When we think about ideal cities and the living situation within, we think about the convenience of having different transportation modes at hand; the proximity of schools and hospitals to residential neighborhoods; the closeness of recreational spaces such as parks and libraries; and the pleasure of having establishments such as retail stores and cafes nearby. In a perfect world, the Philippines would follow this blueprint. Paloma Urquijo Zobel de Ayala, Creative Director at Ayala Land, Inc., for her part, applies her Midas touch in creative placemaking on Circuit Makati and Lio Estate in El Nido.
In the first episode of the adobo Talks Podcast: Season 2, we spotlighted the importance of arts, culture, and creativity in building a vibrant community. Along with Creative Economy Council of the Philippines President Paolo Mercado, we explored the symbiotic relationship between artists and residents, the creative circles they feel safe in, and culture.
“How do you actually design it so that people behave in the way that you want it to? And how do you get people to connect with it? I think that’s when the genuine work happens, and that’s when you really have to engage with the local community and talk to them. […] You really need to ensure that people are engaging and connecting with it. Everything stems [from] a person’s connection with the place, so how do you create those authentic connections?” Paloma shared about creative placemaking and how people acclimate to a location.
Aside from looking into the physical aspect, Paloma and Paolo discussed the virtual realms people not only occupy but also spend most of their time in. Ayala Land is known for considering all aspects of a community, including digital connectivity to enhance personal and creative communities.
“Technology connects people, but you still need the places to actually build those meaningful relationships and connections. But I think there is [an] opportunity for both of them to thrive,” Paloma explained.
She cited the experience of going to a museum and having the physical sensation of enjoying the artworks in real life. She juxtaposed this with reliving the experience at home or wherever they are, through online spaces. She underlined that essentially, it’s all about extending that experience for the person by bridging the gap between online and offline. And to achieve this seamless transition between the two worlds, Paloma credited Ayala Land’s partner, Globe Telecom.
Watch the full episode here:
This episode of the adobo Talks Podcast is powered by Globe.
