BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — The Philippine Architecture and Allied Arts Festival (PAAAF) 2025 has unveiled its full roster of exhibitors, featuring architects, landscape architects, environmental planners, students, and community partners who are redefining Filipino design through ecotecture, cultural heritage, and sustainable innovation.
Organized with support from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), PAAAF 2025 carries the theme “Ka-likha-san para sa Bayan: Ecotecture and the Allied Arts for the Shared Future of Filipino Communities and Nature.” The festival emphasizes how architecture and allied professions can respond to climate challenges, preserve cultural identity, and empower local communities.
Architects and Ecotecture Projects
This year’s architecture exhibitors highlight projects ranging from civic landmarks and religious spaces to experimental housing and community-based facilities.
Among the featured architects are Ar. Jefferson A. Bulan, M. Arch, with works such as the Playa Laiya Clubhouse, San Fabian Biker’s Den, Palawan Kasabor Bistro and Residential Building, Aloha Cabins Palawan: A Bamboo-Inspired Urban Oasis, and the tatSULOK Micro Library and Extension Service Project. Ar. Jann Leyba presents Tawag, while Ar. Jennifer D. Gasambelo showcases SIC/WA: A Proposed 2-Storey Office Building and St. Michael Residences: A Proposed 2-Storey Building. Ar. Jiffer John Taala introduces Move CDO, and Ar. John Derick R. Dasugo highlights Balay Arapaap, RAW House, and Amian Commons: Pagudpud Agribuh Tourism & Visitor Center. Also included is Ar. Kym Jaffna H. Pineda with La Terrain and Casa Nuan, and Ar. Ma. Regina P. Falconite, M. Arch, who presents socially grounded works such as Architecture of Empathy: Rebuilding Lives in Lemery, Architecture that Listens: Aera Community, Lanit Iloilo, Small Spaces, Big Impact: Sanitation as Architecture for Change, the Proposed Rehabilitation of St. Vincent Ferrer Chapel, and the Baraclayan Weaving Center. Complementing this roster are Ar. Suzanne Ann D. Siason with Cawayan Residencia, Ar. Aimeelou Jean Demetrio with Balai Bioborjan, Ar. Caryll Bern Fuchigami with a social cohesion study on Baguio’s Bagong Lipunan Market, and Ar. Francis de los Reyes, FUAP, with The Pentagon – New Government Center.
Faith and culture intersect in Ar. Eliezer Villaruz’s church projects, while Ar. Jaime Hermogenes exhibited Eco Life Seaweed Plant. Ar. Jesterjan Asesor, UAP, presented Valle de Adela, reflecting the rise of sustainable residential design.
Other standout works include Ar. Marc Vincez Zara’s reinterpretation of the Lapu-Lapu Monument and Museum and Ar. Marvin Tolete’s visionary Bahay Kubo 2050 and Nipa Hut 2.0. Ar. Noriel Estipular tackled sanitation and infrastructure with Pee Poo Pod: The Power of Toilet, while Ar. Richard Garcia, FUAP, highlighted The Loop: Filtropics Siargao.
Emerging and regional voices also shone. Ar. Rocksty James Kurt Bacungan presented multiple residential explorations such as Breeze Blocks House and A House of Characters. UAP Bacolod Azucar Chapter proposed a Toy Room and Library at BJMP Playground. Ar. Jefferson Bulan, M.Arch, introduced Palawan Kasabor Bistro & Residential Building, while Ar. Jennifer Gasambelo and Ar. Jiffer John Taala focused on local office and residential designs.
Internationally recognized Ar. Jason Buensalido exhibited large-scale works, including Hill House, LYFE Tower, and a Conceptual Study of the New MMDA Complex.
Landscape Architects
The landscape architecture exhibits emphasized ecological integration and urban greening.
- LArch. Cecilia Herras-Tence, FPALA – Munting Paraiso
- LArch. Efren Aurelio – projects such as Henann Resorts, Villa de Mercedes, and Greenbelt 3 Park
- LArch. Joaquin Rodriguez – Baypoint Estates
- LArch. Vic Lopez Dul-Loog – Our Lady of Lourdes, Santierra Greenways, National River Park Corridor
Environmental Planners
Exhibitors in environmental planning demonstrated how urban design can shape resilient communities.
- EnP. Nonard Suvisor – Tubungan Municipal Plaza and Baldan Viewing Deck
- TAO-Pilipinas, Inc. – Co-Design: Empowering Community Women and Students in Participatory Mapping
- UAP Diliman Chapter – Parian Creek Placemaking and Community Engagement Project
Students
Young voices also played a vital role at PAAAF 2025. Student exhibitors presented forward-looking projects:
- Emy Jane Manzano, Frances Vea Eduvane, James Postanes – Marine Research Center for the UN Decade of Ocean Science
- John Louis Aaron – Cordillera Culinary Institute: Showcasing Gastronomic Heritage through Contextual Modernism
Co-Creation Workshop Groups
True to its participatory vision, PAAAF 2025 launched Co-Creation Workshops, where students, mentors, and local barangays designed small-scale improvements for Baguio’s urban communities. Groups worked in Engineer’s Hill, Palma Urbano, Guisad Surong, Pinget, Gibraltar, Irisan, and Barangay Manzanilla, guided by mentors from UC, UB, UAP Baguio, UAP Cordillera, and UAP Sumcap.
Adopt-a-Park Initiative
The Adopt-a-Park program turned urban spaces into laboratories for ecological and cultural transformation. Projects included Ar. Noriel Estipular’s Rooted Roots Chapel, the City Environment and Parks Management Office’s revitalization of Ibaloi Heritage Garden, and the UAP Cordillera Chapter’s ecological redesign of Morning Glory Park.
Celebrating Innovation and Heritage
By presenting over a hundred projects across professions, PAAAF 2025 affirms the role of design in shaping a sustainable, culturally rooted, and inclusive Philippines. From reimagined nipa huts to river park corridors and grassroots community plans, the exhibitors demonstrated that Filipino creativity continues to thrive at the intersection of tradition and innovation.
As Festival Director Ar. EnP. Mylen Yaranon-Pangan emphasized, “Architecture and allied arts are vital in building not just structures, but communities and futures.”
Source: Images from the Philippine Architecture and Allied Arts Festival Facebook Page
All Projects will be featured in FA Magazine in the next coming months.