Architects share expertise for free on radio program

CEBU, Philippines — A group of Cebuano architects offers free consultations and professional advice on home construction designs to help more Filipinos build affordable, and sustainable homes.

Through the radio program “Pulido: Akitekto Tambagi Ko!” (Pulido), now on its Season 2 over DYLA 909 Khz, Architects Robert Malayao, Edmund Samson, Nheil Crisostomo, and Ana Karmela Po offer professional advice and consultations on home construction designs, and renovations to listeners of the station, which started airing on April 6, 2024 from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m.

“We want people to understand that our work as architects goes beyond the design,” said Malayao, who co-owns the Bottega B290 Architectural Studio, together with Crisostomo.  The one-hour program, which airs every Saturday, is supported by Habitat for Humanity’s Terwilliger Center for Innovation in Shelter.

Co-hosted by DYLA anchor Jhunnex Napallacan, this advocacy is seen to empower homeowners from Visayas and Mindanao to build or renovate their homes without spending too much, and following experts’ advice especially in designing sustainable house and disaster-proof houses.

Architect Samson of Edsa Architects said that building durable and sustainable homes even with a limited budget is possible, as the market now is flooded with affordable, yet quality sustainable construction materials, particularly those manufactured locally.

Now on its second season, the “Pulido: Arkitekto Tambagi Ko!” program will have 24-25 episodes and will soon create a community online to build a sustainable community of homeowners around Visayas and Mindanao, as well as “pandays” who need professional advice on construction, design, and other related concerns.

The program offers radio listeners, particularly from the lower-income to lower-mid-income markets, an insider’s and professional perspective on architecture, with insightful discussions, expert interviews, and practical tips on building, renovating, and maintaining their homes.

Aside from expert commentary, Pulido also features a radio drama to open every episode, to set the tone of the topic in a particular session. It will also feature special segments where listeners can phone in their questions, and concerns in design, and get professional inputs from the hosts.

If doctors, lawyers, and other professionals are offering free consultations over the radio, architects are now stepping in to join the bandwagon. Building sustainable, quality homes has become one of the country’s top social concerns.

Po, who owns the Arka Design Studio, explained that building a sustainable home is not only about using sustainable materials, but also about the design, and lifestyle.

Po added that the program provides an opportunity for engagement, especially since not everyone has the privilege of working with architects during the construction of their homes.

Pulido, an award-winning program, recognized as the Best Radio Educational Program by the Cebu Archdiocesan Mass Media Award, debuted its first season in March 2022, which was aimed at guiding homeowners how to build back better homes after Typhoon Odette.

Since then, the radio program has reached most of the areas in Visayas and Mindanao, with over 1.3 million direct and indirect listeners per episode.

Throughout all 17 episodes of the pilot season, listeners were instructed on how to reconstruct their homes using appropriate architectural plans, designs, materials, skills, and policies, all while considering the associated costs. — (FREEMAN)