Acknowledgement

My college life taking up architecture in this university had given me not just knowledge in this ‘destined’ course or field, but also wonderful experiences with a long list of names that I should give credit for attached to it.  These people that made up the life I am building and still under construction are the foremost foundation of the history I am trying to create for myself and for the people I love. From the start, it had been you guys who made me carry on and finish what I have started. I never took the time to thank you nor show you how much I am thankful for all the things I have been through with you around. You helped me get through all of these and all the credit goes out to each and everyone who had been in and out of my life for the past five years.

To our mentors: Arch. Danny Capili, our Adviser for his patience and confidence about our study, Arch. Pancho Villanueva, Arch. Luzette Lareza, Arch. Dennis Estacio, Arch. Markoxley Enriquez, our consultants and advisers for sharing their knowledge and time. To Arch. Roger Magsakay, Arch. Godesil Lejarde, Arch. Hershey Didulo, Arch. Diomar De Castro, our jurors. To Arch. Celesta Dawn in spite of her busy schedule and did not actually accepted any consultancy but gave time to scrutinize our study, Arch. Dinky Einsiedel, Ditas Bermudez, Mr. Ernie Panis, the Lola Grande Foundation, Filipinas Heritage Library and the Manila City Hall for sharing data and information about Santa Ana, Manila and assisting us through our research. Words would never be enough to thank you.

My friends who had been there especially Maria Ruth Centeno who stood by me from our freshmen year until our thesis defense (until today). PKG (Para Kay God!), especially Arvin, Kim, Leovigildo, Mikko, Narciso who were there since the RM cheering me up and helping me out. If it was not for you guys, I might have lost my sanity and given up that very day of my defense.  Alenor dela Cruz, Bonita Cesumission, Carmina Peralta, Joshea Magdaleno who rescued me during the translation and shared their talents. For Jayson Bautista, Ijvan Barrera, Dyanne de Jesus, Josel Lyn Somoro for finding time to help me out in your own little ways. Thank you guys, I hope I could return the favor one day. To KKT, FFs, my wbf, all of my friends and batch mates you are part of all these things I poured in this thesis book and translation. I am blessed to have met and had an opportunity of having you in my life.

To my family especially my parents, who are the foundation of everything that I did and who I am today and the reason of everything, thank you. My brother, my sister and our relatives, who helped us out in times of need, thank you.

Furthermore to You, Abba Father whose undying love get us through the end and never left us from the start. For your guidance, your blessings, your compassion and faith that led us to the right direction where you wanted to lead our study. May this work of ours be useful for the other generations that stumble upon it, help them out and serve its purpose.

With this, may God be praised.

Love and Respect,

Minaret

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It was not exactly my dream to be an architect and build houses and structures of different kinds. I, on the other hand loves planning and designing spaces or imagine them the way I planned it inside my mind since I was young. I have always dreamed of having my own community and running it and providing people what they need. May be that was the start of it that I did not know would latter come to this. I might have like a different course or field but I do believe I have things to fulfill and impart in architecture that I will discover in the coming days.

This book also gave me hope that I might actually have a career in architecture specializing or focusing in the built heritage in our country. I hope that one day, everyone will be aware of these problems that our country’s facing that are often neglected due to the modernization and the minds of the young generation that prefers something new instead of keeping what is still there.

With all these things I have learned in my 9 years of stay in the Bulacan State University since my high school days, for all we know that nothing is constant but change, it is important to look back and care for what made us up for what we are today.

A Piece of the Cake

A share of the sumptuous masterpiece..

I remember my friend Kukai and I’s motto: “Hindi lahat binibigay” and also: “Mas madaling hulihin ang manok kapag nakatali” back in our early days in college.

“You look happy” a number of people told me these past days. And I am glad that they are noticing that aside from “Tumataba ka” and “Gumaganda ka yata”, emphasizing the latter. Ok. Flatter yourself, dear. =))))

It’s my mother’s birthday and I stayed over the Roxas’ place last night to give them an extra pair of hands for the high rise plate and at Calayag’s the other night. They’re keeping me busy and amused with chitchats and whatsoever in the past months. I am blessed to have them around, indeed. Para Kay God! Hello Narciso, are you there reading this? 😉

Neutral. That’s the word that comes in mind whenever I am asked about my current state – enjoying every slice of the cake one at a time. Indulging on it slowly so as not to ‘umay’ myself. I just want to enjoy what is currently served and not ‘want’ more. It will soon fall into place, in God’s perfect time.

I had a chance meeting and little chat with Arch. Paulo Alcazaren, Editor-in-Chief of Blu Print magazine’s co-writer, Ditas Bermudez at the Pamana: Built Heritage Conservation Seminar at the Filipinas Heritage Library last August 23, 2012. She shared some ideas and the projects their currently working at. She even suggested that I should apply directly at PGAA instead when I told her I wanted to apply at Blu Print for apprenticeship. She offered me some materials and asked me for my e-mail address and also suggested that I should visit a certain library. Hoping to hear from her soon.

The seminar was beyond ‘sulit’. What is sulit, mom? (Baby Josh, 2012) It’s getting more than what you paid for. (Kris Aquino, 2012) HAHAHA. I arrived late. Heritage Conservation Society’s Arch. Noche’s talk was already wrapping-up. It was coffee break and I should say the food is mighty fine. I was waiting for Arch. Mata’s talk and so it goes. Arch. Galicia and Dr. Einsdel’s talk was remarkable. I’m still waiting for the electronic copy of the slides, though. It was an extraordinary experience. I got intimated when I walked in. I was the only student in attendance and they were all professionals – architects, environmental planners, writers, accountants, and etcetera. I am one of the few who had the chance.

And to sum it up, I am having quite a month. I am having a busy, fulfilling and fruitful month of August.

First Consultation Session with Arch. Pancho

Last Thursday we went to Katipunan to meet Arch. Pancho Villanueva, Arch. Eva Villanueva’s brother, to consult our thesis topics and to formally have him as our thesis Consultant. We arrived at around 11 in the morning, a little late coz we had some trouble in getting the right direction and we had to transfer jeepney because there was no available jeep that would take us directly to UP. It was a field trip of some sort, an adventure.

For three hours, he was discussing a lot of things and my mind was blown with his ideas. How he could talk endlessly and it wouldn’t bore you. Here are some notes that I wrote while he was talking. Some sort of side comments:

• Dapat pinapapanood! Yung thesis. (sa lower year)
• Wala daw patapon sa topics namin, that would include our topic! 🙂 (Yey!)
• He can actually make you feel confident about your thesis. Enlightens you with new ideas. Walang kayabang-yabang. (And again, humble people amuses me more than bright people.)
• Visionary
• Knowing is half the battle.
• Tribute kay Ate. 🙂
• And a whole lot more. You should see my notes! (I was about to take a snapshot but realized I got a crappy camera phone and decided not to. He-hee~)

And indeed, it was a fruitful session. He left us speechless. In awe, in an awesome way. He gave us tons of information and ideas but managed to not overload us. It was overwhelming. Am so grateful, just when I was giving up on that particular approach the jurors asked us to present, he gave me one in a snap. There’s not a moment that I get my eyes off of him. While talking, he could actually trigger your mind into thinking. My eyes were smiling, my mind is flying around his thoughts. He was a visionary, fit for our thesis topic. And he is actually into arts which I adore immensely. I find his poetry subtle. Like I totally like him. We’re blessed to have him. Only few are given this kind of chance. He was sweet, especially when he told us he was doing this thing for her sister, in memory of her — how Ma’am Eva do these things –willingly help students as much as she could even doing it in their house, outside the CAFA premises. And that’s how one leaves a legacy.

We were speechless after, really. Left us with smile on our faces.

We went around UP then headed back to North and ate tons coz I was starving. I was so bibo on that way back coz I was really amused with Sir Pancho. Looking forward to our next consultation, we’ll be having it on his apartment with his 3 artist apartmates. Can’t wait to see that bookshelf filled with books. Am a happy kiddo, yea. :p

Archangel D

And they felt the same way, eh?

Coz I was so sad, like really sad yesterday. Realizations came and I was thinking about what’s gonna happen next. Just when I thought I finally got over the walls of  an adviser, he’d go just like other people do in my life do so that. Am so grateful for having Sir D around. It was like I have another father watching me and guiding me. And I could never stop him from doing anything and really, it’s best for him to accept that job. But having him around give me confidence that someone’s gonna be there when I fail. Someone’s gonna correct me and blablablabla. Naiiyak ako. Haaay.

Hindi ka namin mapipigilan, di ka rin naman mawawala, di ka talaga mawawala sa puso namin Sir. Nandyan ka pa rin naman, hindi nga lang makikita araw-araw pero nandiyan ka. Alam naming gagabayan mo pa rin kami tulad ng ginagawa mo kahit hindi na ikaw ang adviser namin. Maiiba nga lang ngayon kasi may iba ka ng pagkakaabalahan. At alam naming gusto niyo yan at suportdao namin kayo sa gagawin niyo.

Hindi ko nasasabi sa inyo o di ko nasusuklian yung kabaitan niyo, pero maraming maraming salamat, ang dami niyong naibahagi at marami akong natutunan sa inyo, Tay!

My Stupid Mouth, again..

My stupid mouth has got me in trouble I said too much again..

And that’s the classic me having trouble with expressing myself without people getting the wrong idea or bad intentions that I might be posing. Well, am getting used to this. I just don’t know why people tend to give meaning, or other meaning than what is simply stated by a person. I don’t get it. I mean, when I say things like ‘I just wanna continue it no matter what‘ I mean it as simple as that. I never wanna offend anybody with my words but unconsciously I am doing so. Am a sucker with word choices. Yea, really.

And I am really grateful for having Sir D trying to explain me things I quite don’t understand in the coolest way possible. And I really am thankful for him being open-minded and I I’d like to think that he understands me  and he accepts whatever I say and try to correct me whenever. And it’s quite cool he approached me in the not so awkward way. Haaaaay. He knows that I’m still a kid trying to figure out life and it’s wonders.

Hello God, thank You. Am really thankful for the people you’re giving me. Though uninspired and even though I feel like giving up these past few weeks, You continue blessing me and giving me inspirations and will to go on. Thank You po.

You don’t have to be all things to all people; a few things to a few people will be just fine. 

Backslide, nuh-uh..

My God, I’m taking the road I think You gave me to travel on. I may not be fully confident about my decisions, the way I see (it as) right or wrong, or the way I think about it and the way I think it’d end up. But I know, all I know is that You are there. I may stumble and falter along the way; I’ll get back up for You are there. You alone are God. I LOVE YOU. I may not have shown You or said it as much as I could, but I do, yes Lord, I love You. You never failed loving me in every way. You loved me no matter what. How could You in spite? God, I am unworthy of Your Love, Your Salvation and blessings, yet You gave it all for me with no hesitations. And I’m here trying to make sense of it all. God.. I’m holding unto You. As always.

I love You,
Katriz

2011.1123

There are days that I feel so helpless. This is one of those days that as I stand, sit, or walk in the hallways, I couldn’t find familiarity in any place I would go or look at… I’m scared. I’m stumbling. I’m trembling deep inside my heart and my mind. I’m not secured. About anything I am doing right now, the research, the plates, the people around me, the future. I dunno what’s going to happen. Aint sure if this is even for me, this environment, the work, the people. Too late for backing out, I know. I feel so helpless. This aint what I really want. I don’t even know what I really want. I feel like I’m just hanging and am not going anywhere.

God I’m so sorry.
2011.1129

If I could just hug You Abba Father and feel the warmth, that I’m secured, that I am loved in Your arms.
2011.1211

****

I am isolating myself, backsliding.  “Fellowship” blinks at the side of my sight. Sorry. Sorry for the way. Sorry for the thoughts, the clutter, the decisions, the way I am. I couldn’t wait for 2011 to just pass and make 2012 a better one. Am stuck, am helpless. I  need no resolution not a fan of resolutions, I badly needed a redirection. But then I was reminded by these:

God never promises to remove us from our struggles. He does promise, however, to change the way we look at them. (Max Lucado)

*2011 Forecast and 2012 Resolutions Redirections coming up.

RM

And now I’m working at my Research Method project but then something struck me all of a sudden. As I read the thesis manual, thinking it was done by Ma’am Eva, her voice is playing inside my head imagining she’s reading it and explaining it unto me. I can still remember her voice and intonation vividly. Something bothers me, really.

FLASHBACK:
She asked us to design a vestibule wayback in sophomore year. Oo nga no, how fitting. Di pa namin alam noon na may sakit siya, though di rin ako sigurado kung alam na niya yung kalalagayan niya noon. That was her last exercise or something I remembered back in the days. Kaya pala ako kinakabahan.

Doing this RM reminds me of her remarks regarding my explanation with my vestibule design. =( Making me really nervous of its outcome. I don’t wanna do that same mistake again. I don’t wanna disappoint her, she already told me about it. And now am hoping I would never do the same again. NOTED.

Say it once, say it correctly, say it in the right place.

*This should be my motto in life.

Gustave Eiffel, not an Architect

I just got off from the 2011 National Architecture Students Fund Raising Jamboree by the Architectural Students Association of the Philippines. It wasn’t actually a success (really) and wouldn’t be fun without the non-architecture related activities and the company of our new members. From the zipline, wall climbing, mudslide, the rope obstacles and the fun at the barracks (sayang walang rapelling) and the food madness, it was indeed a great experience. Minus the expectations, the grand and the supposed talks. T’was good, great actually.

So there’s this Quiz Bee that was held on the second day I couldn’t forget. There were three rounds before the final round. On the first round, composed of basic Architecture related matters, it was easy, REALLY easy. Except for the question where in I answered quickly. The question was like who’s not an architect in the group. The first thing that I saw was Gustave Eiffel’s name so I quickly clicked it and submit. Then I was wrong. Pablo Picasso was the answer.

I couldn’t let it go that quickly. It’s not just about the point that I could have had, or for the sake of saving myself of being ashamed of not getting it right. In my heart I know I was right. We weren’t told to answer the closest one, I answered an answer. Yes, Pablo Picasso is not an architect but Gustave Eiffel’s not an architect either. Therefore, technically, I was right. Having done or finished a structure doesn’t mean you are an architect. He was for a fact an Engineer. Am a fan of the Eiffel Tower, I must admit and I listened attentively when it was discussed back in the HOA (History of Architecture) days. We were thought, as far as I now that he’s not an architect. Some articles in the internet might say he was an architect, he is not. Please. He’s not, right?

Let it go, Kat.

Ugh. Pissed. And he‘s was trying to make a fool out of me. Dammit. And there a lot of things in between this annoyance towards that person. Sorry po.

But still I qualified for the next average round mostly composed of HOA III related questions, not discussed though. Like the number of spikes in the Statue of Liberty what the eff?, the exact height of the CN Tower in Canada srsly?,  and whatsoever. If not for my instincts and expertise in guessing when faced with a multiple choice type of questions, I passed. Yey!

The difficult round was REALLY difficult. It was categorized as Random Architectural History mostly composed of HOA II in which I was actually a 4.0. Thank God I was good at guessing and actually got the highest score for that round.

And for the final round, it was filled with HOA III topics, too. I answered half of it and was sent to a tie-breaker round against an FEU student. Then again, I was saved by the Eiffel Tower with the ‘wrought iron’ as my answer. I placed Second, with another FEU student being the Champion. Yey! Feel good.

To sum it up, it was an awesome experience. Thank You for that wonderful experience.

To you Mister, not because you assumed that he was an architect, he will be an architect. It wasn’t just history you’re trying to break (?), it’s a fact.

Guardian (Angel)

Sa kabila ng kawalang kwenta ng ginagawa sa araw na ‘to, binigyan niya ng konting kulay. Pwede rin na wala na yung konti. =) Nakakatuwa. Hindi kanina maalis ang mga ngiti sa aking labi. Wala lang. Ang gaan sa pakiramdam.

Kyot nung sinabi niya. Gusto kong maalala ang araw na ‘to. =)

haaaaayyyyy!

Kung ano man ang ibig sabihin niya sa expression na yan.. =) (edit! alam ko na kung ano ibig sabihin niya! fail daw. kewl.) Nakakaexcite tuloy ang Wednesday. Sana everyday. Hoho.

(syempre, wag na yung nireply ko)

****

Asikasong-asikaso ako ni Father ngayon. Hmm. Hinoldap kasi ako kanina. 😉 E bakit twitter ayaw mong umayos? (irrelephant) E kasi year of the ‘ribbit’ daw ngayon. (naguluhan tuloy ako)

Yung blog ko! Nasa papel na! Hanggang dun ka na lang ba?

2011.01.04

Naaliw lang ako, bakit ba. =)

Conversation with Myself

Since my Facebook account is in it’s usual reloading/not loading state and Tumblr’s been effed up for days now, Hello WordPress! =)

I’ve been listing down stuffs (inside my mind) the things that I want, (material things) the whole day. And I was wondering if it was a necessity or luxury.

• Isang buwan na ‘to. Dati pa naman talaga siya, bumabalik lang. Nagsimula sa headache. Ngayon dumodoble na naman paningin ko. Kanina di ako makabasa, makagawa. Lumalabo na paningin ko? Oo! Matagal na. Ayaw pa din nila kong ipagawa ng salamin. Iniisip kasi nila nagiinarte lang ako. Huhu. Sad.
• Yung drafting table!!!! Ilang beses ko ng pinapaalala kasi sa kanila. Haist. Isang rason kung bakit ako tinatamad gumawa sa bahay e (sinisi sa table??). Ang dahilan ni ina, saan daw ilalagay sa bahay, e ang liit liit ng bahay namin. Inay, bakit yung mga kung anik anik na inaamot mo sa pamamahay ng ibang tao nagagawan mo ng paraan maisingit sa ating pamamahay?? =)
• Libro! Gusto ko ng boooooks! Yung sa Arki! Time Saver, saka yung mga libro ng Laws! Saka saka, marami pa.
• Techpens! Hahaha! Napakahusay ko kasi. Ilang beses na ba ko nakakawala ng set ng techpens (set!). Mula pa ng high school. Hoho. Bakit ba yun e di ko magawang masinop? Napakamasinop ko naman? Hmm.
• Saka pangpa-check up! Bakit nga ba wala talaga kaming ganun? Yung pagbisita sa doktor kahit sa wala lang. E yung meron na ngang komplikasyon di pa rin ipapacheck-up e, yun pa kayang daily chuchu. Please o. 18 na ko, di pa rin ginagawan ng paraan tong abnormalidad ko sa katawan. Huhuhu. Gusto ko maging normal.

Di ako galit! Swear. Feel ko lang yung exclamation point! Sana makilala ko yung nanalo sa lotto. Tapos matutuwa siya sakin, tapos iti-treat niya ko ng shopping spree! HAHAHA! Asa!

Pero galing, di ko naman pinapangarap na yumaman. Yung sakto lang. =)

****

Today. Masaya yung Pop Archi  Talk. Though hindi yun yung expected na madidiscuss, merong ibang point of view kaya yun yung naging paraang nung pagkakapresent nung topic. Saka ang awkward nung convo between Ma’am Osi and Arch. Lareza! Arch Capili ftw! =) Ang konti konti pa kasi ng um-attend, wala tuloy masyadong questions. Daming quiet moments kasi wala talagang nagtatanong!

On the other side of the world. Hindi ito awkward. Masaya. Ang sarap ng feeling i-share sa mga friends yung wonders na nagagawa Niya sayo. ’twas like telling the Greatest Love Story that ever happened to me. And still happening. Endless may be. Then yung pagiinvite, hindi ako nahiya! Cool! Parang it was a normal thing (normal naman siya, pero parang hindi ako kung iisipin mo kung sino ako dati).

And the last thing and may be the reason why I am blogging today. Ayun. I had this line all day, and was a realization a long time ago. Kanina kasi nagpalagay sila ng Henna Tattoo. Ako, syempre ayoko. Tapos nakiepal lang ako sa pagtingin ng mga designs. Natuwa ako dun sa Chinese characters, tapos nakita ko yung happiness. Ayun. Gumawa ako kahit ballpen ink lang. (Gusto ko matuto ng calligraphy!)

Nanggaling ‘to dun sa Pursuit of Happyness (na Movie Analysis ko nung 4th year high school pa ko). Pero. Ah basta eto.

Hindi ko alam kung kailan ako nag-start nung kapag nagwiwish ako para sa kahit kaynino, ang sinasabi ko, di katulad nung sa iba na ‘I wish you happiness..’ ang sinasabi ko contentment.

I just realized that, maybe that pursuit of happiness is intangible. (Tama ba yun term na gamit ko?) It’d always be a never ending pursuit of happiness. Happiness (would always) comes after sadness and vice versa. Like yin and yang, there’d be high and low, ups and down. We should just try and find our way in contentment.

It’s like, no matter what state you are in, there’s this neutral feeling that you could hold unto, for you are contented. Maybe hope despite of storms, and (the other way around) awareness that good things are bound to end for nothing is constant but change. Just that. Or maybe I should omit the word just, for it isn’t just, eh?

Yun lang. Malinaw ba? Kung ano man yan. Goooooodnight!

Thank you Abba Father. This day was filled with procrastinations and I wasn’t being productive, yet you still gave me the chance of gaining knowledge despite of my laziness. 😉 You are sooo great. Antok na po ako. :* =)

With much love,

k ❤