The FEATI University College of Architecture conducts field trips twice a year. This year, the college conducted a field trip at Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar in Bagac Bataan and Mt. Samat in Pilar, Bataan.
First stop was at Mt. Samat, Pilar Bataan. The students got the chance to visit one of the historical sites of the Philippines which is the Shrine of Valor (Dambana ng Kagitingan) and got to know its role in the history of the country. They also got to see and the Memorial Cross which was is a sign of courage and heroism of the Filipino soldiers during the WW2. Because of this, the COA students were able to grasp the idea of how to design a massive monument that portrays solemnity, honor and valor.
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The second stop was at the Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar at Bagac Bataan. The aim of the said tour was to educate the students of COA about architectural heritage conservation and appreciation of Philippine Architecture during the 18th century up to the early 20th Century.
It is a hands-on experience for the COA students as well as the faculty to be able to immerse themselves in an old town Philippine setting wherein they are able to meticulously study the architectural components of the several old houses that were showcased in the heritage resort.
During the trip, a tour guide was provided to be able to appreciate more of what the resort has to offer. It was explained to the college about the history of each and every house in the area. After the guided tour, the students were again convened by the faculty to discuss thoroughly on the missing aspects that the tour guide was not able to tackle, in terms of architectural aspects. It was explained to them on the old construction methods, material and the planning methods used in during the Spanish colonial era.
Tip: Try to look for Dexter the tour guide.
What was interesting about the tour was the students was able to develop critical thinking, because all of the houses were transferred from one province to the said resort, therefore, the students could not help but think if this is a good move, as the house loses its authenticity upon dismantling it and then reassembling it at the site.
All in all, this was a very good opportunity for the students and faculty to be able to learn more about pre-colonial houses and most importantly, about Filipino architecture.