Jam on Xplore

As an architecture student, being chosen as one of the delegates of the Young Minds on Xplore 3 has paved so much opportunity for me to discover and see for myself architecture in more developed countries.


The whole Belgium-Netherlands trip has helped me look beyond the aesthetic value and functionality of Architecture. It's not about how cool-looking or how unique the geometry of the structure is or how it utilizes its limited spaces well, but I realized that it is also a matter of how it affects everything around it, its niche in the society and its relationship with infrastructure, public and private spaces and people. Here I ask not how the architecture evokes my emotions, but I ask, what it does for the city.

That is when the concept of urban planning comes in. Urban planning is the process that is concerned with the control of the use of land and design in an urban environment. It includes the facilitation of traffic and transportation networks, construction, research and analysis of human geography, policy recommendation and management. It establishes sustainable cities that ushers economic growth and reduces ecological footprints of the city. It is important in mitigating urban poverty and social inequality.


According to some experts, the lack of urban planning in many developing countries such as the Philippines is pointed out as one of the major causes of poverty. When cities develop whimsically, there is increase of slums and congestion of cars on roads.

In the case of Cebu City, the making of a city blue print for the future years has not been known of. There is no proper spatial planning and zoning that residences and commercial buildings sprawl anywhere. Going to establishments like the school, the mall or the church is practically impossible by foot. There is no established city center  nor proper facilitation of public vehicles. To solve the problem of traffic, flyovers are built, but they actually exacerbate the problem.

In Kortrijk, Belgium, they have strict policies regarding the construction and modification of buildings and infrastructure. The roads are small but the traffic of cars is well planned. However, it is more practical to use bikes or to walk. They have wide sidewalks and good bicycle lanes. The railway station and the shopping center is at the heart of the city, so anyone around the city has access to it.

K in Kortrijk, a mall at the heart of the shopping center

In Haarlemermeyer, Netherlands, they have developed a plan good for 2040 already. Before constructing or widening roads, they have to study the impacts of it, not only in the present but also in the future. Instead of constructing flyovers for traffic jam problems, they study how to construct new roads instead. There are also good bicycle lanes and sidewalks, so walking and biking is very safe and conducive.

Rotterdam, one of the favorite places I've visited in Netherlands because of its architectural masterpieces is the epitome of a well-planned city. The city even houses the Netherlands Architecture Institute that features 'Making City' exhibition that shows how cities are build with innovative and constantly changing alliances involving designers, city planners, developers and residents. The rapid transit of Rotterdam makes every portion of the second biggest city of Netherlands accessible anywhere around the city.

Netherlands Architecture Institute

The Erasmus Bridge, an architectural masterpiece of Rotterdam

Biking is one of the major transportation in both Netherlands and Belgium. Here I am biking in Haarlem City, Netherlands.

What fascinates me most of all in both cities I've been immersed in is the discipline of the drivers and bicyclists. They look out for pedestrians' safety. In the Philippines, I have to play tango in order to get to the other side of the road. I get to the middle of the road and even if the driver sees me waving him to stop, he doesn't slow down.




Cebu has a very large economy. It is urbanizing rapidly. It may be about the utilization of space, energy or architecture that contributes to developing our city and it may be a very long way to go. But the process of developing Cebu does not lie only in the hands of the engineers, architects or urban planners or in the hands of the government officials. The citizens also play a vital role in transforming Cebu to a sustainable and liveable city.

On the 1st day of May, the 18th day of our European trip, our only activities for the day is the Biblical Garden tour and the film showing of a famous Dutch film All is Love. I think the schedule for that day isn't so hectic to give us time to settle our baggage since we're changing hosts and partners that day.

I bid farewell to J.Lo, though we will still be seeing each other. They announce the new pairing and I'm glad it's Janica.

We go back to Johannes de Doper (John The Baptist) Church, the church where we attend our first Dutch mass. The church is small but behind it is actually a large garden and a Catholic graveyard. In a separate building beside it is a bookstore.

Fr. Kees van Lent is our tour guide. He tells us about the symbols found on the church's facade.

On the door of the church are pictures about John the Baptist. One of which is the Baptism of Christ.

The prodigal son.

Lot's wife. She turns into a pillar of salt after defying God by looking back.

The Stations of the cross. The sculptures are a little improvised to the artist's lovely interpretation of the real essence behind each station.

After our Biblical tour, we have tea. After which we returned to Tabitha to watch 'Alles is Liefde' (All is Love), a famous Dutch film that tells a story of the winding and interrelated lives of eleven people during the Dutch festival Sinterklaas. It was a melancholic, funny and romantic story that brings you to a realization how love and family is important.

After watching the movie, we meet our new host families. I am hosted with Janica and Nienke and her mom welcome us warmly.