, Michaela Rosette M.
15. SEBASTIAN, Don Joseph L.
16. VERGEL DE DIOS, Rolando Cesar V.
17. VILLARAZA, Gregorio, Jr. L.

For those applicants listed above, please drop by at the UPCA Administration Office ASAP to sign your admission slip. You are also required to undergo medical examination at UP Health Service afterwards.

The College of Architecture Admission Committee on Graduate Studies hereby recommends the following applicants who successfully passed the graduate examination held last May 2 and June 13, 2014 for admission to the Master of Tropical Landscape Architecture (MTLA) Program this 1st Semester, A.Y. 2014-2015, upon fulfillment of conditions specified in their summaries of evaluation :

1. ABUAN, Michael V.
2. ALFEROS, Mary Ellen Peace S.
3. ALVAREZ, Aicel Mae J.
4. AMORES, Weber N.
5. AVES, Marycon B.
6. BAUTISTA, Kristian N.
7. BERNARDINO, Evie P.
8. CARREON, Maria Magnolia C.
9. LEE, Dong Hun R.
10. MENDOZA, Martin Kevin D.
11. MOGUL, Angelo Paulo A.
12. PANINGBATAN, Pamela C.
13. PORNELOS, Cindy P.
14. SACDALAN, Marlon M.
15. VARDELEON, Sherrie Mae T.

For those applicants listed above, please drop by at the UPCA Administration Office ASAP to sign your admission slip. You are also required to undergo medical examination at UP Health Service afterwards.

The STS (Socialized Tuition System) will replace the STFAP system starting first semester of AY 2014-2015. All undergraduate students who are interested to apply must submit fill-up forms, and submit them by June 28, 2014 (Saturday). See images below for more details.

All UPCA students (undergraduate and masters students) are encouraged to join the International Tropical Architecture Design Competition 2014. The theme for this year is "Our Urban Green Home."  The winner this year will be awarded a cash prize of five thousand SGD 5000. Kindly see document below for more details. 

You may download the required registration form and declaration form at the bottom part of this article. Deadline for registration of interested participants is on May 30, 2014. Deadline for submission of entries is on July 30, 2014. 

The UP College of Law,  assisted by the UP College of Architecture (as competition secretariat), has finally announced its winners for "BIBLIOTHECA: UP College of Law Library Design Competition." The said competition was officially launched last October 5, 2013, and was made open to all alumni, students and employees of the University of the Philippines.  

The vision of the UP College of Law is for a library that represents the global character and competitiveness of its institution  - a library that is at par with all other law libraries in the ASEAN region. The competition is the brainchild of UP College of Law's Dean - Prof. Danilo L. Concepcion. Dean Concepcion and UP Law had so many ideas in mind for the renovation of their existing library, however, it became evident that they needed assistance in gathering the best design concepts that can be made available to them. The UP College of Architecture  through its Dean - Prof. Mary Ann A. Espina, was requested by UP Law to formally assist in organizing the said competition, as its institution is experienced in handling several successful design competitions in the past.

Out of a total of forty-four (44) entries registered for the said competition, only three (3) entries per division (Professionals and Students) were proclaimed as winners. A public orientation of all interested competitors, was held on October 5, 2013, and was presided by Dean Danilo Concepcion and Ms. Lilia Echiverri (Head Librarian of UP College of Law). Competition mechanics and more importantly, the vision for the UP Law Library was discussed by the UP Law Administrators. The official competition secretariat assigned was Arch. Edra Belga-Casono (Extension Program Associate), supervised by Prof. Dolores Madrid (Extension Program Director). It was the UPCA Extension Program that served as administrator and moderator of the whole design competition. 

The judging was then staged in two (2) phases - shortlisting and final judging. Last January 2014, submissions were first shortlisted into the top five (5) entries per division by Dean Mary Ann Espina, Dr. Racquel Florendo (Director of UP BCO), and Ms. Lilia Echiverri.  The final judging was held last March 3, 2014, the top five entries under each division had been evaluated Prof. Cristopher S.P. Espina, Arch. Gerald Zafra (Renovation Architect of the Quezon Hall), and student representatives from the Law Student Government, namely Juan Paolo Agbayani and Janna Christa Tolentino. All entries were judged based on the criteria of: 1) Vision, Innovation and Sustainability, 2) Multimedia Storage and Access, 3) User Mobility, 4) Lighting Balance, 5) Security, 6) Integration of Resource Generation Partnerships, and 7) The Library as a Learning Community. 

Winners were officially proclaimed last March 5, 2014 at the University Theater's Aldaba Hall. A short presentation by the first place winners were made during the short program. Trophies, certificates, as well as checks were awarded to the winners. 

Submissions of the winning entries, as well the honorable mentions, may be viewed below.

PROFESSIONAL CATEGORY
FIRST PLACE : "Continuity Axis" by Dale Cortez, Jan Genesis Recto and Stephen George Sy. 
Prize: Trophy Plus PhP150,000

A video presentation of the winning entry under the professional division may also be viewed below: 

SECOND PLACE: "Designing Experience and Learning Spaces: A Library that Understands" 
by Richelle Louise Singson-Michael; Prize: Certificate Plus PhP 75,000

THIRD PLACE: "UP Diliman Law Learning and Social Hub" By Victoria Doloricon and Roberto Miguel RoquePrize: Certificate Plus PhP 30,000

STUDENT CATEGORY
FIRST PLACE: "Law of Nature" by Christina Cruz  and Joshua PilarPrize: Trophy Plus PhP 50,000

SECOND PLACE: "Prisma: The House of Enlightenment"
 by Bernadine Narciso, Justine Guiab and Jondalar De GuzmanPrize: Certificate Plus PhP 30,000

THIRD PLACE: "Lexicon - The Icon of Law" by Josef Mari Ponce, Jose Ruel Fabia and Alfred GutierrezPrize: Certificate Plus PhP 20,000