UAP’s WALAI – an exhibit on Southern Mindanao’s vernacular architecture
If you have time to spare on February 6 to 13, why not drop by the 2nd level of KCC Mall of GenSan and enjoy the WALAI – an exhibit on the vernacular architecture of Southern Mindanao.
Walai is a Maranaw term for “home” and the exhibit contains images of vernacular houses of the Southern Philippines presented in architectural drawings and photographs. According to its proponents, the United Architects of the Philippines – Socsksargen and Cagayan de Oro Chapters, the exhibit pays tribute to the ingenuity of the indigenous peoples of Southern Philippines in they way they design and build their abodes that harmonize with their natural environment and and respond to their actual needs and lifestyles.
According to Architect Michael Ang, the exhibit was culled from the NCCA-UAP Cagayan de Oro and Socsksargen Chapters joint project- Walai Pangampong – a documentation project on the vernacular structures in Southern Philippines which covers 18 settlements all over the Island of Mindanao and part of Sulu. The project was able to capture into pictures and sketches many outstanding characteristics of vernacular architecture of Southern Philippines and these images are being presented to the public thru this exhibit. The exhibit presents the images of the vernacular architecture based on their ecosystem setting or general location, namely the upland dwellers, lowland dwellers, and the coastal dwellers.
WALAI was adapted as part of “PA(ng)LABAS” -a flagship project of the Committee of Architecture and Allied Arts of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts intended for the Philippine International Arts Exhibit Celebration. “PA(ng)LABAS” is a multi disciplinary fusion of moving image(palabas) and the exteriority of architecture. Adhering to this theme, the Walai exhibit will also feature an authentic and live building ritual and dance presentation by the T’boli Tribe of South Cotabato and is further complemented by an exhibit of different indigenous building materials used in Southern Philippines.
Through this exhibit, the “generals” will be able to have a glimpse of the aesthetic and functional characteristics of vernacular architecture of Southern Philippines in its rawest and honest form. The simplicity of materials employed with simplicity of methods of construction adapted in these vernacular structures resulted to a distinct architectural form with clear primary masses and spaces that reflects the family and social structure and mores of the indigenous peoples of Southern Philippines.
Whew!
To visually comprehend all these, make it a date with your loved ones and visit KCC Mall from February 6 and 13 where a pre-Valentine cultural feast await you.
WALAI – an exhibit on Southern Mindanao’s vernacular architecture is brought to us by UAP Socsksargen and Cagayan de Oro Chapters and the NCCA. It runs from February 6-13 at the 2nd level of KCC Mall of GenSan.
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- Art for Peace Exhibit unveils at KCC Mall of GenSan
- OLPGV Parish and GenSan Camera Club’s “Bahay ni Maria Photo Exhibit”
- Last chance to vote your Blog Viewer’s Choice Award for “Tahanan ni Maria” Photo Exhibit
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Bariles is a Filipino word for “Tuna”, the primary source of income of the people of General Santos City which hosts 6 of the Philippines’ 8 tuna canneries and more than 80% of its tuna processing plants.
tanchi Says:
WOW..VERNACULAR architecture:) maganda yan:D
SALAMAT sa info sir:) ill find time visiting KCC
tanchis last blog post..SOCCSKARGEN Bloggers Night at Genee
Posted on February 2nd, 2009 at 10:34 PM
Jasper Says:
Bahay kubo,…the true “Philippine Architecture”. The archetype of a sustainable architecture.
I can only wish to attend the event…sana nga lang nandyan kaming mga ME-based “General” Architects.
Posted on February 2nd, 2009 at 11:06 PM
dimple Says:
nice…
Posted on February 2nd, 2009 at 11:12 PM
rammyboi Says:
waaaaa! nose bleed ko sa imong posr kuya avel. ang lalalim ng words. ahahhaa anywhow, aus to ah. i’ll check this out on my free time.
tnx for the info 
rammybois last blog post..SB’s Bloggers’ Night: The Genee Experience
Posted on February 3rd, 2009 at 8:11 AM
bariles Says:
@ram, hehehe! Correct.
Posted on February 3rd, 2009 at 8:56 AM
bariles Says:
@dimple, thanks. Please be there. Will look for you. Am sure, may mga dimples ka. Hehehe!
Posted on February 3rd, 2009 at 8:56 AM
bariles Says:
@Jasper, oops, too bad. Will try to ask the organizers if they can lend me some pics so that I can upload them here. Ok lang ba, Mr. Archmykel?
Posted on February 3rd, 2009 at 8:57 AM
bariles Says:
@Tanchi, you’re welcome. Sayang, will be in Manila over the weekend.
Posted on February 3rd, 2009 at 8:58 AM
Amie Says:
We should really promote the cultural heritage of our people so they will not vanish in the pages of our history. We have many ethnic tribes in Mindanao with their very colorful & exotic way of life. Exhibit like this brings us awareness of their existence and thus makes us understand and appreciate them better and we can be their partners in promoting & preserving their heritage…
Amies last blog post..Thank You Avel
Posted on February 3rd, 2009 at 9:46 AM
Rhey Bacani Says:
mura man na ug balay namo oi… ana rba among blay sa bukid… in fairness na miss kona ma2log sa ganyang mga lugar
Posted on February 3rd, 2009 at 3:38 PM
JessQ Says:
Avel, I have already invited my sister-in-law and her friends stationed there at GenSan to have a special time to visit and view this exhibit. Will the organizers mount the same exhibit here at Cagayan de Oro City or perhaps here in Iligan City, too?
Posted on February 3rd, 2009 at 4:49 PM
bariles Says:
@Rhey, mao jud. Hehehe! My grandparents’ house in Purok Malakas used to be like that too. Cool and airy at night. Takot lang kami sa mananggal at baka maglanding sa bubong. Hehehe!
Posted on February 3rd, 2009 at 5:13 PM
bariles Says:
@Jess@, their next stop is the University of San Agustin in Iloilo City from February 21 to 28, 2009. I have no idea if they’re heading soon to CDO. Will ask the organizers. Thanks for dropping by.
Posted on February 3rd, 2009 at 5:17 PM
Rue Ramas Says:
Hope this reaches Michael Ang… If it is 18 settlements, I suppose this would feature Muslim and IP settlements? Not strictly Muslim? Then why limit again the exhibit title to just a Muslim term? Maiinis na naman sa akin si Michael nito… hehehe
The T’boli social history is very interesting. They burn houses where a death in the house occurred. They destroy the house where a wife or wives commit adultery… and many more about why they design this way or that way…
Posted on February 3rd, 2009 at 5:25 PM
archmykel Says:
Thanks a lot avel for the blog.:) I can give you the digital file for our friends in the ME.
to Rue, yes we considered other titles but as per my friend Al Nezzar Ali of Holy Trinity, Walai is a term that majority of the tribe understood, so we adapted it without prejudice to the other tribes.
see you all at the KCC mall on friday at 10am. The Tiboli tribal dancers will be presenting some dance rituals for building houses cocktails will be served
Posted on February 3rd, 2009 at 8:25 PM
Amie Says:
@bariles –
kuya avel, na remember ko puro ganon bahay sa Bo. Kinam na pinupuntahan natin noong crusader days natin…wala man mga momo at manananggal. dinig lang namin ni Fr. James hilik ninyo ni kuya Ferdie sa kabilang dingding, hehehehe!
Posted on February 5th, 2009 at 3:01 AM