Recently, I realized my long-time dream of traveling from Luzon to Mindanao on a motorbike. Motorcycle gangs? Hardcore? Not at all! My recent adventure was in the company of other professionals and business executives, also members of the BMW BOSS riding group who attended the motorcycle convention in General Santos City in Sarangani last weekend. With the enthusiastic leadership of BOSS president and renowned photographer, Francis Rivera, the five-day cross-country ride went smoothly and safely. The accommodations were excellent; the food was superb; the camaraderie was great. From this activity, the group was able to raise funds to support its regular medical missions for indigent communities.
Aside from satisfying my passion for the outdoors, the ride also rewarded me with valuable insights to our people’s architecture and building practices. Traveling from one region to another allowed me a panoramic view of the countryside and enabled me to compare the similarities and differences of regional architecture. From the mountain-hugging structures in the Mountain Province, to the glass and concrete buildings of Metro-Manila, to the carved and curlicued old houses in the south, each area has an ambience of its own. However, the variations I noticed are primarily attributable to temperature and general weather conditions and only secondarily to people’s habits and traditions.
I also found that the architecture in our countryside has pretty much caught up with that in the urban centers. The sad thing about this is that we are continuously losing our identity in terms of local and regional architecture.
This may be due to the influx of easy to use materials like GI sheets, ficem boards, etc. Some indigenous materials that are steadily being passed over for building are the Nipa and the Sawali. The days of the artistically crafted sawali or bamboo woven walls are fast disappearing. The nipa, although still used in rural areas, is not processed as carefully as it used to be and, consequently, is no longer as desirable as a building material. Nipa, if used properly, can last for over 12 years before it leaks. However, maybe due to our indifference and the “puede na yan” attitude, the proper way of working this material has not been passed on to the younger generation of builders for redevelopment. Most are content with what could be done easily and quickly, even if it is not as durable as it can be.
But there is hope. I have heard of a lot of good architectural schools in the provinces, which should, hopefully, include regional architecture and indigenous materials in their curricula. This will enable us to document, revive and redevelop the architectural uniqueness of each region. There are so many things that we should be proud of. Our craftsmen have been known for their ingenuity, style, and skill. They must be given recognition and patronized, otherwise, they will not feel their worth and may not recognize the value of their work, and ultimately, forego their talents for more mundane labor.
Traveling the countryside was an eye-opener for me. It showed me how beautiful the country is and, at the same time, how delicate the balance we are in about keeping what is uniquely Filipino in our surroundings. It means so much to retain and redevelop regional styles. We don’t have to sacrifice modernity when we nurture our crafts and skills. In fact, modern techniques can help us improve the usage of indigenous materials. Regional styles can be showcased in urban structures. Patronizing local artisans will encourage them in their trade. Promoting the best of our province’s wares is an option that will surely pay back a hundredfold.
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