The 2013 design competition called Pasyal Ilog Pasig, engaged students of architecture, engineering, design, and planning – future leaders and builders of the Filipino Nation – to participate in a design competition aimed at restoring Pasig River as a prime destination in the Capital. The challenge of the competition was to create a physical intervention that can serve as the impetus to redeeming the lost glory of Pasig River.
Why Pasig River?
Many major rivers around the world contribute to the national pride, economy, and culture of their respective countries such as the River Thames in the London and the River Seine in Paris. The same, however, cannot be said with the current state of our very own Pasig River. This project aims to bringing back the former glory of Pasig River by helping stimulate tourism along the river and by making it once again a prime destination in the country. This can be accomplished by the creation of a well-designed and articulated riverscape combined with provisions for boat tours, wetland centres, river kiosks, exciting river tours, and market wharves will provide the attraction that can begin to snowball tourism along the river. Tourism can also be the strategy to make Pasig River the front yard of the resident’s Metro Manila – no longer making it their garbage bin but treating it worthy of its former glory.
Launching of the Competition /
Symposium on Environmental Concerns and Sustainability
in Strategic Design Planning for Urban Wetland Ecosystem
15 February 2013
Theatre Lobby, University of the Philippines
Diliman, Quezon City
To officially launch the Competition, a design symposium was held at the University of the Philippines. It featured distinguished speakers in their respective fields who discussed topics and concepts such as –
- Architect Jose Danilo Silvestre on “Strategic Design Planning in the Filipino Design Practice”
- Mr. Ivan S. Henares of “Heritage Conservation Society on The Socio-Cultural Heritage of Rivers”
- Ms. Eugenia Lagmay of “Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission on History and Profile of Pasig River”
- Ms. Amy Lecciones of Society for the Conservation of Philippine Wetlands on “Wetland Conservation Concepts”
- Director Juliet Villegas of National Parks Development Committee on “Tourism Potential of Pasig River and Environs”
- Ms. Haydee Malubay of JFH Basic Need Development Corp. on “Planning Perspective of Riverscapes”
to judging and awarding of winners >>
Site Visits
23 March 2013 & 06 July 2013
Pasig River, City of Manila
To provide the participants information for the competition, visits to the project site were arranged for them.
Symposium on Environmental Concerns and Sustainability
in Strategic Design and Planning
28 June 2013
Economics Theatre, University of the Philippines
Diliman, Quezon City
A second symposium was held on 28 June 2013; various topics and concepts were discussed by distinguished speakers –
- Architect Gelo Mañosa of Mañosa & Co., Inc. on “Filipino Green Architecture and Tropical Design”
- Achitect Mae Cruz of Leandro V. Locsin and Partners on “Strategic Design for Sustainable Architecture”
- Mr. Jimbo Mallari of Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission on “Pasig River: Status and Prospects”
- Ms. Amy Lecciones of Society for the Conservation of Philippine Wetlands on “Wetland Conservation Concepts”
- Architect Elizabeth Espino of the Philippine Association of Landscape Architects on “Designing Urban Riverscapes”
to judging of winners and awarding >>
