BANTAYOG NG KABAYANIHAN: REMEMBERING, HONORING OUR HEROES

Afitting remembrance honoring our gallant soldiers will soon rise in Bonifacio Global City (BGC), a former military camp in Metro Manila that now houses the country’s premier business district.

Christened as Bantayog ng Kabayanihan (Monument of Heroism), the historic marker will symbolize the sacrifices and heroism not only of soldiers who have sacrificed their lives as they fought for peace and freedom, but also of the living heroes who continue to serve in the armed forces by countering insurgency and other social issues, and securing our territory.

“As a soldier who served for three decades, I have seen firsthand the sacrifices a soldier had to make in furtherance of its solemn duty of defending our country and protecting our people. The Bantayog ng Kabayanihan is one way of empowering our soldiers through immortalizing their stories of heroism and sacrifices," said former Secretary of National Defense, now BCDA Chairman Delfin N. Lorenzana.

Brig. Gen Arvin R. Lagamon, Commander of the

Armed Forces of the Philippines Civil Relations Service (CRSAFP), for his part, said the Bantayog ng Kabayanihan “will keep soldiers inspired [and] motivated, especially those who are in the isolated distant posts, those who are manning the isolated islands at the West Philippine Sea, those who are patrolling the skies, seas, and streets, and those who have to leave their respective families not knowing if they will be able to return safely.”

On June 9, the BCDA, the CRSAFP, the Fort Bonifacio Development Corporation (FBDC), and the Bonifacio Art Foundation Incorporated (BAFI) signed a Memorandum of Agreement for the establishment of the monument.

Part of the BCDA’s BGC Historical Marker Project under its Saludo sa Sundalo Program, the Bantayog ng Kabayanihan will be the second marker to be built in BGC in honor of the military.

In 2018, the BCDA, together with partners FBDC and BAFI, installed the Alab ng Puso, a sculpture by Daniel dela Cruz depicting a Filipino soldier reading a letter from his family.

SettingtheBarHighinGov'tPublications BCDA WINS 3 GOLD AWARDS

The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), through the recognitions it received in the field of communications, exemplifies what can be achieved through engaging, innovative storytelling and creative design that can be read and understood by people from all walks of life. Not just one but three recognitions at that.

Two Gold Stevie Awards

In April 2023, the BCDA was accorded two Gold Awards in the prestigious 2023 Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards for a report trilogy titled One Nation, One Legacy: BCDA Annual Report Series from 2019 to 2021.

One gold award—the Gold Stevie Award for Innovation in Annual Reports—went to the said trilogy for its innovative narrative and visual designs.

The other gold award—the Gold Stevie Award for Innovation in Government Publications—was given to the BCDA 2021 Annual Report titled We Build As One.

The Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards are distinguished as the only business awards program to recognize innovation in the workplace in all 29 nations of the Asia-Pacific region.

Widely considered to be the world’s premier business awards, the Stevie Awards confer recognitions for achievement in programs, such as The International Business Awards for 21 years.

For this year alone, the award-giving body considered more than 800 nominations from organizations across the Asia-Pacific region.

Gold Quill Award

In the same month, the BCDA became the only Philippine government agency to have won this award—2023 Gold Quill Award of Excellence—again for its innovative annual report publications from 2019 to 2021. There were 395 entries from all over the world. A recognition ceremony was held in Toronto, Ontario, Canada on June 6, 2023.

The 2023 Gold Quill Award of Excellence later came with another recognition, the Silver Quill Award of Excellence, again for its 2019 to 2021 Annual Report Series One Nation, One Legacy.

“It was a defining milestone for the BCDA, specifically the Public Affairs Department, as it establishes our achievements, and cements our reputation in the communications field. We have set the bar among government agencies and we have been true to our corporate values of integrity, excellence, innovation, and stewardship,” said Vice President for Public Affairs Leilani Barlongay-Macasaet. “I am truly proud of the Public Affairs team and we share these awards to the hardworking employees, officers, and staff of the BCDA,” she added. The annual reports were titled We Win As One (2019), which featured New Clark City’s worldclass sports complex completed in time for the hosting of the 2019 South East Asian Games; We Heal As One (2020), which centered on the BCDA’s role in the whole-ofnation approach in dealing with the pandemic; and We Build As One (2021), which highlighted how BCDA exercised political will amid a crippling health crisis to push for the completion of big-ticket infrastructure projects, such as the Clark International Airport New Passenger Terminal Building. With a modern and creative approach in narrating government reports, the BCDA’s One Nation, One Legacy trilogy included human interest stories, infographics, and visuals interwoven in its presentation of its accomplishments, achievements, and best practices in corporate governance, project management, and corporate social responsibility.

New Clark City Aquatics Center Recognized In Uap Dubai Design Awards

Global architects based in Dubai recognized the New Clark City Aquatics Center for its outstanding design as a public facility during the 2023 United Architects of the Philippines (UAP) Dubai Design Awards.

The Dubai chapter of the UAP bestowed the Civic and Cultural Project of the Year Award to the Aquatics Center, which was designed by Royal Pineda + Architecture•Design as part of the National Government Administrative Center (NGAC) Phase 1A project of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) in New Clark City.

The aquatics facility competed with the New Clark City Athletics Stadium for the award, as the two projects were both shortlisted under the same category.

“Even after three years since it was completed, the New Clark City sports complex still continues to inspire awe and bring pride to Filipinos due to its high-caliber design and attention to the needs of the people. This award is a proud achievement for the thousands of Filipinos who made this project possible through their hard work, ingenuity, and dedication,” BCDA President and Chief Executive Officer Joshua M. Bingcang said.

With design influences based on the weaving patterns of the baklad, and capiz shells, the New Clark City Aquatics Center embodies the coastal heritage of the Filipino people, giving honor to the Filipino identity while embracing modern sensibilities.

The facility, together with the Athletics Stadium, was completed within 18 months in time for the hosting of the 2019 South East Asian Games.

"The New Clark City and its sports facilities serve as a spark to trigger and introduce what is modern Philippines. I am happy and overwhelmed with the idea that we’re able to share and also bring our presence to the world. To be appreciated and recognized means that our efforts to better our country, our nation and our people through architecture and design is felt not only by our people, but by the world,” said

Royal Pineda, principal architect and chief executive officer of Royal Pineda +.

With over 400 global Filipino architect-members from 382 companies, UAP Dubai is the 124th chapter of the United Architects of the Philippines.

The UAP Dubai Design Awards celebrates projects that exemplify design excellence, and demonstrates exceptional skill and creativity in the resolution of formal, functional, and technical requirements. The annual awards program also honors the year's top architects, designers, and firms.—MGCP