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The Young Professionals (YP) Workshop on Social Housing is a capability-building activity organized annually by TAO-Pilipinas to orient young design professionals about social housing, with different thematic focus every year. It targets young design professionals/students who are interested in working on issues that affect poor communities, particularly their shelter needs. It aims to develop social commitment and promote YP involvement in participatory processes with poor communities in need of technical professional services. Done in coordination with TAO’s partner NGOs and people’s organizations, the program provides venues for direct community-professional interaction. TAO has organized four cycles of the Young Professionals Workshop in Social Housing with the following themes and immersion areas: participatory community planning (Metro Manila) in 2005; community-based disaster risk management (Infanta, Quezon Province) in 2006; building sustainable communities in resettlement sites (Albay Province) in 2008; and water supply and sanitation (Metro Manila) in 2009.

The application form is available for download at this link. Filled-up application form can be emailed to yp.taopilipinas@gmail.com or fax to 441-0998. To know more about the program of activities for the 2011 YP Workshop, please visit the YP Website.

The event was attended by Dean Ted Inocencio of PUP-CAFA; Dean Victor Macam of UE(Caloocan)-CE; Dr. Phares Parayno of Miriam College-DE; EnP. Carmeli Chaves of UP-SURP; Engr. Ariel Morales of UE(Manila)-CE; Arch. Antonio De Vera of FEU-IARFA; and Engr. Aquilino Rolusta of CCP-CE. Representatives of student organizations were also present — Mharren Castro of UP-Task Force Arki; Gerome Hipolito of UP-GE Club; Aldo Mayoralgo UP-Asaphil; and Melanie Ramis of UE ACES-PICE.

TAO’s Education and Training Program team gave presentations to brief the guests on the program and application requirements for the 2011 YP Workshop on Social Housing. Arch. Geraldine Matabang presented an overview of TAO’s organizational profile and selected projects while Engr. Rosalyn Veneracion discussed the YP Workshop objectives, theme, and program. Argean Guiaya presented the socio-economic profiles of community areas where participants to the YP Workshop will immerse in. These included communities in Tanza and Tangos in Navotas City, Talayan in Quezon City, and Kasiglahan Village I in Rodriguez, Rizal.

An open forum followed the presentations. Guests sought some clarifications on the workshop program and articulated their concerns such as the sponsorship consideration and the safety and security of workshop participants especially during immersion activities. The threats of eviction and possibility of relocation of the community immersion areas, many of which are informal settlements, were also discussed. Community leader-organizers of Community Organizers Multiversity (COM), Ms. Luz Domingo of Talayan and Ms. Vangie Serrano of KV1, were also on hand to provide some information on their area’s peace and order situation, coordination with the barangay authorities, and the readiness of host families with whom the workshop participants will stay with during the immersion period.

At the end of the discussion, video presentations of previous YP workshops were shown and application forms and posters were distributed. TAO Executive Director Arlene Lusterio gave the closing remarks to conclude the event.

YP Lecture Series in Central Colleges of the Philippines with engineering students and TAO-Pilipinas staff

A series of lectures on “Design Strategies for Climate Change Adaptation” was held last February 9 and 28, 2011 at the Central Colleges of the Philippines (CCP) College of Engineering and University of the East (UE) College of Engineering, respectively. The YP Lecture Series is regularly organized by TAO-Pilipinas to provide discussion on topics such as social issues, shelter security and sustainable development for architecture and engineering students.

YP Lecture Series in UE Recto College of Engineering with Dean Dominador Pagbilao, officers of the Association of Civil Engineering Students (ACES), and TAO-Pilipinas staff

Arlene Christy Lusterio, Executive Director of TAO-Pilipinas presented a lecture on “Integrating Water in Urban Development.” She outlined different examples of how water influences settlements development, both in the developed countries and in third-world countries. Arch. Lusterio’s lecture showed infrastructure designs that consider climate change adaptation and with water as an element in the design. Another presenter was Angelus Sales, Research and Publication Staff of TAO-Pilipinas. She presented a lecture on “Lessons in Climate-Responsive Design from Vernacular Dwellings”. Arch. Sales enumerated the different types of vernacular dwellings and their features and how each can resist varying weather conditions through the years. TAO-Pilipinas’ Education and Training Program Director Geraldine Matabang, another presenter, gave a lecture on “Disaster-Resilient Design Principles”. Arch. Matabang discussed building design and site planning recommendations to make low-cost housing developments resilient to earthquake and typhoon hazards.

Last December 5, 2008, the jury panel for Portable Playground selected six (6) finalists from twenty-five (25) eligible submissions and awarded three (3) Jury Awards. The jury was composed of Arch/EnP. Faith Varona of TAO-Pilipinas, architect and animator / film director Ellen Ramos, and artist-designer Robert Alejandro.

Jury Awards
(PhP 10,000 prize each entry)

Most Potentially Implementable Design
Ana Marie P. Abrilla
Team members: Annelyn B. Lacson, Lea Constantina S. Cruz
5th year BS Architecture students, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM)

Best in Mobility/Transportability
Nathaniel Sheridan Balauag
Team members: Tracy Joanna M. Abergas, Jerome A. Palting
3rd year BS Architecture students, Far Eastern University (FEU)
Adviser: Arch. Ma. Carmen Yatco

Best in Visual Appeal for Children
Phyll Patrick L. Seva
Team members: Christine Angela A. Oafallas, Ken Reandelar
3rd year BS Architecture students, Far Eastern University (FEU)
Adviser: Arch. Alpher De Vera

Finalists
Short-listed entries that passed the final screening were categorized as Notable Designs.

Anna Dominique M. Mendoza
4th year BS Architecture student, University of the Philippines (UP)
Adviser: Arch. Nicolo Del Castillo

Razel R. Robines
Team members: Joseph C. Macapagal, Verna Lucia P. Sarraga
5th year BS Architecture students, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM)

Mark Dennis A. Alcantara
4th year BS Architecture students, Far Eastern University (FEU)
Adviser: Arch. Roselle Santos

TAO-Pilipinas shall organize the awarding ceremonies for Sustainable Shelter and Portable Playground winners and finalists on December 16, 2008. By January to May of next year, a series of exhibition is planned to showcase the winning and notable designs of YP Design Challenge. If you wish to have the YP Design Challenge winning designs exhibited in your universities, please contact TAO at 441-0998 or email yp@tao-pilipinas.org so we could arrange an exhibit schedule.

Selection of winning entries were based on the following criteria: Sustainable Design Features (25%); Originality and Innovativeness (25%); Cost-effectiveness (20%); Environmentally-sound Construction (20%); and Socio-Cultural Sensitivity and Affordability (10%).

First Award (PhP 20,000 prize)
No First Place was awarded by the jury.

The following are the available selling packages of the bookmark:

• 1 set of 7 designs:  PhP 50.00 = 7 bookmarks
• 2 sets of 7 designs: PhP 75.00 = 14 bookmarks
• 3 sets of 7 designs: PhP100.00 = 21 bookmarks
• 10 sets of 7designs: Php300.00 = 70 bookmarks

To view the bookmarks, please click here.

Proceeds will be used to fund TAO-Pilipinas’ Young Professionals (YP) projects for 2009. For information about the YP workshops, please go to the websitewww.ypws.tao-pilipinas.org. For orders, please call (63-2) 441-0998 or 436-7301. Orders can be picked up at the TAO Office, 27-A Matiyaga Street, Barangay Central, Diliman, Quezon City or
additional charges shall be made for deliveries within Metro Manila.

Revised Schedule for Design Challenge 1: Sustainable Shelter

Registration Deadline : September 16, 2008
Submission Period : October 1-24, 2008
Results Announced : December 2008

Revised Schedule for Design Challenge 2: Trash Transformation

Registration Deadline : October 17, 2008
Submission Period : November 3-21, 2008
Results Announced : December 2008

Revised Schedule for Design Challenge 3: Portable Playground

Registration Deadline : October 17, 2008
Submission Period : November 3-21, 2008
Results Announced : December 2008

For more information and updates about the competition, please visit the website www.ypdesignchallenge.tao-pilipinas.org or call Ms. Mai Ilagan at telephone numbers 441-0998 or 0929-6800924.