‘Community pantries are a form of placemaking’

The community pantry movement in the Philippines is a phenomenon, and it’s something I’ve been dwelling on for more than a month. I published the article ‘Community pantries are a form of placemaking’ in CNN Philippines Life, where I dwell on how the movement counters the rigidity posed by pandemic measures in the country.

I’m also fascinated by how much the spaces where the numerous pantries are located. Initially, I created a collage to understand this:

Now, I’m further researching about the pantries and writing about it as a case study for our research project at the Max Lock Centre, University of Westminster.

If you’re also researching about the pantries, some helpful resources include the Saan Yan PH dashboard, the Facebook Group Community Pantry PH, and an article published by the Philippine Sociological Society.

Embracing the ‘other’ through a city that cares: Recognising impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on London’s Filipino health and care community

I’m glad to share that a copy of my dissertation from my graduate study at the University of Westminster is now a free resource.

Exhibition and Full Paper

An abstract is available at the School of Architecture and Cities’ MORE 2020 online graduate exhibition (click here for the print copy), while the full dissertation is uploaded to the Kanlungan Filipino Consortium website and ResearchGate.

Presentation

I presented my research in the event, SAAN KA LULUGAR: Conversations on Space in a Post-Pandemic World, Webinar 3: Palit, Lipat, Lapat, last 12 March 2021. This was hosted by the Philippine National Commission on Culture and the Arts and Culturaid. Here’s a recording:

I presented this research in the Philosophy of the City Conference 2021: Around the World in 24 Hours, hosted by the University of Twente last 17 May 2021.

I also presented this research in the Ustinov Annual Conference 2021, themed Global Migration in Practice: Rights, Policies, and Gender. You may read the brochure here.

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From lakes to bays, we need blue spaces for our mental health

Rethinking our urban fabric has floated in my thoughts since the pandemic began; there is so much we could do with what already exists in our cities. I cannot emphasise enough how my being in London’s parks for most of 2020 brought me sanity to cope with so much stresses during that year — research, international travel, and, well, simply managing to all the changes. I could only wish I had access to blues and greens while I’m staying in Manila now.

In this essay, fellow Chevening alumnus Julze Alejandre and I share our thoughts about blue spaces, mental health, and COVID-19. As always, thank you to CNN Philippines Life for publishing our writing.