By Leo Udtohan
 |
| The Catigbian Municipal Town Center in Bohol province designed by Archt. German Janus Niño Guidaben. Photo: Archt. German Janus Niño Guidaben |
It is one of the winners of the 2022 Haligi ng Dangal Awards, which is given by NCCA’s committee on architecture and the allied arts during a Saturday (May 28) ceremony at
Metropolitan Theater Manila.
Designed by Archt. German Janus Niño Guidaben, the Catigbian Municipal Town Center has the creative integration of local architecture exemplifies the virtue of a sense of place and pride of identity.
The NCCA cited the Catigbian Municipal Town Center as a "testament of rising anew may be seen in this project, for it demonstrates how Boholanos have transcended hardships by rebuilding major government edifices."
The Haligi ng Dangal is a biennial award conferred by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) through the National Committee on Architecture and the Allied Arts. It honors examplary works of Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Interior Design, and Urban and Environmental Planning.
 |
| Reelected Bohol Catigbian Mayor Elizabeth Mandin holds the plaque after her town hall has been conferred the Haligi ng Dangal Awards 2022 under People Choice Category at the Metropolitan Theater in Manila on Saturday, May 28, 2022. She is accompanied by Archt. German Janus Niño Guidaben and Benjie Oliva. Contributed photos |
For this year's event, the other honorees were Teatro Amianan of the University of the Philippines-Baguio City for Architecture which is designed by Archt. Aristotle Go, and Bulacan Capitol Garden of Bulacan Capitol Compound in Malolos City for Landscape Architecture which is designed by L.Archt. Madonna Danao, L.Archt. Ross Pabustan and L.Archt. Danilo Flores.
Reelected Catigbian Mayor Elizabeth Mandin received the plaque. She was accompanied by former youth leader Benjie Oliva and Guidaben.
The Catigbian town hall was damaged by the 7.2-magnitude earthquake on Oct. 15, 2013.
Thru the Bohol Earthquake Assistance BEA Fund, it paved way to the construction of the Catigbian Municipal Town Center, a testament of how Boholanos have transcended hardships by rebuilding major government edifices.
The creative integration of local architecture exemplifies the virtue of a sense of place and pride of identity.
Its basic sustainability feature of using white colored roofing, natural ventilated common areas, pavers for rainwater percolation to natural ground.
The integration of the callado, ventanilla and local lattice design motifs unravels the splendor of vernacular architecture woven into major public edifices.
After it was finished, the municipal town center has become a destination. Locals and tourists would stop and have pictures taken with the building as their background.
Guidaben felt so much pride and joy seeing that design through architecture enshrines empowerment of the people and the community for it intensifies the sense of identity of the locality.
He incorporated the architectural elements found in heritage houses and structures seen commonly in Catigbian into the design of the town hall. Which is why the townspeople have naturally embraced and valued their newly rehabilitated government center and are proud of it. He considers that success which is worth beyond material gains from the project.
Archt. German Janus Niño Guidaben
Guidaben studied heritage conservation in University of Rome in 2013, Theater architecture in Antwerp, Belgium in 2016, and the architect representative for the Prague Quadrennial theater exposition in the Czech Republic in 2011.
He is also an active Member of the United Architects of the Philippines and became the president of the Bohol chapter for three consecutive terms from 2018-2020.
He is also an international associate of the American Institute of Architects and has attended the AIA conferences in New York and Las Vegas in 2018 and 2019.
Aside form the Catigbian Municipal hall, Guidaben also designed major architectural edifices in the province like the Tagbilaran City hall and its fountain foreground park, the ongoing Alburquerque Municipal Hall and the proposed Jagna Municipal Hall.
* * *
These helpful reminders, Retirement, author unknown, contributed by Anthony Ceniza of Panglao:
1. One day you will retire. You won't be going to work. You won’t have office power any more. No influence or at best, a reduced influence. Your cash flow will also reduce.! Check retirement date on your payslip.
2. Always go for your 30 days annual leave. Whatever you do during your leave, is what you will be doing when you retire. If all you do is to sleep or watch TV, then that’s what you are likely do do in your retirement. Remember the book of Proverbs. A little sleep and a little slumber, so shall your poverty multiply.
Watching Big Brother Naija will not save you heartache in retirement. Learn a trade or a skill during your leave. It will come handy. Spend your after-office hours learning something. Don’t spend it sleeping, Gossiping, watching TV!! Same goes for your weekend. Make them productive. You will thank yourself for spending your time productively.
3. Invest for your retirement... your children are not retirement investment. Don’t bank on your children’s support or the support of friends or relations. That’s a BIG risk. It may not happen. Be ready to take care of yourself!! Everyone has his own responsibilities. They won’t be able to help you that much. You will also lose your dignity and respect if you adopt a life of begging.
4. Start a hobby early in your working days to take you along when you retire. Rearing chicken, farming or own a shop. Acquire marketable skills ( not useless paper certificates) Etc
5. Where shall you retire. Build yourself a home. Don't retire and start to rent a house or refuse to vacate government house. You will be at the mercy of your landlord at a time when your cash flow is not only reduced but unpredictable!!
6. Who shall be your dependants. By the time you retire, your children should be above 18, and self reliant.
7. Don't retire and stay in a big city unless you can TRULY afford it. You can't continue living in a big city after 60 with limited financial resources. The language and the hustle will be hard for you. Where possible, Relocate to a less expensive town where your reduced take home (pension) can go further.
8. Have property which can be rented or converted into cash. Have shares that pay good dividends. Plant cash trees. Rear goats, cultivate vegetables etc. these activities will not only give you income but will also keep you healthy.
9. Live a simple life. If you never built a house at your rural home, dont use your retirement package to build. It is unwise unless you plan to live there on a permanent basis or you are super rich and therefore can afford the luxury. The choice is yours.
Note that many of retirees die early because of the following:
1. They are not mentally prepared to retire.
2. Lack of finances.
3. They lapse into depression.
4 They develop Hypertension/ Diabetes because of worries, anxiety and uncertainty and financial pressures.
Your desk at your work place is not permanent. Plan for your retirement.
* * *
Thanks for your letters, all will be answered. Comments welcome at leoudtohan@yahoo.com, follow leoudtohanINQ at Twitter /Facebook.
