Improving Living Situations within the Grassroots
Published October 23, 2024
Angeline Desales was born and raised at Negara Brunei Darussalam, where she spent 15 years of her life. When she moved to Sorsogon, her mother’s hometown, just before college, the abrupt transition to her new life prompted her to assess the living conditions in her barangay.
“There are people there that I feel are just tolerating their living situation,” Angeline shared. “For the past few years, I’ve been noticing a few things that I figured could possibly have a huge, positive impact through architecture if given the chance.”
Establishing Links and Concrete Connections
Like pieces in a puzzle, Angeline interviewed Barangay Bogña residents to get the big picture. There were no public spaces for people to gather or for children to play, while their health center is congested with patients and is located atop a hill. Their barangay chapel had too many stairs and no wheelchair ramps, making it hard for the elderly to attend masses conveniently.
While Angeline had potential solutions for these problems, her idealist vision proved to be daunting in reality. “Parang kulang ako sa kamay,” she shared. Since she’s working alone, help came in the form of her adviser, Ar. Jermel Dichoso-Grulla. “Nag-advice siya na maybe, you could focus your idea on something a little bit more specific, making it more feasible.”
Keeping her beneficiaries in mind, she extended the chapel and designed it to ensure proper wind circulation inside the premises. Angeline also crafted public spaces for kids such as playgrounds and seating areas filled with greenery for the elderly, while using patient-based design for their health center.
She also proposed an improved plan for the Barangay Hall, Multi-Purpose Hall and Daycare Center. “Yong thesis ko, lahat ‘yon parang nag-piece together and this is what the final result should be.”
Roadblocks and Breakthroughs
Her thesis concept hit a snag when its feasibility was questioned by the jury during her thesis defense. It focuses on helping the grassroots– the barangay-level constituents–but the design remains far-fetched and expensive than other barangay facilities in the country.
Angeline did not wander far to know the answer. Sorsogon State University, her school, aims for “sustainable national and international development”, as stated in its mission. In her mind, if her design could improve the lives of Barangay Bogña residents, it might create a ripple effect that resonates throughout the entire country.
“Para sa’kin, posible siya. Why don’t we make it happen if it can improve the way we live?”
Her grit and determination led her to win the Best Thesis award in her batch. “Isa ako sa mga nag-iisip na yong starting line ko is way behind than other people, na hindi ako mananalo,” she elaborated. “So when I won, it’s a really big moment for me.”
Angeline’s the youngest graduate of B.S. Architecture in 2024 in her school at the age of 21. Her journey continues as an apprentice at Desta Architects in Legazpi City, gathering experience and knowledge in the field. In the future, she wants to learn more about architectural practices abroad that can be adapted here to improve the country.
SORSOGON STATE UNIVERSITY
College of Engineering and Architecture
Magsaysay Street, Sorsogon City, Sorsogon
SORSOGON STATE UNIVERSITY
College of Engineering and Architecture
Magsaysay Street, Sorsogon City, Sorsogon
DESALES, ANGELINE D.
BS Architecture
Angel spent over 15 years of her life in Negara Brunei Darussalam, where she was born and raised. When her mother decided to return to Sorsogon City, her hometown, they relocated to the Philippines just before she started studying college at Sorsogon State University. She’s the youngest graduate of BS Architecture in 2024 at the age of 21.
During her college years, she dedicated herself to her studies, and, as a result, was awarded dean’s and president’s list honors. Although she is just at the start of her journey, she aims to influence and contribute to more sustainable and practical living through architecture because she believes that architecture should enhance and improve man’s living conditions.
AR. JERMEL DICHOSO-GRULLA
Thesis Adviser
Ma’am Jem has been a part of SorSU for 17 years starting her teaching career in its BS Architecture program in 2006. She has taught both major and minor architectural subjects, including Architectural Design 9 and 10 (the Thesis subjects) each for three terms since the first batch of BS Architecture graduates of SorSU in 2008. She has also served as a thesis adviser.
Though she never dreamed of becoming a teacher, she is grateful to be part of the academic community where she can assist aspiring architects in achieving their dreams. As an Assistant Professor III, she is one of the ten faculty members in the BS Architecture program at SorSU, providing unwavering academic support to future architects.
SORSOGON STATE UNIVERSITY
The Sorsogon State University (SorSU) is one of the oldest trade schools in the Philippines located in Sorsogon City. It was established in 1907 as Sorsogon Trade School, renamed Sorsogon School of Arts and Trades by Republic Act 704 in June 1953, and later became Sorsogon College of Arts and Trades in 1976.
In December 1993, after 86 years of existence, it was converted to Sorsogon State College, through RA 7666 integrating three national vocational high schools in the province which are now known as the Bulan, Castilla, and Magallanes Campuses. In October 2018, under RA 11088, the institution was granted full university status. This is currently headed by President Geraldine F. De Jesus, the first SorSU President.
SorSU is the only public tertiary school in the province of Sorsogon offering a variety of courses including the Bachelor of Science in Architecture at its Sorsogon City Campus under the College of Engineering and Architecture. The BS Architecture program started in 2003 and is currently undergoing a Level III accreditation by the Accrediting Agency of Chartered Colleges and Universities in the Philippines (AACCUP).
