They came dressed in confidence. They came bearing vision. And on April 10, 2025, at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City, they walked into the spotlight—not just as students of architecture, but as storytellers of space, stewards of heritage, and champions of community.
In the prestigious ArchiNEXT: HCG Young Designers’ Competition 2025, two teams from La Consolacion College Bacolod emerged among the best of the best, earning 6th and 8th places nationwide—a feat that speaks volumes not just about skill, but about soul.
Wearing bold red, the Top 6 team—Kyle Angelo Española, Sandra De Pedro, and Lorelei Navales—stood proud beside their project, “Tinabuay”. Their work is an ode to Bacolod’s communal spirit, woven into the symbolic fabric of the MassKara Festival and the endangered Negros Bleeding-heart Dove. Under the mentorship of Ar. Vincent Raymund Alovera, Tinabuay doesn’t just offer public space; it offers public healing. A place where environmental awareness and cultural pride meet—joyously, intentionally, and meaningfully.
Just steps away, dressed in deep green, the Top 8 team—Chrissia Marie Baloco, Audrey Justine Jaluag, and John Mil Garalda—presented their brainchild, “Pulso”, a rhythmic green sanctuary designed as the “heartbeat” of the city. Guided by their adviser, Ar. Demie Verde, they crafted not merely a recreational space, but a living metaphor for wellness, creativity, and connection.
“Watching our students stand among the country’s most promising young designers was a moment of pure gratitude,” shared Sr. Flolyn S. Catungal, OSA, President of La Consolacion College Bacolod.
“These are more than projects—they are expressions of love for community and hope for the future. Our students are not just designing structures. They’re designing stories. They’re designing legacy.”
That legacy was on full display at the ArchiNEXT Salin-Likha Awarding Ceremony, held at CONEX Plenary Hall 2, Hall 4, surrounded by industry leaders, fellow dreamers, and awe-inspired mentors. Booths showcasing the work of finalists lined the space, and LCC Bacolod’s entries stood out—not just for their visuals, but for their vision.
To place among the Top 10 out of 871 entries is already remarkable. To do it twice in the same year? That’s a testament to the culture of excellence, creativity, and conscience that the SARFAID program has built over the years. These students are fourth-year Bachelor of Science in Architecture students—but more than that, they are now young thought leaders, proving that the future of Philippine architecture is in capable, compassionate hands.
This victory belongs not just to the teams, but to the mentors who guided them, the community that inspired them, and the institution that nurtured them.
La Consolacion College Bacolod celebrates this moment not as a conclusion, but as a beginning—an affirmation that when architecture is led by heart, design becomes destiny. And for these young architects, the future has never looked more beautifully built.