One hundred twenty (120) pre-screened entries from their respective schools fought for the Magic 42 slot. Barely a month after, on February 22, 2016 in Hive Hotel and Convention Place the day was ripe to choose the best among the best thru the Final Screening. From four (4) judges in the preliminary, due to the challenge of choosing the Grand Winner, another (4) esteemed architects joined the roster to complete the eight (8) judges:

• Ar. Michael Tomeldan- PRC’s Outstanding Professional of the Year for Environmental Planning
• Ar. Luis Ferrer- former Dean of the University of Sto. Tomas’s College of Architecture
• Ar. Ma. Esperanza “Ching” Valencia- former Co-Chair, Competition on the Commission of Professional Practice of the United Architects of the Philippines
• Ar. Lorelei De Viana- Council of Deans and Heads of Architecture Schools in the Philippines President
• Ar. Richard Garcia- Director for Convention Exhibits and International Conventions of the United Architects of the Philippines
• Ar. Rey Gabitan- National Executive Vice President, United Architects of the Philippines
• Ar. Jose Ramon “Pippo” Carunungan- Principal Architect of Carunungan and Partners Co.
• Sam Chen- President, Hocheng Philippines Corporation (HCG)

Ar. Pippo Carunungan commented that this year’s result was really good that the jury had a difficulty in determining what the Top 10 choice was. But Ar. Carunungan was looking for this gauge, “Were they really sensitive on the climate conditions and usability? And critical on its functions? There had to be a reason for everything they did.” Furthermore, the key was “innovation... being able to create something different from what we normally see today... and this is a level up from what we see in the past.” On the other hand, for Ar. Ching Valencia, noted that “the winning design should answer on how it should address the major calamities we always have. The design should address flooding, earthquake and super typhoon. Putting these three was. So winners or losers, I consider them all winners in this competition”

CODHASP President summed it up by noting that among the entries, “we looked for creativity, it was there; we looked for innovation, it was there but we really had to look for the best from among the best.”

All the winners will be announced on April 2016 so watch out!