$10,000 Prize for a Green Design

Do you recall your childhood? A classic question grown-ups ask kids is “ What do you want to be when you grow up?”

 

I do remember my reply. I remembered it when we were in 3^rd year high school when we were asked to write an essay on what our plans are for college, and hence, for life after that. I started with a poem I can still remember it until now.

I’ll grow up a builder
A builder of beds
Beds for the Bedouins
Pavement dwellers
I shall build
And they shall be built
A hammock for dreamers
Where they could dream dreams
Besides a bed.

I reminisced about it, looked back to somehow gauge or appraise how I did 20 years after I wrote it.

First to note, I really didn’t grow up much; vertically, that is. Second, although, I did become a builder, a civil engineer who worked for various construction and real estate firms; I still feel to have fallen short of the good cause I have wished to do.

There is this man I know, who indeed grew up, I looked up to him, even in the literal sense. He is Mr. Illac Diaz. I wrote a post on his good works 2 months ago. We met at last week’s, Green Forum on Philippine green architecture. He told me of his need to spread the word out. Can I, through my blog, support his/their project? Of course, absolutely, positive, sure, certainly -- how many ways can I say yes? This would be the closest I can, for now, to realize my wish of helping the “bedouins”, those forced to sleep by just any flat surface either due to poverty, calamity, or conflict.

Illac, through his My Shelter Foundation, the United Architects of the Philippines (UAP), Gawad Kalinga and the Gov. Lray Villafuerte’s Camarines Sur government has launched last August the DESIGNER VILLAGE CHALLENGE. It a design competition geared to produce eco-friendly, disaster-resilient, and affordable housing villages. Prizes of $10,000, $5,000 and $3,000 for the 1^st to 3^rd prize winners are at stake. The winning entry will actually be built through the proponents’ funding support. Additionally, the design entries will form part of the encyclopedia of architecture and planning solutions for climate adaptability.

I invite you to visit their websites for the complete details on the challenge. You can help by copying the link below and e-mailing them to your friend architects. We need participants. Illac and friends have laid the groundwork for our search for innovative, earth-friendly, and socially-responsible solutions. It’s does not take much from us -- helping spread the word -- but it can help increase the chances of finding a good or many good solutions to the typhoon sheltering problem.

http://illacdiaz.multiply.com/journal/item/18/A_small_act_of_reposting_this_can_save_lives_of_many_people._Specially_the_rural_communities_getting_hit_by_stronger_typhoons.

www.philippineclimatechallenge.org

　

WORD FROM THE SPONSOR
“Whoever…sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? 1 John 3:17

Comments

[dennis morada]

Hi Engr. Rico,

Good to note that you're intersted as well. In your professional practice, try to incorporate some of the "green" concepts on construction. The internet presents a lot of information now about it.

I'll try to post some more on green building and architecture. I'm really hoping to be able to present a case study, a real live project.

Do give me a tip of you know of one who would be willing to share.

[Engr. Jasharr Ricohermoso, C.E.]

I've been following the Pinoy Green Academy since July 2009. What really caught my interest are the articles that focuses on environment friendly houses, buildings, designs and architecture. Or the Green Buildings as we called them. And now the academy is going for the Green Villages. A community of innovative, earth-friendly, disaster-resilient, and most of all affordable housing villages. This is a first in the country. Keep it up Pinoy Grren Academy!!!