EDITORYAL — Resulta sa kalangay

The best way to enjoy the Philippine summer is to enjoy it. The thing to do with heat is to take off your clothes, shade your eyes and enjoy whatever breeze we can capture. This strategy extends to the architecture we surround ourselves with. A seaside pavilion in Cebu’s south is a prime example of this design strategy and we can learn much from how it succeeds in turning summer into sexy.

Cebuanos have always been a laid-back people. I should know since I am one (a slightly hilao-dugay-na-sa-Maynila-guapo-pa-gihapon sort of Cebuano, but a Cebuano nevertheless). This laid-back attitude is often mistaken for a lackadaisical attitude towards everything, but it actually masks efficiency in attacking problems and a constant search for solutions to make life easier and enjoyable. And Cebuanos do enjoy life.

This attitude is being taken by a new wave of creative Cebuano architects and is reflected in their modern take on vacation waterside homes that are mushrooming north and south of Metro Cebu. The Cebu coastline is not blessed with expansive white sand beaches or large protective coves but it is rich in smaller nooks and relatively inexpensive real estate that is elevated enough from the water to give commanding views but close enough to get down and enjoy jet skiing, scuba diving and snorkeling.

Alcoy is one such town with these opportunities. Just south of my hometown of Argao, it is a quiet little hamlet that is a perfect destination for harried Cebuano urbanites (less harried than Metro Manilans, of course, but frazzled enough to seek escape from the city).

Ed Gallego is one such leisure-class Cebuano who decided to build a vacation house that would embrace the sizzling setting of littoral loveliness found up and down this Visayan island. It helped, of course, that Ed is an architect.

A product of the premier Visayan school of architecture at the University of San Carlos, Ed honed his design chops overseas before coming home to set up shop and attend to his family’s business interests. The businesses grew and so did the need to take a weekly break from work. He decided to look for a place to build a base for his sailing, diving and occasional entertaining. Alcoy beckoned.

A number of foreigners have already built retreats around the area, and in many Visayan islands and Palawan, which indicates the great tourism potential we seem to still not take advantage of. Ed found a seemingly imperfect rocky outcrop by the water, which with some deft working, yielded enough real estate to place not one but three pavilions and supporting structures.

Ed started with his house, with the others following after they saw how creatively he conjured up a perfect setting. He started with the vernacular house — the nipa hut. A thatched-roofed upper floor contains the bedrooms and a perimeter deck with a sweeping view of the straits separating Cebu from Bohol. All this is raised above an open living and dining area and supported by inward-slanting piers. These massive but light-looking concrete columns dynamically frame views and enliven the space it contains.

Color is also used to bring life to the house. Summer yellow against canary yellow and the natural color of the nipa make a perfect backdrop for generous wood and cane furniture and giant clay pots filled with plants.

The house sits on a slight rise just a stone’s throw from a pocket-sized cove below. Thirty meters or so away on one side is a one-story guest pavilion with its own wide verandah and views of the sea. Behind the main pavilion is a service chalet with a kitchen and the help’s quarters. Everything is open and interconnected with natural landscaping used to good effect to provide privacy to both pavilions.

Little details in the garden with statuary and exotic birdbaths provide accents. Integrated with these are functional elements like showers and cleaning troughs for scuba and sailing gear. The garage and vehicles are also kept at a distance so as not to mar the view.

The cluster is perfect for entertaining guests. Kids have tons of space — both on land and in the water. Fresh fish and seafood is, of course, just at their doorstep. Who could ask for anything more? The neighbors, of course. Two of Ed’s good friends were so enchanted with the place that they bought the adjacent plots and had Ed design their houses — each a distinct permutation of a winning formula.

Of course, a formula cannot replace genuine creativity. Design experience and sensitivity to local culture, native materials along with an understanding of sand, sea and surf make architects such as Ed perfect for the task of tuning the heat from the sun into hot architecture.

We should take inspiration from the work of Ed Gallego and Cebuano architects in general. Many, like Ed, are coming back from years overseas to apply the best of the world and make it even better with the treasures of our islands. No foreign architect, or foreign architecture, can do that. Embrace the sun and the sea, embrace Filipino architecture, embrace Filipino architects. They will bring sexy back to these shores!

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Feedback is welcome. Please e-mail the writer at paulo.alcazaren@gmail.com.