BuildAid Online

Mission accomplished. Big success!

2006-07-30T12:31:00.000-04:00

It seemed like the plane had just landed the day before, yet there we were already presenting the fruits of our labor to CCT and wrapping up for departure, hence the rush in order to be able to present as much as possible. For a week, the appartments CCT had provided looked rather like our once beloved studios. Printings taped on the walls for crits, food leftovers scattered everywhere along with dried cups of coffee, not to mention the group taking turns napping on a makeshift couch of mattresses and pillows. Everything was in place to remind us indeed of good times, yet late hours at school working on the computers.

On Wednesday, July 19th, students from different schools of architecture across the metropolis of Manila, yet mainly from the University of the Philippines (UP), finally met with CCT staff, and were all ears at our final presentation. All the Malibay projects were shown and explained to both parties, along with our recommendations for the future. A first draft of the package was also handed, which included all the projects BuildAid has worked on for the past two months, a model house design, and a guide explaining the construction of houses. Its goal is to guide CCT and their partners in making the right choices with regard to building their houses appropriately and efficiently.

All this would not have been complete without handing personnally the drawings to the "nanays" (mothers), who are at the foundation of all this.

Mission accomplished. All of us left the Philippines with incredible experiences in our minds and hearts – professionally, culturally, and foremost, personnally. What comes after? Although we all require lone time to process, we also realize it’s not time to stop there. Indeed, next year BuildAid will be busy at maintaining good communication with CCT and UP, as well as recruiting new McGill architecture students for next summer’s internship. Actually, the vision goes further to try and develop a long term relation between McGill and CCT. Thus, BuildAid will have reached its goal of raising awareness of an architectural practice that serves those who really need it.

The improvised "studio"

Jed Yabut from UP (left) and Roderick Ramos from CCT (right)

Cindy Williams showing Sheryl the drawings of her new house

Last Break in Laguna

2006-07-21T03:46:00.001-04:00

To celebrate this summer's outcome and the approaching end of our time here in Manila, the CCT group had organized for the rest of the team the "Friendship Tour", a 2-day side trip in Laguna, that was held on July 15 and 16.
It is thus with great apprehension that, on an early Saturday morning, Cindy, Danielle, Emanuel and I were getting on the van, accompanied by Elpidz Estares and Pastor Dick Ramos, two of our CCT hosts that were to become our tour guides and driver for our little excursion.
But before getting into the heart of the subject, I must apologize for the lack of pictures, our technical support being gone/damaged, no pictures could be inserted in this text, hoping the narration of our weekend will be descriptive enough to provide you with your own images of our adventure.

Five o'clock, time to go,
With the rising sun in our back, it is without any regret that we drove away from the capital city, its highrises disappearing in the horizon. Before reaching our first destination, a stopover at CCT Cavite branch office to assist to their morning worship and a break at Ronald's Kingdom for breakfast were negotiated. Our stomach full, we once again hit the road to get to our first adventure, a boat ride on the Bombongan river and its main feature, Pagsanjan Falls, location known worldwide as a legendary site in the cinematographic art. Movie lovers will remember the site for featuring in movies such as Tiger Joe, 13 Days about the 13-day crisis in Cuba under JFK, Behind the Enemy Lines in which the story takes place in Vietnam, and the classic Coppola's Apocalypse Now.
Eyes wide open, confortably installed in our small embarcations, the ride would start with our 2 canoes being towed by a third motorized vehicle up the stream to reach the Bombangan River. Along the way, water buffalos, giant and docile beasts, grazing along the stream in the shallow water, other tourists' boats going down the waterway and many merchants, promoting and selling handicrafts in their barks, litterally aboarding and invading the tourists, would compose part of the landscape that would welcome us to the gorge formed by the water.

Breathtaking is probably the word that best describes the view that was being formed as we were navigating up the river. The Bombongan River and its fourteen rapids is, for most of its bed, trapped between two massive vegetated walls. The meandering chocolate-colored river, due to the severe monsoon rains washing the area over the past few days, and our navigating wooden vehicles would appear miniature and fragile next to those gigantic cliffs. The sinuous greenish canyon, with its silent trees and screaming water, would give rise to amazing views and sights, which was completed by the calls of the tree-jumping monkeys, the whistling of the exotic birds and the screaming of the rapids as soundtrack. Our devoted boatmen, working in pairs on each boat, bravely fought the strength of the current at every rapid we would meet. Jumping from rock to rock, stepping in the shallow river, pulling on the wooden floating vehicles up the rapids, the sweat on their face, but mostly the marks left by their many excursions, were the signs of their dedication and passion to their work.
After an hour of paddling, pulling and pushing, our little crew had finally arrived at its final destination on the Bombongan, the Pagsanjan Falls, mythical site for movie lovers where the many cinema crews exploiting the land have left scars on the cliffs. After having appreciated the powerful falls and the many tourists risking their lives behind the falls by visiting the Devil's Cave on bamboo floats, it was time to go back down the river.
Shooting the rapids, as exciting as going up the stream, was unfortunately much faster. Before we could even fully appreciate the ride down, we had already come to our starting point and were back in the car, ready to see more of the Laguna Province.

Caliraya and Paete,

After driving for nearly half of the afternoon, the now-called "Fab Four" and our two guides had arrived to the site where we would spend the night, Caliraya Re-Creation Center. Located on the shore of the man-made lake bearing the same name, the resort was a drastic, but how much appreciated, change from the noisy city. Surrounded by the unspoilt jungle forest and its palm trees, the hotel, on its elevated platform, faces the reservoir formed by the dam feeding the hydroelectric powerplant and Mount Banahaw. Attainable by motorized boat, the only sound coming in were the very few motorcycles and Jeepneys heard from far and the karaoke machine that would become later in the evening the major entertainment source for Danielle, Elpidz and Pastor Dick and give rise to surprising performances. Unlike our previous experience in Banaue, Ifugao, the very few companions we would share the site with overnight were to stay outside our apartments, guarding our rooms and enabling us to fully appreciate the serenity and quietness of the area.
The morning after was to be spent at Paete, a small town located 15 minutes of car ride from our temporary installations. The place, known as the Philippines' wood carving Capital City, is famous for its many handicrafts exports. We obviouly could not spend a weekend in Laguna without stopping over and spend some time shopping for wooden bowls, tools, chairs, sculptures and other artefacts made in the area. Our bags filled with some of these goodies, we later left Caliraya and took the road back to Manila.
A few stops on our way woud make the trip longer and more enjoyable. A break in Santa Cruz, Balut capital city, a taste of buko (coconut) fresh juice and pie, and some time spent at UP Los Banos in the Botanical Garden in Mount Makiling would complete our stay in the country side.

Minds and bodies rested, we were now ready to face the last stretch of the first BuildAid internship, to hit the table again and complete our CAD drawings and other documents to be submitted later this week. We couldn't complete this post without recognizing and thanking our tour guides, hosts and friends, Pastor Dick and Elpidz. For the incredible time we've spent with them, for sharing part of their country with us and the time devoted in our company, we are thankful to you.

All Hail The Ambassador!

2006-07-18T01:09:00.000-04:00

On July 5th, 2006, we had the wonderful privilege of having the Canadian ambassador, Peter Sutherland, at our primary site in Malibay, Pasay City. CCT organized a welcome committee and assisted the whole party through the slum area. We had the barangay police and the ambassador’s bodyguards following us and watching every move we made. I was nervous and thought that we were quite safe in our area…but then I remembered that a diplomats work in a different system where protection is necessary and normal.

We were all very excited by the visit. The ambassador had brought some of the media with him, which from our point of view, was a great way to promote awareness about the needs of the people we’re working with - CCT and the nanays of Malibay.
I must say that I really appreciated speaking with Mr. Sutherland. He actually asked us questions about what and followed up our answers with comments on the nature of the projects. He showed an interest, and for that I’m grateful.
The visit was primarily the establishment of relationships. It was nice to find other Canadians in a culture that only knows "Canos" (americanos). For future projects of this nature, these contacts are very helpful.

I must say as a side note, that the evening on the town that David DaSilva, the head of the department of political affairs and communications of the Candian embassy, invited us to share with him on the following monday, was really nice. We all ate at a Middle Eastern restaurant in Makati and lounged in good company and good conversation. That gesture on his part went a long way to make us feel welcome. It was a much needed taste of home and relieving to discuss the differences of culture that have marked us during our respective stays. I know for sure that no one back home will understand the way we've lived here because they themselves have not experienced it. And so it was good to get the cultural differences "off our shoulders!"

I am very honored to have met all these people!

McGill takes the charge!

2006-07-09T07:58:00.000-04:00

From June 30th to July 3rd, BuildAid witnessed the visit of the director of their own school of architecture – David Covo, a team of Hong Kong based McGill Alumni professionals (Philip Lo, Herman Au and his son Jeffrey, Alex Chu, accompanied by his wife Lily and their niece Tiffany Hu from Los Angeles), Edwin Keh, an entrepreneur also from Hong Kong, as well as Freeman Chan’s return to the Philippines with his two sons, Christian and Adonian, and Jeffrey Tsai – a family friend.

The objectives of this visit differed from one party to the next. David Covo witnessed the work completed so far by the BuildAid team and what was to follow. His very presence was another demonstration of his support. The McGill School of Architecture enlarged its international relationships and potential collaborations by one additional school, as links were made with the University of the Philippines School of Architecture. Through a successful meeting with professors, administration staff, and Prosperidad C. Luis – director of the school of architecture at the University of the Philippines, student exchanges and involvement of UP students to support the cause of BuildAid, holds hope for the future.

For the younger visitors, i.e. Christian, Adonian, Jeff, Jeffrey, and Tiffany, it was an opportunity to experience the slums of the Philippines and to recognize an alternative side to architecture. In the case of Adonian, it became the subject of a photographic study he later exhibited at his school.

Lastly, for the McGill Alumni team, the objective of their visit was to become further aware of the issues of housing relief in the slums of the Philippines, especially within the working range of CCT.

The visit began with brief presentations by the BuildAid team for CCT and the Hong Kong Alumni, which included present conditions, the work completed so far, and the necessary work to be followed up in the future. Following the final remarks by Ruth Callanta (CCT President), and David Covo, further discussions were conducted around dinner. The next few days were followed by site visits through Malibay, Gawad Kalinga – Southern California and Concepcion villages, Baseco, and Parola. Discussions were rich in emotion, in the exchange of knowledge, and in opinion.

On July 3rd, it was already time to wrap up, share experiences, visions, and most importantly develop a plan of action for the future. The Hong Kong team expressed strong support towards the cause of BuildAid and are willing to facilitate the upcoming efforts. As for David Covo, the internship posed great opportunities to move from theory to practice in the architectural field, as well as ways in which to reconnect the profession of architecture with the issues of community and housing development. Such experiences should restore the ways in which we see our world and communities, and the coming years should aim towards raising awareness of these issues to a broader community of the students at McGill.

Finally, as Freeman Chan put it: “The common denominator of all the teams is the desire for ‘Community Transformation’. The challenge is to make this personal, to take some risks, and to make some personal contributions.” These visions have a tangible plan of action, and are yet to be unveiled through the work of the different parties we formed links with. There is hope for the future; BuildAid crossed another bridge towards a broader awareness of architecture for the people.

the politics of poverty

2006-07-08T04:42:00.000-04:00

I was surprised when my cell phone vibrated with an invitation to participate in a political demonstration. The caller was a woman named Melba Maggay. She knew of my interest in the politics of the Phillipines. She knew that I am a competent guitarist. She might even have suspected that my presence at the protest rally would be a significant message; my being a foreigner and all.

So there I was, alone on stage before a crowd 300 people, all of whom would like to see the current president ousted. The congress building loomed beyond a row of trees, stark and imposing. Cheers erupted as I strummed a minor chord. Many have been recently killed for advocating the same cause I now supported with my music. I shuddered slightly when that realization eventually came.

Melba is a one of the first women we met when we arrived in the Phillipines. She is the director of an NGO by the name of the Institute for the Study of Asian Church and Culture (ISACC). Her organization was responsible for our cultural orientation. She herself is holds a doctorate in English literature and studied at Cambridge University. She gave us a lecture that opened our eyes to the Filipino idiosyncracies of social conduct. She inspired us with the intellect and depth of insight that I would expect from an ivy league professor. I was taken by awe and admiration for her keen perceptiveness and ability to articulate sophisticated ideas in a clear and succinct way.

During the dinner after her lecture, I eagerly plied her for political views, seeking a greater understanding of the systems of governance and the history that has shaped the Filipino society. I learned details of the Spanish colonial rule, features of the American occupation, and how the indigenous culture subversively manifested itself amid these external influences. She wove an intricate and erudite narrative. I tried desperately to absorb her knowledge.

I became particularly fascinated when she spoke of the more recent political history, the People Power movement of 86 the ousted the president Marcos. Dissatisfied with his dictatorship, the mass of Filipinos took to the streets and demanded he leave. The military was dispatched, but soldiers were met with smiles, flowers, and baked goods. None had the heart to open fire. One by one the military leaders stepped down. An authoritarian regime collapsed under the passive weight of the will of the people. ISACC, Melba's NGO, had played a major organizational role in this successful political act.

The current president is, to many intellectuals and concerned citizens, reminiscent of Marcos. It is almost common knowledge the Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo stole the election that hoisted her into power. A recorded phone conversation between her and a sycophantic election official has been widely disseminated. Most worrisome is the impending threat of martial law. The legal process to validate such a drastic measure has already begun. Many political opponents and detractors have been assassinated. More journalists have been killed in the Phillipines the last five years then anywhere else, save for Iraq.

If there is one thing we've learned during our stay here in the Phillipines, it is that the population suffers from a tremendously uneven distribution of wealth. Beyond that, there is a complete neglect for the basic amenities and infrastucture in many areas that we've visited that we in the west hold as keystones to civilisation: water, roads, electricity, waste removal, houses...

The Phillipines desperately needs good governance to help the available ressources reach the desperately needy. Unfortunately, the questionable ethics of corruption seem to be widespread among the elite and ruling class. I have heard from informed Filipinos including Melba that the aristocracy regards the poor with apathetic disinterest.

We, as architecture students, have come to the Phillipines to involve ourselves in the problem of housing the poor. We hope to bring skills and provide assistance as best we can, but we are students first and foremost. The role of the university student is to learn, to integrate studies into a comprehensive worldview, to discover the issues that shape the lives of individuals and societies. Architectural thought and discourse have provided us with a context and framework by which delve into the problems we've been exposed to here, but it is obvious that the root cause of the problem is far more systemic than poorly designed housing, or even lack of money.

When the full scope of the problem of urban poverty is glimpsed, it is easy to feel overwhelmed. Any work we do can feel like we're addressing the symptoms, rather than combatting the disease. Large social structures must mobilize to repair torn urban fabric. Government exists for this purpose: to respond to societal needs and allocate resources where they can best be used. It is clear that the goverment of the Phillipines has much work to do.

When Melba called me I was both thrilled and honored; honored that she would think of me since I think so highly of her, and thrilled that I could in some small way address the problem of poverty by appealing to the highest levels of political power. I saw that as a complement to the grassroots work we've been doing, which is equally important. In dealing with these families and providing them with designs for their homes, we are not solving their problems. We are trying to give them hope; we are trying to help them articulate their dreams and maybe even contribute our limited knowledge to their benefit. People must want to help themselves if they are to receive the help of others.

The rally itself was touching and energized. It began with ISACC leading a short service of worship that included a Latin-american hymn and a Filipino protest song, both of which I accompanied. After there was a ritual performed be a single woman that was rooted in the indigenous culture of the Phillipines. Passionate speakers followed, as well as a choreographed dance number. I was asked if I would like to perform and I agreed. There was some concern over who I would be representing: BuildAid, McGill, Canada, White Man, etc. I finally agreed to be completely personal and not implicate anyone else. I decided to recite a poem, then perform an improvisation based on the melody to which the poem has been set to music. I'd like to transcibe the poem as the conclusion of this lengthy epistle. It's by a guy named Ed McCurdy:

Last night I had the strangest dream
I'd ever dreamed before
I dreamed the world had all agreed
To put an end to war

I dreamed I saw a mighty room
Filled with women and men
And the paper they were signing said
They'd never fight again

And when the paper was all signed
And a million copies made
They all joined hands and bowed their heads
And grateful pray'rs were prayed

And the people in the streets below
Were dancing 'round and 'round
While swords and guns and uniforms
Were scattered on the ground

Last night I had the strangest dream
I'd never dreamed before
I dreamed the world had all agreed
To put an end to war.

Return to Malibay

2006-07-03T06:59:00.000-04:00

It's been a while since the last post on here.

Don't worry, we have been scurrying about like crazed mice during the past few days. It has been an excellent weekend, marked by the visit of the Director of McGill's school of Architecture, (also bearing the title of Friend) Prof. David Covo, as well as a group of McGill alumni currently based in Hong Kong, along with some of their family. Not only did these past few days bring us some unexpected camaraderie and like-minded cooperation, they also marked a watershed in BuildAid's development. A basic plan of action for the coming months - and eventually school year- was laid down.

But to talk about all that would be a bit too punctual, and some of you might start worrying that I have stopped being lazy. So instead I will give a recap of our latest work in Malibay last week, where things have definitely taken major steps. First off, through the ever-resourcefulness of Freeman Chan, we managed to secure a contact within the Manila branch of Ove Arup & Partners. This engineer, named Raul M, gave us some much-needed assistance in the evaluation of the housing projects we adopted in the Malibay area.

As you may remember, there was a devastating electrical fire there this past December, leaving 80 families without houses. Since our first visit we have formed teams that work with some of these families in order to assess the state of the re-construction they have been undertaking. As these families will be potential recipients of CCT loans, it is crucial that we evaluate if the current construction is technically acceptable - and financially feasible.

Raul from Arup (in light blue) explains

Poorly poured concrete - a structural issue

Last Saturday, then, Raul M got to endure our presentations on our findings thus far, and soon after we headed out to Malibay. Upon arrival, he immediately set to work interviewing the nanays - the mothers heading their families' rebuilding projects - to discover as much as possible about the foundation and reinforcement work. Using Tagalog and some quick sketches, he was quickly able to get the information he needed, which was a most pleasant surprise for us, who had had to laboriously decipher (and no doubt crudely misinterpret) whatever the nanays tried to explain, due to the language barrier.

Raul was immediately able to make some basic recommendations, which he has since expanded upon. Soon we will have more complete drawings showing the structural workings of each nanay's house, allowing us to sit down with them once again and work out the details of their future construction. Our goal is to minimize the amount of redundant materials used whilst still providing a home that can be seen by the families as being secure and well-constructed (no doubt a fear after seeing their last home burnt to the ground), and incorporate some smart planning as well. We have observed that much of the construction work is haphazard and lacking in foresight; it is therefore our aim to get the desired final result down on paper, that construction work can then follow.

A big thank you to Raul for taking the time from your work to help us further our Malibay projects - I hope this partnership can continue.

U.P. College of Architecture

2006-06-26T01:41:00.000-04:00

A visit at the U.P. College of Architecture, a school of great accomplishment in design and competition, was held Monday, June 19th, where lectures on Filipino architecture were given by professors, and a tour of the U.P. campus was hosted by the students themselves.

The day began with an official introduction to Secretary Maria Lisa Santos, whom we’ve previously been in contact with since Montreal, and Dean Prosperidad C. Luis, followed by a tour of the architecture building, views of student works, and classroom sit ins with Filipino architecture students being lectured on hospital fire safety.

After a delicious lunch of rice, vegetables, beef and fish provided by the college, a select group of U.P. students presented their projects and provided us with a jeepney tour of their campus.

The day ended with a chance to sample some of the finest yet daring Filipino delicacies of isaw (ee-sao) otherwise known as chicken intestine, and a jam session with Arkaira, once again organized by the students, wherein our own Matt Wiviott took the opportunity to play with the musicians.

We were privileged to have met such a smart and talented group of young aspiring architects full of life and enthusiasm. The energy that fills their souls is matched by their hospitality and willingness to share; to accept; to entertain, and to welcome us within their home and within their own architectural realm.

Freedom Build- Let’s Get PHYSICAL!

2006-06-23T04:28:00.000-04:00

June 13th, Tuesday and June 15th, Thursday

From a constant stance of observing, absorbing and deliberating, now had come our opportunity to, well, basically get down and dirty-with construction.

Gawad Kalinga Winnipeg, Narra village moving towards its colourful completion.

We were raring after our holiday to Bolinao and Banaue and the collaborative work we had produced with the architects from Hong Kong and now after being psyched for weeks, we were ready to do the Freedom Build, a four day activity set up across the nation for the National Independence Day. The concept was amazing. Get on site and build with a community. We had signed up for two alternate days of work in a little village called Narra supported by the NGO Gawad Kalinga from Winnipeg. Excited to contribute in a physically tangible way we all woke up bright and early to only have our day roll itself out at around noon. Our friend, Jinjo came over to pick us up and when we were finally on our hour’s drive to the site we were welcomed by torrential rains that trapped us in the vehicle for a good twenty minutes. For those moments we wondered if the remainder of our day would be a battle against the weather. But as we drove up to the village we broke through the emerging sunny wetness to be greeted by the two elderly men in charge, Boy and Willy. The smell of simmering lunches, the crunch of gravel and squish of wet sand pulled at our senses as we walked through the tiny village. It was no more than a strip of a pedestrian laneway flanked on either side by a row of houses, the left moving towards a colourful completion and the right waiting to do so. The assembly its self was powerfully symbolic of a great vision. We walked to the end of the laneway parting a sea of shy children and women whilst gathering smiles, nods and dancing eyebrows-all gestures of welcome and invitation. The waves as surely returned-the children flocked towards us bewildered but accepting. Our drawing power was an eclectic mix- the absolute foreignness of our being there, our accented English filling the air already saturated with clucking chickens and ‘Taglish’ (a mixture of Tagalog and English) and our clicking digital cameras.

There was a general sense of awkward excitement in the air. We were here to do and they were ready to have us but what could a bunch of students who probably never shoveled a thing in their life be ready for? I personally thought I was ready to carry a mighty bag of cement and erect a re-bar cage twenty feet high.

Day 1: Omar, Danielle, Matt and Jr (on the make-shift scaffolding) painting the salmon pink house.

We were congenially asked to paint. Yes, paint. Bright, lovely colours of acid green, salmon pink, mauve and anything you could possibly pick out of the rainbow. There was a moment where I was not sure what to do or feel. But my sense of amusement at the entire situation gently kicked itself in and I picked up the acid green roller and did the first coat with Emmanuel on the exterior of a house. You never should be-little a job to the realms of simple till you’ve done it yourself and as best as possible. And that day I learned how to paint a wall. Actually I think quite a few of us learnt. Amongst great banter those more experienced amongst us guided, “No Jill, you don’t have to go in that many directions” and those working in the community gently explained and watched amusingly. Oscillating work between two houses I got quite the knack of it. I think my plain white walls at home have hope.

The ease-in with the paint job was the best thing for us that day because we got so much more out of the experience than we could have bargained for. We had the chance to converse with the people living in their makeshift houses as we dripped paint, click pictures with the swarm of children while speckled with colour and talk over the ambitions of those eagerly working to finish the village to this vision they had. We built relationships that day. Jr, a fantastic young man of only 18 years was the honcho of the construction scene. With an assuring smile and only pertinent words of instruction and conversation we learnt how he was doing this all to give his family and community the homes they deserved. It made the second day all the more to look forward to.

Day 2: Hans and Yan shoveling the sand into the makeshift wooden carrier box. Jr (left-most) looks on.

Thursday, found us rested and much earlier on site. We were now part of the family. Most of the women and children remembered our names and this time the men were ready with shovels and grins. Today we were going to really build and work. The few shovels swapped hands and we were now sweating over sand, gravel and clay. Yan, Emmanuel and Danielle jumped right on to the clay ground of the house to be built. They dug hard through mounds of compacted rubbish and clay through most of the morning. Emmanuel also hovered in the trench with Omar helping to erect the re-bar cages for the corner columns of the square house footprint. Andrea and Matt bustled about with more painting at the back of some of the houses and Cindy and I helped Jinjo, Hans and Jr with eight rounds of sand transported from just outside the village to a pile close to the clay site. Activity escalated at most instances. But it was interesting to watch efficiency take the backseat with the limitation of working equipment and the general dependence on Jr to guide us all. Most of the time it was waiting for one step like getting all the sand and cement together so we could then transport the gravel to then mix it all with water to make the concrete. But there was always joy and laughter in everything done. However long it took and seemingly arbitrary it all had soul and purpose. Their hope and traditions found its way into the work; before the concrete could be poured for a column's base a chicken’s throat was slit and its blood poured onto the mushy clay. It was to bring strength and stability to the house and we soon learnt another chicken would have to follow suite for the next column to be erected that day. Omar in likened spirit, threw a few coins into the trench-to bring wealth to the home. The builders were very pleased.

Jinjo (left), Omar (right) and Emmanuel (further) working by the clay based trench around the house being constructed.

The work continued in a slow fashion until they invited us to join them for lunch. Covered with dust, clay and sweat we heartily ate the fish stew, rice and pork gravies and I was personally thankful there weren’t any chicken dishes. Generosity and hospitality always presides in Filipino society –they hold no bar to culture, creed or association and sharing food, we have come to learn, is undoubtedly a grand way of doing so.

Omar helping out with the erection of the re-bar cage for the corner column.

Recharged we went back to more shoveling, mixing and digging. Round two for making concrete constituted the same steps as before. Eight trips of sand piled onto the site with two bags of cement all mixed together with shovels. When it was Cindy and my turn to bring in the gravel, Jr grinned and told us we needed to do twenty of such deposits. That’s when Jinjo made it a community affair and said we should do the Bayanihan. It was the best thing I saw that day. Almost instantly as he said it, young and old lined up side by side and we passed six pails from the outside of the village to the concrete being mixed. For those few minutes every person became involved either by shoveling the gravel into the pails or simply counting out loud the loads being dumped. And then as quickly as it was set up it was done and the job moved forward.

community involvement- Bayanihan

us at the end of day 2 with all our new friends

As our day wound to a close we did the Bayanihan once again to pass the slushy concrete to be poured into the foundations. After, we began to clean up, saying our goodbyes and taking our final pictures with the lovely children, some of whom had helped out quite a bit. Our man, Jr was incredible through the day, focused, concise and dedicated to doing his best with all that was to his avail. It gives projects like Gawad Kalinga’s 777 goal of 700,000 homes in 7,000 communities in 7 years undoubted potential towards reality and this nation great hope for its people. Fitting to the sweetness of the day we departed with requests to return and a delicious snack of sticky sweet rice topped with caramelized nuts. We drove home, tired, quiet, happy and nourished at every realm.

GK 777 a remarkable vision

A different side...

2006-06-14T01:25:00.000-04:00

While the rest of the group was exploring the charms and cuisine of the provinces, I had the opportunity to experience quite a different side of Manila. Due to a bit of digestive difficulty (something most of us have had the pleasure of experiencing at one point or another) I decided that it was best not to travel, and instead I was treated to a bit of Manilan luxury in a place called Eastwood City.
This place is an example of what upscale city living in Manila is like. High-rise luxury condos are clustered together around a plaza of shops, restaurants and night clubs. The entire complex is gated and guarded – perfectly safe and perfectly isolated. It was, for a brief possible to forget that I was indeed still in Manila. But this city is proving itself to be a place of contrast – a place where great abundance and great need are juxtaposed within the dense urban fabric.

Eastwood City towers and condo unit.

In spite of this, I have to admit that the rest was much appreciated. The group returned from their holiday just in time for all of us to partake in the Independence Day celebrations here in the Philippines. June 12th is their national holiday, the day which, in 1898, marked the end of the Spanish rule here.
The wee hours of the holiday found us in a place called the Hobbit House, a local bar that honors its namesake by employing, er, “little people” as waiters and waitresses. The place is also frequented by foreigners - on this night it seemed as if there were more North Americans there than locals. Highlights of the night included some great Filipino music, and a special guest number by our own Matt Wiviott. We will definitely be returning to this place again!
The rest of the holiday was spent resting at the condo. There were celebrations planned down by Manila Bay, but heavy rains in the late afternoon deterred us from venturing out. Rainy season is descending upon us – it rains almost every day now, frustrating our work plans, but teaching us to be patient and, most importantly, to “go with the flow.”

Music at the Hobbit House

Cool cat Matt takes the stage

Malybay

2006-06-13T23:26:00.000-04:00

Back to work! After Tagaytay, Santa Rosa and Carmona Cavite, Malaybay is the next site BuildAid has been commissioned to work on.

Malaybay is a barangay (community) that has been struck by fire in last December. Woodframe construction was the cause of the rapid fire spread throughout the densely packed houses. Yet there is hope. Among those properties, ten approached CCT as financial partners for the reconstruction of their house. CCT gives loans of P50,000 ($1000 CD) to the families in order to rebuild their houses, some borrowing up to P120,000 ($2,500 CD).

(Malybay master plan)

The task set out for BuildAid is to revise the failures encountered in the design and construction of such houses. Indeed, since the site is next to a lake, it is no surprise to find the water table 40cm below the ground. Actually, it used to be a fishing lake that has been reclaimed by landfill and what remains of the lake by garbage. This situation presents a large issue in terms of foundations and a risk of settlement of the houses, since the houses are now being built out of concrete masonry rather than woodframe construction, for not another fire to spread again through the barangay. Another problem is the knowledge of construction by the builders, which are the owners of the houses and their neighbours. They sometime don’t have any knowledge in construction, which lead to overdesigned steel rebars, too much mortar being applied, and too large columns and beams. Those issues might be relatively minor in the West, but in these situations every penny need be used efficiently. The loan is also given in one shot, yet other unexpected priorities might arise, such as illness, schooling, and newborns. Thus, in theory P50,000 seems more than enough for a 16sq.m. lot, but in reality money is spread elsewhere and the houses are never completed.

(residents building their house)

BuildAid went on site to visit the individual families to take measurements of their existing stage in construction, to then send these to the engineers in Hong Kong for feedback on the structural aspect, while we further investigate each families needs and aspirations, in order to provide a sufficient completed plan for their houses. This work can only be carried out under close contact with the families involved to fully understand their specific living habits.

(Rusty and Corazon Gentolia, CCT partners; Rusty is a recent Computer Science graduate from the Philippino Christian University)

Some rest...

2006-06-11T06:13:00.000-04:00

After 2 weeks of orientation, site visits, hard working and sickness, it was time for us to take a break from the capital city, exercise, get some fresh air and experience the native Filipino dishes…

Destination Banaue and the rice terraces,

After an early wake-up call and a 9-hour car ride through valleys and mountains of Northern
Luzon, we finally arrived in Banaue, a small town in the province of Ifugao, known for its amazing rice terraces, a UNESCO World Heritage site and considered as the 8th Wonder of the World.
We thus spent our first day resting and walking through this amazing landscape, an engineering achievement created by the native tribes 2000 years ago. A model of sustainability, the terraces now show scars of aging, resulting in a need for protection of the area. Natural erosion, tourism and labor shortage (for repair and rice farming) are a few examples of causes leading to the slow destruction of this unique feature. Locals’ interests have changed, people are turning into tourist activities (touring, artifacts production) or are moving in Manila because of their inability to generate enough revenue from rice harvesting to fill their families’ needs. As a result, 65% of today’s rice supply in the surrounding area is coming from importation, and this figure is unlikely to improve with the current situation.
After our encounter with the Tam-an village inhabitants and our walk through a minor portion of the 20’000km stretch of paths and trails in the Banaue rice terraces, it was time to get some rest and meet the “locals”. For our first night outside Manila, we had the surprise to share our dorm with some more or less pleasant visitors. Moths, cockroaches, and a few other “over-sized” companions were to join us and give us some unforgettable moments.

After the mountains, the beach…. But before...

Swamp. This one word could describe our night in Locap, a small town located in the region of the Hundred Islands. While some of us were struggling with the heat and humidity of the area, others were fighting with the always memorable cockroaches, ants, mosquitoes, geckos and small mammalian specimens. The most lucky ones would have the combo, unexpected roommates AND temperature.
Our ‘journey’ in the Hundred Islands would thus never happen and would be traded with a more pleasant one in the area of Bolinao, Puerto del Sol Beach Resort where the group was to enjoy the warm water of the China Sea, the baking sun, sand and the comfort of some more decent hotel rooms. We shall also mention this unforgettable dinner on the beach during which we were to satisfy our digestive tracts with some local fish and vegetables, cooked by our guide Pastor Choy and driver Jesus.
Our last day outside the scented Manila lead us to a quick visit of the enchanted cave, where some of us enjoyed the cool underground water pool, naturally formed within the volcanic ground of the island, before taking the road back to the sweaty Manila.

(Sunset in Bolinao)

Local dishes… An initiation to the Filipino culture,

A journey outside Manila would not have been complete without tasting the so-famous Balut, a special Filipino snack. Before going further into the details of this unique tradition, it is my duty to warn of the nature of the following, sensitive hearts please avoid.
To make this a short story, the Balut actually consists of a duck embryo. The eggs are specifically chosen by the farmers and merchants and the embryo should not be over 18 days-old in order to be eaten. The eggs, containing the embryo (which may already contain the beak, feathers and internal organs) are cooked and served with the shell. Local beliefs mention eating Balut brings strength and virility to the man and is said to improve lactation for the opposite gender when pregnant or lactating. Balut is also part of the wedding ceremony. If the egg is consumed, union between the newly-weds is said to be reinforced during their honeymoon, making the first night a spicy and memorable one.
So it was our duty to try the special treat. With some moment of hesitation, it is with some good courage that Omar and I were to be the first ones to taste the chicken-tasting egg. Holding our breath, and adding some salt and sauce to give some flavor to the thing, it was time to bite into this unique meat. The event attracting several curious, it is with a small crowd, all eyes turned on us that we chewed into life (almost literally speaking…) and had our first taste of Balut. The experience was a success, and so was our very unique initiation and integration to the Filipino culture.

(A close-up view of the famous Balut)

It is thus with our stomachs full of goodies that we drove back in Manila, fresh and ready for some more adventures and eager to go back to work.

Theory and Practice

2006-06-05T02:24:00.000-04:00

Well, we've survived our first deadline.

As Danielle mentioned, we spent the second week of our stay here in Manila working with a group of young architects from Hong Kong. Despite their youthful countenance, they brought a tremdous amount of professional experience and an iron-clad work ethic. Plus, they were really great guys to hang out with.

I'd like to talk a little bit more about the projects we engaged in, and their outcomes. First, however, I think it is worth speaking briefly about the NGO that has been hosting us, the Center for Community Transformation. CCT has been primarily involved in micro-finance: providing collateral-free loans to families living in slum settlements.

In a sense, CCT acts as a middle-man between the banks and the needy families, providing accountability for the banks, and hosting weekly collection meetings with the partners. Remarkably, there has been a 99.7% repayment rate of the thousands of loans they have already arranged.

CCT does provide a special 50,000 peso loan for housing, provided that the family can match half of that to prove they are indeed serious about building a house. So 75,000 pesos is the maximum most partner families can afford to spend on their house.

To put things into perspective, the families we are working with have the equivalent of $1,500 to spend on a house. That includes materials, land purchase, labour, the cost of temporary housing, etc. Of course, houses are usually in a state of perpetual upgrade, so one loan might build the foundation and walls, the next might provide a floor, and third may one day allow for a second storey.

The problem that we have been observing is that CCT has very little technical expertise in construction, nor legal knowledge of land acquisition. In the past, they have simply provided funding for partners, without advising them on how best to allocate their newfound resources.

Since these families are often entrenched in poverty, squandered money is unacceptable, and yet we are beginning to suspect that some partners might be spending more than is necessary when building their homes because they do not have access to professional expertise. CCT would like to provide them with this, but they do not seem to have adequate staff with such knowledge.

As architects and volunteers, we would like our contribution to be an assemblage of work that might facilitate the NGO in providing aid to those who seek to improve their lives through the improvement of their built environments. The job of ensuring quality and efficiency is clearly a full-time, on-the-ground responsibility, but we hope that by establishing a basic framework through a few project solutions we may elevate the capacity of CCT to provide such aid and thus leave our imprint.

-------------------------------------

Of the three projects we began to explore, the one I worked on was probably the most immediate, practical, and difficult. I don't say that to boast. The reality is that my group could not propose a suitable solution.

A squatter settlement beneath an overpass in a rural area had been displaced when the government had decided to expand the highway. Ten of the families whose homes had been plowed banded together and purchased a plot of land supposedly 8m by 20m. CCT had advised them that there was a standard design for a ten-unit habitation of those dimensions. CCT had not evaluated the site with the families, and it was unclear whether the families had entered into a contract to purchase the land.

What was clear was that the land was far too small. Although the site was exactly 8m*20m, the back portion abruptly sloped down, eliminating 48 sq. m. of buildable area. These families are desperately poor, and knew that the land was small. There was a tremendous solidarity among them; they demanded that each family receive equal treatment, so none might receive more than the poorest.

In that alone, we might learn a lesson.

It became clear as we muddled with potential configurations that the only acceptable scheme, in which we divided the site in two and placed a corridor in the middle serving five houses on either side, left each unit with 8 sq. m. of floor space per storey. Presuming that it might be some time before the second storeys were built, it became difficult to imagine a family inhabiting a space likely smaller than your bedroom. These families each had an average of five members; one had nine.

An alternative scheme was a two-storey building with five units on each floor. This contradicted a firm cultural bias towards the demarcation of property with the footprint of the home. If some units were entirely on the second storey, their claim to the land would be at least psychologically insecure. Also, the equality of housing would be compromised, with units on the second storey having lighting and air circulation advantages over those below.

We also entertained the notion of shared facilities, such as kitchens and bathrooms all at the back of the site, perhaps within the slope. Again, we were told that the families would resist such a proposal, even if it meant more space for sleeping.

An ethical dilemma arose: do we propose an architectural solution we know to be inadequate? Does the architect have a responsibility to ensure that s/he provides space for a standard quality of living? Is it more important to respect the wishes of the occupants, of the values we hold as truths?

In the end, we proposed two schemes: one with miniture two-storey units, one with two floors of single storey units. We also prepared a summary of guidelines to determine the minimum size of a dwelling, as well as the minimum construction area in which such a dwelling could be built, taking into account circulation and public space. That final contribution was probably the most useful part of our work. The committee to which we presented agreed that the housing was inadequate and pledged to help the families find another site.

As for the two other projects, I think I'll ask the parties responsible to speak of them, since I don't know as much as they do about their respective work. Also, I think I've written enough already.

I'll try to get some more photos up soon. I know that's the real reason to check this blog anyway.

Work! Day 1

2006-05-30T12:17:00.000-04:00

And so it begins...our intensive labour of love! Enough galavanting to faraway site visits like Carmona Cavite - a town floating in rice fields an hour outside of Manila, or Santa Rosa - where CCT is negotiating property for development right alongside a railroad slum community, or even Tagaytay - where we find the Taal Volcano, dormant for 30 years.

To the drafting tables!

For this whole week, we have the privilege of working with four Hong Kong architects (Davis, Fred, Robert and Fan) and one urban planner (Frank), practitioners who've donated their time to help us with our designs. I'd better take the time to mention our contact and facilitator for this whole venture - Freeman Chan. It was through him that we came to Manila and through his contacts that we were introduced to the projects we are now engaged in. And it's through him that we have the opportunity to work with such knowledgable people from Hong Kong.

Today was the first day we spent almost entirely indoors. We have a deadline already - we need to present our ideas in a comprehensive manner on Saturday to the board of CCT, so that they can look for financing for the projects.

We are focusing primarily on three projects, which will in turn inform our decision-making for the three or four other projects we have on our list. So we all divided up according to our interests and began...

One project, Carmona Cavite, is a site that has been purchased in a rural setting that will house ten families. These families lived previously in the town of Cavite under the highway bridge on government land. The government has recently decided to expand the overpass and has demolished the houses. We visited the the demolition site and had the chance to speak with some of the previous owners of the now destroyed houses. They all expressed a desire for each to have the same house size and shape, so that they could all be equal. This is despite the fact that one of the ten families has 9 children! I have a vested interest in this project in particular because I grew up on construction sites and would like to explore affordable housing in the futur. Yet the concept of having equal housing for small and big families alike seems absurd. We are scheduled to have a lecture on the Filipino Concept of Space later this week. Hopefully this upcoming session will put my mind to rest. The relocation lot is 120 sq.m. and must house ten families...that leaves 10 sq.m. each...equally. Good news is that my team has two of the five working with us: Davis, Fred, Me, Matt and Andrea. This project requires all of our knowledge, imagination and innovative skills to come up with a viable solution.

Another project is the property in Santa Rosa. This team consists of the most members: Frank, Robert, Yan, Jillian, Cindy, Hans and Omar. This property must accomodate between 400-500 houses, including circulation and communal spaces and facilities, as well as a potential school and church. This group has started hashing out numbers - for density, housing area, housing cost, etc. I am excited to see how the master plan will develope.

The third project is the one in Tagaytay - a training and retreat center. This is a project that CCT has envisioned as a way to serve the people. This would be a place of people empowerment, were the focus would be on teaching the poor - emphasizing entrepreneurship and business management. This is a beautiful, visionary project that Fan and Manu are diligently working on with the quiet wisdom of Freeman.

It was a long day, but we made good progress...now that we have a regular schedule, we just need to worry about how we're going to manage our eating habits.....

Batasan Hills

2006-05-27T05:46:00.000-04:00

'Barangay' which means community in Tagalog (Filipino) was the key word for the day. Today we visited the barangay of Batasan Hills, where we hope to help the community by providing them with a design for a new Barangay Center (Community Center). Batasan Hills is one the largest districts within Manila, with an approximate population of 200,000 people. Their unanimously elected mayor, Capt. Rannie is a visionary for his people and through his Barangay Center he offers: his own police service (separate to that of the city), a judicial system (also separate to that of the city), a counseling program, and a mortgage program. This mortgage program offers these squatters through monthly payments, an opportunity for them within five to fifteen years the capacity for them to own their own land and become legitiment residents of the city. The counseling program headed by ate Millet (auntie Millet), is the cornerstone of the community, where the people are offered aid and guidance through a variety of family problems including rape, child abuse, infidelity, and even dog bites. Ate Millet has no background in such matters, except for the fact that she is an elder woman with life's experiences and that she is highly respected in the community. She offers people the chance to for them to come hash things out in her presence before possibly taking things to a higher judiciary.

(Above): ate Millet and the BuildAid team

(Left): Capt Rannie warning potential wrong doers that he will be the one to personally lay down the law

Batasan Hills is in need for a new Barangay Center, they have a new site of 2500 square meters, where they hope to have a seven floor structure with plenty of park space and a more improved organization. They hope to have the bottom three floors rented out as commercial space, where the center can receive its income. Then the top four floors accommodating all the services that exist in their current Community Center, and several other things in addition. Our job would be to provide them with a conceptual design for this Center, where we hope we can be sensitive to all their specific needs and wants. Capt. Rannie hopes to start construction on this new Barangay Center by June 2007.

(Above): The BuildAid team on site for the new Community Center

Also in Batasan Hills, Pastor Choy has abandoned his whole life to live in the slums with gangster youths in order to reform their lives, to lives of meaning and purpose. He has been living there for several years now, and has gained their trust. Through a youth center and church he has made a difference in alot of young lives, and more to come.

(Right): Pastor Choy

Manila!

2006-05-26T09:28:00.000-04:00

After a sleep-deprived and cramped plane ride halfway across the world, we finally arrived in Manila on Monday evening.

The past few days, we have been meeting the various groups we will be involved with during our stay here - ISACC (Institute of Studies in Asian Church & Culture), CCT (Center for Community Transformation) and GK (Gawad Kalinga). All of these have have for a long time been doing work in Philippine slums, be it simple renovation or providing families with the financial packages needed to construct and own a proper home. after from getting to know the very kind and genuine people working at these organizations, we went on to visit the sites where they do their work.

From the basic first impression, I can tell you that a slum isn't quite what you would imagine. In more developed countries we are often fed images of despair, poverty, misery plaguing the lives of the people living in such places. That is undoubtedly true in many places. But from what we saw in Malaybay (pronounced mah-LEE-bye), it is not as simple as that, in reality. There is also a inescapable vitality to the place. Children run through the streets, laughing, playing with impromptu toys. Almost every single person will greet you with a genuine smile (and maybe a comical pose for the camera) as you walk by. I was so taken by this aspect that most of my camera footage went to the people, rather than the particular houses we were there to study.

Malaybay waterfront. Large portions of the community were in fact on stilts, which was not apparent when walking on the streets above.

Which one is the real Manila, the modern skyscrapers in the distance, or a slum such as Malaybay in the foreground? Poor areas seem to be growing in every empty lot. There is no major distinctions between areas. The affluent live next door to the poor.

The Malaybay chapter of the 'Big Brothers' club..

Children everywhere we went.

An introduction.. and a little bit of history

2006-05-17T21:40:00.000-04:00

Hello and welcome to BuildAid's online blog.. our very first web home and journal of our internship in Manila. We will be departing for the Philippines on May 21st, and will stay there for 8 weeks, working with existing NGO's to design and build housing in the slums. We hope that you will visit often over the next few weeks to see what we are up to, and get a glimpse of the Philippines as well.

But before we leave, it would be good to introduce to you some of the things we have been doing in the past year leading up to this internship.

A play, an auction of student paintings, a couple of parties - we have been extremely busy over the past few months raising money for the trip, and building public awareness for our group. We managed to make it onto some local newspapers and even a CBC morning radio show. But perhaps the biggest activity, aside from the trip itself, was the creation of the architectural seminar introducing us to reconstruction work.

Under the teachership of Cassidy Johnson and Gonzalo Lizzaralde, we learned about the techniques and infrastructures involved in post-disaster reconstruction, looked at various exisiting housing solutions, and finally went out and built our own housing proposal, designed for those affected by the earthquake in Pakistan of last fall.

After weeks of design work, we started construction in the last weekend of April. It took 4 days of intense activity to erect the building. Constructed almost entirely of reused materials, and costing less than 900 CAD, the shelter was designed to be easy to build, and require as little importation of foreign materials as possible, keeping in mind the compromised access routes in the area. Have a look at the shelter panels for more information.

Considering it managed to stay up and intact for about a month, I'd say we did a good job.