Manila has lamented enough fallen historic buildings, as developers give way to new structures. The city and its population can benefit from more examples of good renovations, historic preservation and adaptive reuse, for it is in using and moving within buildings with history that people awaken to culture and heritage, validating the city’s richly layered past. British architect, Norman Foster, is known to have said, “As an architect, you design for the present, with an awareness of the past, for a future that is essentially unknown.” Indeed, as Manila continues to exist, the preservation and the reuse of older buildings not only add character to the city, but also becomes a vehicle by which the past becomes woven with the present and the future.

This vision guides The Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation (RMAF) in its collaboration with the De La Salle-College of St. Benilde’s (DLS-CSB) interior design department. In preparation for the 65th Anniversary of the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 2023, the foundation has started its multi-year efforts in revitalizing its homebase, the historic and iconic Ramon Magsaysay Center (RM Center) in Manila, Philippines. Named after the seventh president of the Philippines, the Foundation aims to make the RM Center into Asia’s center for inspiration and hope — a top destination in the region.

The Ramon Magsaysay Building, Roxas Boulevard, Manila Wikimedia Commons

The Ramon Magsaysay Center, designed by one of the country’s reputable architects, Alfredo J. Luz, is being transformed into a smart and sustainable building with world class facilities such as a revamped Magsaysay Laureate Library and Museum, Ramon Magsaysay Hall and Plaza, function rooms, an innovation hub, and an idyllic coffee shop with breathtaking views of the Manila Bay.

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The RMAF x DLS-CSB Interior Design Challenge Collab

In line with its continuing focus of bridging intergenerational leaders, RMAF partnered with De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) on a student competition in creating designs for some of RM Center’s public spaces.

“The collaboration with De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde’s Interior Design Department aims to tap into their students’ youthful creativity in designing a contemporary Library and hub that will feel at home in a heritage building. Benilde is an ideal partner because it has this inclusive and innovative educational activity that provides experiential opportunities for students and apply classroom-based knowledge to actual practice thereby finding solutions to challenges.” said Emily Abrera, RMAF Trustee.

RMAF and DLS-CSB invited an esteemed panel of judges consisting of award-winning Landscape Architect/Environmental Planner Paolo Alcazaren, up-and-coming Architect Gaston Lorenzo Pastrano, sought-after Interior Designer Ivy Almario, MET President Tina Colayco, Metro.Style Home and Living Editor Anna Magsaysay-Rosete, and UAPSA’s 2021 National President Maxine Lumbera.

Panel of Jurors for the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation- De La Salle College of Saint Benilde Interior Design Challenge Courtesy of the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation

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57 Benilde students joined the competition under the mentorship of DLS-CSB faculty members Prof. Ley Gatpandan, Prof. Greggy Saliba, Prof. Karol Antonio, Prof. Lheng Vito Cruz; with the guidance of DLS-CSB administrators Bro. President Edmundo Fernandez, Chancellor Benhur Ong, Vice Chancellor for Academics Mr. Angelo Lacson, School of Design and Arts Dean Asela Domingo, Associate Dean Christine Benet, and Interior Design Program Chairperson Kat Correa.

RMAF President Susan Afan said, “We at the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation choose to focus on inspiring one another and believing in a future full of hope for our young people. We promise to continue to invest in opportunities that incite dialogue, imagination, and action for a better and kinder Asia for all.'

The winning teams will have elements of their design incorporated in the final rendition of the Ramon Magsaysay Center’s renovation plans.

The students' design tasks included the revamping of the Ramon Magsaysay Hall, an events place that has maintained its mid-century aesthetics; the Ramon Magsaysay Plaza and Fountain, an expansive mixed-use space; the Magsaysay Laureate Library and Museum; an Innovation Hub and supporting spaces such as board and function rooms.

See the winning designs for select public spaces:

Best Library Design by Team Two, Silver Lining - [This design] really captured the essence and the elegance of the existing library and really improved upon it. That’s something that we were actually leaning more towards. As is, now, the library is already nice. So it’s just a matter of improving upon it and we also like that Team Two was actually able to incorporate a lift for PWD access. PWD access in the country right now is not as available as it should be. It is a nice touch that they were able to incorporate - something to help the PWD move forward.Courtesy of RMAF

Best Library Design by Team Two, Silver LiningCourtesy of RMAF

Best Library Design by Team Two, Silver LiningCourtesy of RMAF

Best Library Design by Team Two, Silver LiningCourtesy of RMAF

Best Library Design by Team Two, Silver LiningCourtesy of RMAF

Current LibraryCourtesy of RMAF

Current LibraryCourtesy of RMAF

Current LibraryCourtesy of RMAF

Best Plaza Design by Team One, Dalisay - Arch. Paolo Alcazaren elaborates “We give this Award to Team 1 - Dalisay because their design was the greenest of all of the schemes. All the schemes paid respect to the original space as designed by AJ Luz, modernist (mid-century modern look). What the judges like is the mural at the back which serves as the focal point of the open space. And the inclusion of seating in the plaza itself, that hopefully is movable, provided the opportunities for greening without loading the existing structural slab with too much weight. So the critical landscape on both sides of the mural, as well as the planters that green up the seating pods, created a very nice setting for outdoor events.”Courtesy of RMAF

Best Plaza Design by Team One, DalisayCourtesy of RMAF

Best Ramon Magsaysay Hall Design, Team Three, Banyuhay - In the absence of IDr. Ivy Almario in the awarding ceremony, RMAF president, Ms. Susan Afan read her commendation “This was a standout because of its simplicity, because of the flexibility as well that you were able to show where it uses Filipino material and design that goes so well with our hall. But you were able to soften the brutalist design of our hall to make it very inviting and yet it remains so simple and elegant. Congratulations to Team Banyuhay!”Courtesy of RMAF

Best Ramon Magsaysay Hall Design, Team Three, BanyuhayCourtesy of RMAF

Best Ramon Magsaysay Hall Design, Team Three, BanyuhayCourtesy of RMAF

Best Ramon Magsaysay Hall Design, Team Three, BanyuhayCourtesy of RMAF

Best Ramon Magsaysay Hall Design, Team Three, BanyuhayCourtesy of RMAF

Best Ramon Magsaysay Hall Design, Team Three, BanyuhayCourtesy of RMAF

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The Library Café

Assimilated in the design of the library is the new Library Café by Gourmet Farms which will serve food and beverage favorites reminiscent of the glory days of old Manila in the 1960’s. The Library Café will open in June 2022 as stated by Arch. Gaston Lorenzo Pastrano, who was one of the jurors in the RMAF x CSB IND Design Challenge.

Rendering of the proposed Library Café currently under construction. Courtesy of the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation

With the conclusion of the Design Challenge, the Ramon Magsaysay Center is well on its way to fulfilling its potential as Asia’s center for inspiration and hope.

Be part of the 65th anniversary celebration of the Ramon Magsaysay Award. Follow the RMAF on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Twitter.