saling-tubig

How can designers look beyond the narrow human-centered perspective of ocean architecture? The sea has remained a critical gap in the imagination of western academia. Its vast, powerful, and seemingly infinite waters have been misunderstood, misrepresented, and approached with a focus on human desires rather than environmental balance. This prioritization has led to designs that undervalue and underestimate the immense power of this natural force. It is pertinent that designers shift their perspective – recognizing that the ocean is not something to be controlled but must be engaged with harmony, humility, and respect. These western practices stand in stark contrast to the story of my grandparents who spent over a year drifting on the West Philippine Sea to seek refuge from the Japanese Imperial Army during World War II. It is their story of survival that shaped my family’s generational understanding of water. Through wisdoms learned from the traditional dugout canoe of the Philippines, the bangka, I intend to foster rituals of intention that cultivate a deeper experience and connection with the ocean.