MANILA — An exhibit featuring LEGO brick models of old churches in the country is now open for public viewing in the historic Fort Santiago in Intramuros.
The Baluarte de Santa Barbara inside Fort Santiago is now re-purposed to house the LEGO brick models of the buildings of Old Manila, as well as the Philippine Eagle robot built by the 12 teams of college students that participated in the competition.
The creative space features LEGO learning materials, trainings fostering interactivity, modules on architecture and early engineering, history and computer programming activities as well as materials showcasing the historic architectural grandeur of Intramuros and the Philippines.
Launched in August 2017, the “iMake History Fortress” is expected to be fully operational by April or May 2018 and will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Wanda Teo said the project will encourage young Filipino visionaries, especially architecture and engineering students, to learn more about their craft, identities, and notable events that shaped structures and society as we know today.
“In opening the iMake History Fortress as an adaptive reuse of the Baluarte de Santa Barbara, we are teaching as well our youth, the millennials, to appreciate the history and culture of the Philippines in a new light,” said Teo in her keynote speech.
In an interview, Denmark Ambassador to the Philippines Jan Top Christensen said the exhibition “will further add to Fort Santiago being an attraction.”
Brian Dam, territory manager of LEGO Education also noted in his speech the importance of learning history at present.
“Understanding the history of a country is of course key in what has brought us to where we are, what has been the historical challenges of the past generation and what were their limitations, because by looking at history, we can start shaping the future,” Dam said.
Architecture students from the University of Santo Tomas emerged triumphant in the lego-building competition.
UST was among the 12 teams that ventured into the LEGO fortress-building competition, winning first place after building an impressive LEGO brick model of the Lourdes Church, rebuilt in Quezon City after the damage it acquired during the Japanese occupation of Intramuros.
The team received PHP50,000 and garnered the Most Innovative Award. (Joyce Ann L. Rocamora/PNA)
