Sitio Dungga in barangay Malaunay in Valencia seems so far away even though it is only about 20 kilometers from Dumaguete. That’s because one has to travel on long stretches of roads with almost no people living on either side. It’s literally a place in the boondocks, where the clouds sometimes touch the tip of one’s tongue.
But for one brief moment last Monday, sitio Dungga was abuzz with excitement over the realization of a dream–a miracle, to some. This was the one-room day care center built by the students of Foundation University, notably the Department of Architecture and Fine Arts architecture students, as well as members of the community, which turned out in full force to witness the inauguration of this new building.
The Center’s nipa roof, bamboo walls and red brick floors and the spacious toilet provide children an ideal environment for relaxation and learning. Fifth year architecture students Bon Jovi Biala and Rick Gando and even their teacher, Ray Villanueva, who came to the Philippines from Seattle to teach architecture at Foundation University, could not hold back their tears as they recalled the good times they spent with the community and with each other as they put the building together, with the help of donors and institutional supporters like the Valencia Local Government Unit and the Energy Development Corporation.
Vice President for Finance and Administration Victor Vicente Sinco, who dreamed of having a project similar to the Dream-Build program of his college at the University of Washington, said it was really Ray’s presence that made the project into a reality.
Estudio Damgo is an Architecture Class in which 4th & 5th year architecture students will be responsible for the design and construction of a project benefiting a community.
With the completion of the Dungga Day Care Center, Estudio Damgo is looking at other sites for next year’s project.
Last Monday’s ribbon-cutting rites were attended by Foundation University officials led by President Mira Sinco, Valencia Municipal Administrator Earl Tale, Asst. Division Superintendent Dexter Aguilar, Energy Development Corporation representatives, the PTA of Dungga and friends and supporters. (ARVP)
