10_KEYPHOTOs_Manila

0. CITY SCAVENGER

The Philippine Department of Labour and Employment’s (DOLE)

A corner of Tondo Happyland

A resident in Tondo Happyland collects plastic bottles, earning 500 pesos per day to sustain his livelihood.

C

ollects usable discarded waste.

What are the reasons for scavenging? What are the consequences of such a vital loss of the human spirit?

Me: How much can you earn per day for collecting plastic bottles?

Tondo resident: 500 peso pre day.

Me: Where will this recycled garbage go?

Tondo resident: To a truck that will collect it

Scavenging is a condition that is always connected to questions of why and how: why are they dispossessed?

Where do they come from? The scavenged piece tell the story of its society.

A resident in Tondo Happyland is repairing electronics alongside his wife for the community.

A gathering of unemployed individuals seated on the streets - Tondo.

A motorised tricycle serves as a multifunctional space for an family for sleeping, resting, eating, transportation, and earning money.

1. CONFLICTS

SITE NO:1 TONDO SEAPORT Unauthorised construction of houses in close proximity to public facilities, near water for transportation, and in locations that are challenging for others to utilise.

Another instance of unauthorised construction on the water by fishermen.

SITE NO:2 MANGROVE TREE ECOTOURISM AREA

Waste left behind by fishermen.

Me: Are those people building infrastructures on the water?

Lady: They’re building their houses there. I would say they don’t have official land, so they try to find places to build their own houses.

Sometimes they are fisherman from nearby provinces, they fish for sea shells. So they come in the off-season or when low harvest (from their province). They try to find anywhere they can (harvest) Sometimes they come here, they stay here, and leave the materials (wastes) here.

TONDO TOWARDS BINONDO DISTRICT

A diverse building typology within the culturally rich context of Binondo District, interconnected by waterways.

SITE NO:3 BINONDO DISTRICT

2. INFLATABLE

Billboard vinyl can be collected as inflatable material

Billboard vinyl can be collected as inflatable material

Each Billboard tell a story of the city.

Each Billboard tell a story of the city.

Each Billboard tell a story of the city.

3. RETROFIT

A speaker mounted on the exterior walls of the church.

A spotlight concealed behind the stone lion

A CCTV camera like a parasite affixed to the roof of the Church.

4. MIGRATION

Me: How many percentages of people come from provincial areas in the Philippines (In UST)?

Miguel: The percentage will be like 60 to 70 percent. People looking for better education, and also more opportunities.

Me: As we know Manila is one of the most high-density cities in the world, do you think you will study abroad if you have the chance?

Miguel: Yes, I want to study abroad. Manila is full of opportunities now, but most students want to go abroad, and there will be a lot more opportunities.

Me: Which country do you want to go to first to study?

Miguel: I want to go to Japan, I really like how advanced their technology is.

Me: So what is potentially barrier for yo to go to Japan right now> Miguel: The challenge will be the initial first, and could be more or less like family.

Overseas workers welfare administration’s special vehicle

The substantial demand for overseas workers is reflected in the abundance of vans.

5. AUTOMATIC

An irrigation system that operates without electricity, relying solely on mechanical movement triggered by water pressure to change its direction.

Sand dredger and Sand dunes piled on the sea

Large amount of Sand Dredgers

Vending machine for Water Dispenser in Tondo “Informal Settlement”

Vending machine for video game in Tondo “Informal Settlement”

Vending machine for WIFI

Photo credit: Hima, Bowen.

Interview with a UST student and staff.

All rights reserved by Bowen.