First year landscape architecture (L Arch) students took on the challenge of coming out with conceptual designs for an inclusive park for the Philippine Association of University Women-UP Chapter (PAUW-UP).
It took the L Arch students less than six weeks to respond to the request for conceptual designs for their inclusive park project. Five conceptual designs were presented by the L Arch 12 classes, Sections THQRU and THQRU-1, under the guidance of assistant professors Franklin Fontanoza Jr. and Alexa Brillantes Bello.
According to PAUW-UP, an inclusive park is “a recreational space designed to be welcoming and accessible to people of all abilities and backgrounds.”
The intended PAUW-UP inclusive park will also feature three original sculptures by National Artist for Sculpture Napoleon V. Abueva. The park’s intended site will be determined by the College of Architecture (CA) and the PAUW-UP Child Study Center.
The five conceptual designs presented were Paralaya by Aris Macalintal, Arfelle Pervera, Antoinette Diokno, Naika Nilo, Lyka Tubig, and Vienn Lopez; For Hue by Anthony Maverick Pila, Myra Belga, Clark Barcelona, Dylan Praza, Joaquin Yalung, Josh Zablan, and Samantha Padegdeg; Luntiang Lulan by Khyla Mangalino, Seven Cornejo, Jocas delos Santos, Rafael Joven, Fatima Iriola, and Zion Paraiso; ImahinaI by Neil Madriñal, Juliana Pacheco, Juris Amoranto, Ciana Pamintuan, Chynna Santos, and Sigrid Sison; and Kalinga sa Kanlungan by Althea Abenojar, Amber Disquitado, Yaniche Gan, Jasmine Operania, Lia Ronsairo, Princess Targa, and Honey Lyn Tolentino.
PAUW-UP reports that “the students incorporated native trees and plants and designs for local games, giving their designs a Philippine touch.”
PAUW-UP’s Arceli Manalili-Tungol, along with forester Kit Lorenz Palec, gave inputs on trees and plants for the inclusive park.
The conceptual designs were evaluated by CA Assistant Dean Jose Dan V. Villa Juan and Cathe Desiree S. Nadal, PhD, assistant professor at the CA.
They were presented on May 20 at the CA Benito Sy Pow Auditorium before CA constituents headed by CA Dean Luis Maria T. Boot and members of PAUW-UP, headed by Edlyn Frances V. Verzola, PAUW-UP chair, president, and chief executive officer.
The PAUW-UP contingent at the presentation were COO Cynthia D. Nuval; Vice President Internal Affairs Adelaida F. Lucero; Vice President External Affairs Myrissa Melinda Lacuna-Alip; Ma. Antonia Perez-Santos, auditor; Leticia Susan Lagmay-Solis, PhD, chair, Parks, Biodiversity and Environment Committee; and Manalili-Tungol.
Meanwhile, PAUW-UP Child Study Center Head Jeamar T. Abao and PAUW-UP Child Study Center Administrative Assistant Riza Juanillo were also at the presentation.—With a Report From PAUW-UP
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE FRESHMEN PRESENT CONCEPTUAL DESIGNS FOR AN INCLUSIVE PARK TO THE PHILIPPINE ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITY WOMEN (PAUW)-UP CHAPTER
Barely six weeks from the time the Philippine Association of University Women (PAUW) – UP Chapter made a request last 8 April 2025 for assistance for its proposed inclusive park project, the freshmen classes in L Arch 12, Sections THQRU and THQRU-1 under Professors Franklin Fontanoza, Jr. and Alexa Brillantes Bello presented to PAUW-UP five conceptual designs for the project.
Architecture Dean Luis Maria Bo-ot, PhD, welcomed the faculty, students, and members of PAUW-UP to the Benito Sy Pow Auditorium of the UP College of Architecture, while PAUW-UP Chairperson, President and Chief Executive Officer, Atty. Edlyn Frances V. Verzola, congratulated the freshmen and the Landscape Architecture professors for the challenging task they took on.
The conceptual design presentation was made by the freshmen on 20 May 2025. The conceptual designs were evaluated by a panel composed of Assistant Dean Jose Dan V. Villa Juan and Assistant Professor Cathe Desiree S. Nadal, PhD.
An inclusive park is a recreational space designed to be welcoming and accessible to people of all abilities and backgrounds, i.e., children with special needs, persons with disabilities, and older adults.
In addition to structures made for inclusive parks in other countries, the students incorporated native trees and plants and designs for local games, giving their designs a Philippine touch.
The concepts and their respective presenters were:
1. Concept: “Paralaya”
Members: Aris Macalintal, Arfelle Pervera, Antoinette Diokno, Naika Nilo, Lyka Tubig, Vienn Lopez
2. Concept: “For Hue”
Members: Anthony Maverick Pila, Myra Belga, Clark Barcelona, Dylan Praza, Joaquin Yalung, Josh Zablan, Samantha Padegdeg
3. Concept: “Luntiang Lulan”
Members: Khyla Mangalino, Seven Cornejo, Jocas delos Santos, Rafael Joven, Fatima Iriola, Zion Paraiso
4. Concept: “Imahina”
Members: Neil Madriñal, Juliana Pacheco, Juris Amoranto, Ciana Pamintuan, Chynna Santos, Sigrid Sison
5. Concept: “Kalinga sa Kanlungan”
Members: Althea Abenojar, Amber Disquitado, Yaniche Gan, Jasmine Operania, Lia Ronsairo, Princess Targa, Honey Lyn Tolentino
Those present from PAUW-UP Chapter included Atty. Cynthia D. Nuval, Trustee and COO; Dr. Adelaida F. Lucero, Trustee and VP Internal Affairs; Dr. Myrissa Melinda Lacuna-Alip, Trustee and VP External Affairs; Ms. Ma. Antonia Perez-Santos, Trustee and Auditor; Dr. Leticia Susan Lagmay-Solis, Chairperson, Parks, Biodiversity & Environment Committee; Prof. Roselle Leah K. Rivera; Dr. Monina Buccat; Ms. Jing-Jing Villanueva-Romero; and Ms. Arceli Manalili-Tungol. In addition to native tree expert Ms. Cel Tungol, forester Mr. Kit Lorenz Palec provided input on trees and plants for the inclusive park.
Those present from the PAUW-Child Study Center included Head Teacher Mr. Jeamar T. Abao and Administrative Assistant Ms. Riza Juanillo.
The intended site of the inclusive park will be between the PAUW-Child Study Center and the UP College of Architecture.
The site has three original art sculptures/installations made by National Artist Napoleon “Billy” Veloso Abueva, who is considered the “Father of Modern Philippine Sculpture”. Through Proclamation No. 1539, Abueva was proclaimed National Artist for Sculpture in 1976 when he was 46, making him the youngest recipient of the award to date.
