By Alex Pal | Project leader
Graduating students of the Foundation University Department of Architecture have launched the third project of Estudio Damgo at the Robinsons Dumaguete Place last Thursday, October 2.
The project, a floating building for the Bantay-Dagat (fish wardens) of barangay Bantayan in Dumaguete City, was launched by the students with officials of barangay Bantayan and Dumaguete City Mayor Manuel Sagarbarria and City Councilors Frank Esmena Jr., Lani Ramon and Liga President Lionel Banogon in attendance.
A prototype of the triangular building floating on used plastic barrels was made to float in a small kiddie pool, to the applause of the people in attendance.
Mayor Manuel Sagarbarria lauded Foundation University for producing talents and sharing them with the community. He said this is the second Public-Private Partnership program of its kind with Foundation University in Dumaguete City.
“This simply shows that if we work together, we can make a difference.” Sagarbarria said. He added that he hopes the partnership between FU and the City will go a long way. “This is just the beginning,” he said.
The Mayor also took pride in the fact that this building for fish wardens would be the first building of its kind in the Philippines. “Everyone will soon copy this design and they must remember that this started in Dumaguete,” he said.
Estudio Damgo, literally meaning “Dream Studio” is the Philippines’ first design-build program for graduating architecture students. This is patterned after a requirement for architecture students at the University of Washington, the alma mater of Victor Vicente Sinco, the head of the Foundation University Department of Architecture.
This is the third Estudio Damgo project to be constructed. The first project, which was completed in March last year, was a day care center in sitio Dungga, barangay Malaunay in the town of Valencia. The second project was a multi-purpose building at the resettlement site for victims of Tropical Storm Sendong, which was completed last March.
Paul Marin, the coordinator for Estudio Damgo, said in his several months of being with the students, he considers them professionals already because of their diligence and willingness to put long hours on the job.
Even while in its infancy, Estudio Damgo had reaped awards for the students and for the University. Von Jovi Biala, one of the students who worked on Estudio Damgo I, was adjudged as one of the Ten Oustanding Students of the Philippines for his involvement with Estudio Damgo. The architecture students of Foundation University who belong to a group called the United Architects of the Philippines Student Auxiliary (UAPSA), also won as one of the Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations in 2014 because of this project.
Students are involved with all phases of Estudio Damgo from identifying the project, choosing the site, meeting with the intended project beneficiaries, fund raising and construction. Volunteers and donors are welcome to participate in this project. Donors may give to Foundation University or through Global Giving (www.GlobalGiving.org). (AP)
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