Rediscovering Old Manila with the United Architects of the Philippines Makati for World Architecture Day

Finally. I was able to sit down and write so now I'd like to share with you my recent experience on rediscovering old Manila through the United Architects of the Philippines Makati Chapter in partnership with Walk With Chan and Philippine Post Office. 

My apologies it had taken me quite sometime before i was able to come up with this blog post. Anyway, this Crossover Manila Walking tour was organized in celebration of the World Architecture Day last month. Through the kindness and invitation of my good friend, Rence Chan who has partnered with UAP-Makati for this Old Manila tour, we immediately said yes and were excited to revisit Intramuros, The Philippine Post Office, Escolta, and Binondo. 

The facade of the Philippine Post office as captured by the camera.

After years of merely passing by the facade of this glorious Philippine Post Office building, (I used to watch it from the safe distance in Plaza Lawton way back in college), the opportunity was finally ripe for us to explore its inner workings. Decades after decades of being overlooked, the iconic Philippine Post Office never really lost its grandeur. It somehow got the retrofitting it deserves. It was such a great experience to see that during out visit one of the gargoyles on the top of the building's columns were spouting water because there was a typhoon during our visit and it was raining. Too bad though, I only had with me my mobile camera, so i wasn't able to take a good shot of it. (You actually need a good DSLR camera for you to be able to capture its beauty). Nevertheless, the old Manila Post Office despite some of its paint peeling off and a few flooded areas, continue to stand amidst the rise of technology. 

Manila Central Post office from afar

Even if the said building fades from its former architectural glory, it was a delight to know that contrary to what some people believe, it's not entirely an urban decay. People still do send tangible letters to their loved ones. In fact, the Philpost has also opened new services sch as Bayadcenter. Yes, you can now pay your bills by going to the Philpost. We were so lucky to be given a tour of the Philippine Post Office building. But since we had a very limited time due to the many itineraries that day, we had to do it really fast. One thing I had learned, Philpost is a story of Hope: as it embarks on a lot of restoration. It also captures the imagination of the younger generation, particularly the so-called millenials, most of them were not even born yet during its heyday. 

We were also introduced to its rich history as well as its legacy. Ms. Arlene Labao, project officer for the Philately Collection and Museum Division was the one in-charge to tour us around. She also taught the milennials on how to write on postcards while Mr. Renaldo Ong, Philippine Philatelic Federation President also brought with him and showed us his rich stamp collections, some of them are really rare ones. He was also game enough to answer all the queries on stamp collecting. 

With the said Walk with Chan tour, my nephew Kyle, with his infectious optimism said having seen the insides of the Philpost, he confessed that he has fallen in love with the structure. As for its stories, the two hours of touring it isn't enough to share with you both the eerie and the good parts of it. 

Visions of design for the modern Filipino family

There are many factors that make a piece of architecture into something more meaningful. Security, safety, a good network of resources, and comfort, to name a few, are elements that make up the reality of a home.

At the heart of this actuality is good architecture supported by careful planning and execution. Fatima Olivares-Vital, Business Unit Head of Ovialand, Inc. shares, “Besides from aesthetic appeal, a home’s design should have a vision behind it. Each element should be focused on one thing and that is to offer an integrated environment to its residents.”

Project: First Home Book Launch--John Aguilar Writes his First Book

It is every Filipino's dream to have their own house, it's an extra bonus if it looks exactly just the way they had imagined it to be. Having a house of your own may seem to be a far-fetched dream for many Filipinos who resorted to house rentals instead of acquiring their own properties. But it's never too late to do something to make that "dream" turn into reality.    

   

How will you be able to achieve that? That's where the book, Project: First Home is all about. It's a comprehensive guidebook that teaches first-time Filipino homebuilders how to build a house from the ground up. Written by John Aguilar, creator and executive producer of the Philippine’s longest-running real estate and construction TV show Philippine Realty TV. Yes, Aguilar's book teaches you anything and everything you need to know about building your house from the scratch. Aguilar will be teaching readers How-To-Build-Your-Dream-House 101. It has the nitty gritty of house building--all the way down to the smallest details. 

“Project: First Home” takes its inspiration from the same-titled series on Philippine Realty TV where Aguilar documented the construction of his first house – from design phase, construction, all the way to the finishing and furnishing. Browsing through the pages of the said book, chapter by chapter, it also  includes advice on how to find that perfect lot; tips on how to secure a home loan; finding and hiring the design and construction teams; preparing for the design phase with the architect; going through the construction proper; finishing; and interior design. They have also discussed the issue on major construction materials that are used dedicated to green and disaster adaptive home designs against typhoons and floods.

        First time author John Aguilar

The book also features industry expert collaborators interviewed by Aguilar that include renowned Arch. Felino "Jun" Palafox for architecture (who also wrote the said book's Foreword) ; Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery Undersecretary Danilo Antonio for property acquisition; Ivy and Cynthia Almario, and Philippine Realty TV host Tessa Prieto-Valdes, for interior design; and Maritess Allen for feng shui advices, among others.

            Architect Felino "Jun" Palafox 

 “When I built my house, I wished that I had a book that would guide me through the entire house building process,” he said, “so I wrote the book for people to have a guide through the complexities of it all since building your home is one of the most important things you will ever do in your life,"shared Aguilar who is a first-time author. 

 

There is also a downloadable digital Ebook version of the book which contains bonus interactive tools, videos culled from the Project: First Home series on Philippine Realty TV, and links to important websites of government agencies, suppliers, and organizations.

Present at the book launch were the expert book collaborators and industry partners that include Architect Jun Palafox, BPI Family Savings Bank’s Vice President and Product Marketing Head Noel Altamirano, and representatives from Cemex Philippines who were given plaques of appreciation for being the book’s content collaborators.

The book was written in partnership with major sponsors BPI Family Savings Bank and Meralco, with minor sponsors Cemex Philippines, Jackbilt Industries, Phelps Dodge Philippines, Cypress Bomanite, and Megabuild 101.

 

“Project: First Home” is now available in all Fully Booked and Wilcon Depot branches nationwide. The Ebook is also available for download through the Buqo App. For inquiries and bulk purchases, contact Second Wind Publishing at Tel. (02) 621-4635 or email info@philippinerealtytv.com. Visit www.PhilippineRealtyTV.com  for more information on the book and airing schedules of Philippine Realty TV.

Disclaimer: I am not compensated for this post. Opinions expressed are my own.