Manifesto

Architecture is both science and art. I believe that architecture is the mother of all existing arts; it is the superior form of art. It could bring a dead city alive and it could make a poor country rise. It could affect the economy positively or negatively.  An example of a positive effect in the economy is the Guggenheim museum in Bilbao, Spain. Bilbao was a very remote place in Spain, but when the Guggenheim museum was built, it became a tourist spot and was the reason why Bilbao is now known. There are many more examples of positive effect of architecture in the world, especially countries wherein they have structures built by a starchitect.


Architecture is the science of making a space work and be useful with regards to its environment and on the people. It respects everything around it, may it be living or non-living. Being an architect is tough. It is an area of professionals wherein you have to be sensitive in a way that if you make just one mistake, it could affect everything in the design, environment and most especially on the people. As you design, it should be carefully thought and criticized, but that doesn’t mean that you have to design stiffly, meaning, very robotic, and very careful way, you could design with having fun but still be thorough about it. I used to be very careful, very reserved, it even affected how I dress; most of my clothes are in neutral colors – black, white, and gray. But now, I collect other colors too, I started expressing myself, being open to the people around me, as well as my designs, I express who I am, and I’m actually having fun with it.

Architecture is not just about designing beautiful buildings or unique structures; it is about designing beautiful and unique structures functionally. In the famous line “form follows function,” we think of the function first before the form, and it should not be the other way around. As an architect, we should consider the uses, the reasons, the function rather than just the plain beauty of the design. If you think of just the beauty, then you are not an architect, but just an artist. For me, in order to become an architect, you don’t have to be an artist; you just have to be creative and thoughtful. Being artistic and being creative is different. Being artistic is doing things beautifully, while being creative is creating things from nothing.

Today, the Philippines has a very huge population but the land mass is not getting bigger, therefore, there are limited space for everyone to live in. Maximizing the limited space would be the solution. If only buildings, houses, and other structures here are maximized, I think, the problem would be solved. Green architecture these days is very popular. I believe that green architecture is structures that are designed to be environmentally friendly and not consuming more than what is needed. It is not just recreating used things, making it new, but recreating used things wisely. It is not just putting solar power panels as a wall or roofs in a building but using them wisely.

Architecture is a language in different ways. It can tell you many things, maybe the personality of the designer, or the client. It could also tell you the culture of the country. It could be a way to communicate your feelings. As an architect, I would like to use architecture as a way to show my personality, just like how fashion designers or writers show who they are or what they feel through designing clothes or writing stories. It is the instrument of architects to communicate themselves and make them known to the world.

Designing structures that makes a client more than satisfied with it is my objective. I would like to make them happy and I think, it would be a great pleasure seeing your client, or as for now, as an architecture student, seeing your professor or critique liked your design. It is not just the client that I satisfy but also I. Any designer would be proud seeing their designs came to life.