Demonstrating the University of Northern Philippines’ growing excellence in architectural education, Jan Lester Yao and Jovi Anne Haduca, graduates of the UNP College of Architecture and Built Environment, have earned national recognition after being shortlisted for the Anthology: End of Year Show – Thesis Presentation Batch 2026, a prestigious showcase organized by WTA Design Studio that highlights the country’s most outstanding undergraduate architectural thesis projects.
Chosen from a competitive pool of 28 shortlisted undergraduate architectural theses submitted by universities in the Philippines, Yao and Haduca distinguished themselves through innovative, research-based design solutions that address real-world challenges while celebrating local identity and community development.
Yao’s thesis, “Seafront Tourism Complex: A Hybrid Coastal Development Reflecting the Culture and Traditions in Badoc, Ilocos Norte,” presents a culturally responsive vision for sustainable coastal tourism by integrating the municipality’s rich heritage and traditions into a contemporary waterfront development.
Complementing this achievement, Haduca’s thesis, “An Integrated Barangay Resource Center for the Coastal Community of Puro, Magsingal, Ilocos Sur: A Design Response to Spatial Stagnation,” offers a transformative architectural proposal that responds to the spatial, social, and economic needs of a coastal community through the creation of a multifunctional resource center designed to enhance resilience, accessibility, and inclusive local development.
The award-worthy thesis projects were developed under the expert mentorship of Ar. Christian Nico Pilotin and Ar. Charles Angelo Andrada. Their mentorship emphasizes the UNP College of Architecture and Built Environment’s commitment in cultivating design excellence, critical inquiry, and socially responsive architecture.
Organized annually by WTA Design Studio, the Anthology: End of Year Show serves as a prestigious national platform showcasing exemplary undergraduate architectural thesis projects from higher education institutions in the Philippines. The exhibition celebrates proposals that exemplify rigorous research, innovative design thinking, and transformative solutions to contemporary architectural, environmental, and community challenges, providing emerging architects with an avenue to present their ideas to academics, practitioners, and industry leaders.
This year’s recognition continues the UNP College of Architecture and Built Environment’s presence in the exhibition, following the inclusion of Vinella Shane Pilien, Bnn Anjelo Tadeja, and John Lloyd Tipon in last year’s Anthology shortlist. The continued representation highlights the college’s commitment in producing architecture graduates whose research and design work contribute to the advancement of the profession.
Article by Charles Angelo Andrada
