Drafted by Pressure, Drawn by Vision

Article by: Shaina Camille F. Macaranas and Alexa Julianna E. Karaan

Graphics by: Alaisa C. Magueriano

Photos: Courtesy of Aldrich D. Remot On March 2023, BAKAWONE, a mangrove-inspired civic shopping center that embodied the idea of cultural unity, earned Mapúa University (MU) alumnus and current junior architect Aldrich D. Remot the Gold Award at the Asia Young Designer Awards (AYDA) 2022—the first for aspiring Mapúan architects who dared to take on the challenge in the prestigious competition.

Behind the accolade and glory of the momentous win was a student, armed only with a dream, passion, and determination in his arsenal, who once roamed the same halls of precision and excellence at MU.

The Pre-Design

The Bachelor of Science in Architecture graduate testified that he was shaped by an environment of rigor and unyielding standards during his time at Mapúa. He did not just manage to survive the grind of architecture—he thrived on it, even graduating Cum Laude and Silver Medalist of his graduating class. His demanding program needed more than technical talent; it needed strength, composure in pressuring situations, and determination to evolve.

Being around mentors and fellow competitors who consistently pushed the boundaries, he entered high caliber design competitions such as ArcaNEXT, Projeto, and AYDA the year prior to his momentous win. These ventures exposed him to the culture of the field and made him realize that he is set on constructing not just out of creativity, but of conviction as well.

As an architecture student at the time, even though the then-quarterm system was strenuous, it imparted to him the mastery of work and time. He learned not only the importance of precision and efficiency, but also the ability to adapt under the pressure of meeting deadlines.

The Implementation

When Remot tried his luck again in AYDA in 2022, where he entered with the eventual winning BAKAWONE, which is a civic one-stop shopping center, he successfully brought home the Gold Medal in the Architecture Category—a first for Mapúa in the prestigious awarding body—and the opportunity to represent the Philippines in AYDA’s international leg

In an exclusive interview with The New Builder, Remot was asked about BAKAWONE where he shared that the structure was designed as a place where people can easily access public services. He was inspired by his own family’s experiences: a mother who works as a teacher and his father as an overseas Filipino worker.

Aside from the personal connection to his design, he also said that Mangroves or Bakawan are his inspiration for the structure. “... metaphorically protects and supports communities and aside from that. It's also inspired from the culture of the Philippines.” To strengthen the display of the culture of the Philippines, the design also featured three mounts that represent the three major regions, Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

At first, the junior architect admitted he had trouble with strengthening his concept. “…the biggest challenge that I was able to encounter was making sure that the concept was strong enough while keeping the design realistic and functional.” Wanting his project to be replicable and adaptable to all countries, Remot had to strike a balance between creativity and practicality throughout the project—all the while juggling the demands of the competition and his thesis.

Asked about his experience in the project, the young aspirant described a time-sensitive, production-heavy project that collided with his studies. “Time was also a big factor because I had to do multiple things all at once,” citing juggling work between competition preparations and duties as a student leader. He stated that he had gone through all of that and overcame all the struggles with the help of his community in Mapúa: feedback from his mentors and the help of his friends and batchmates.

One notable moment in his journey was when, just two days after flying to Vietnam, he faced his thesis defense. With barely enough time to prepare, he managed not only to defend his undergraduate dissertation successfully, but was also nominated for Best Thesis of his graduating class. It is a testament that excellence is not forged in comfort but in commitment and determination in the face of pressure.

Throughout the interview, the architecture graduate made it clear that the Mapúan community did a lot to help him through the BAKAWONE project. The professors from the School of Architecture, Industrial Design, and the Built Environment—most especially Ar. Felix Resurreccion, Ar. Carlos Sauco, Ar. Jennifer Bangayan, and Ar. Ma. Soccoro Gacutan—helped him strengthen his project by guiding him to do better, not by explicitly giving him the answers he needed, but by challenging his creativity.

Alongside the faculty, his friends also lent a helping hand in the process. Remot said that they would hold mini presentations, where they would criticize each other’s work. His friends asked questions that the judges in the AYDA competition might throw at him. A lot of people—from his family to Mapúan peers—showed support that emboldened him to do his best.

The Turnover

As a parting remark, Remot voiced his message for the future Mapúans who want to take the same path as he did, saying that they should keep pushing and trust the process. He stated that architecture did not come easily to him, as the road does not always seem smooth sailing; as such, one must have the passion and grit to continue even with the hardest of setbacks.

The young aspirant shared a quote that his mentor would always say, “...the world is your classroom and the classroom is not your world,” encouraging fellow Mapúans to explore beyond what is being taught inside the halls of the red and golden institution.

To be open to experiences, as every venture counts, and that all of those will add up to who you are today and who you are in the future.