Environmental Landscapes Studio Laboratory

31/08/2026

🌱 NEW DISCUSSION PAPER: Policy Landscape for Built Heritage in the Cordillera 🏔️🏛️

When national heritage policies meet local realities, how do state-centered regulations align with the living, interconnected traditions of indigenous communities?

We are pleased to announce the release of UP CIDS Discussion Paper, "Policy Landscape for Built Heritage in the Cordillera". Authored by Leah Abayao, this study is published under our Local Regional Studies Network (LRSN) X Cordillera Studies Center UP Baguio. It takes a critical look into the implementation of national cultural heritage laws at the subnational level, examining how state frameworks interact with customary governance and indigenous knowledge systems.

🔍 Key Highlights from the Paper:
⚙️ The Limits of "Authorized Heritage": Analyzing how national policies compartmentalize heritage into rigid tangible and intangible categories, often undervaluing the holistic and interconnected ways local communities view their cultural landscape.
🏝️ LGU Initiatives & Customary Frameworks: Exploring proactive municipal responses—such as Sagada's heritage and tourism ordinances—that attempt to balance statutory compliance with the traditional authority of local elders and political institutions.
🦀 Balancing Preservation and Pressures: Examining the challenges of heritage management, from the risks of tourism-driven commodification and compliance-heavy bureaucracy to the displacement of sacred ritual spaces.
💡 Policy Directions for Living Heritage: Proposing a recalibration of heritage frameworks—moving away from static asset protection toward a dynamic model rooted in customary institutions, adaptive reuse, and meaningful community participation.

By recognizing heritage as a dynamic social process of cultural growth rather than a mere physical asset, we can ensure that preservation efforts empower indigenous communities and protect their living traditions.

📖 Download the full discussion paper for FREE:
https://cids.up.edu.ph/download/policy-landscape-built-heritage-cordillera/

19/08/2026

19/08/2026

Join us in our upcoming free Talk & Share session "Ecologies of Care: People, Place & Shared Futures" as we explore how landscape architecture can strengthen connections between ecological systems, cultural knowledge, and collective responsibility.

Hosted by the Indian Society of Landscape Architects (ISOLA), this session brings together three interconnected perspectives that shape contemporary landscape practice:

Featured Speakers & Themes
📖 Traditional Knowledge Systems – Rhea Shah explores how traditional wisdom continues to inform contemporary landscape architecture through indigenous knowledge, cultural landscapes, vernacular practices, ecological memory.

🫶 More-than-Human Ecologies – Rushika Khanna reframes landscape thinking beyond human-centered approaches by recognizing plants, animals, water, soils, and ecological systems as active participants in shaping resilient and regenerative landscapes.

🌿 Practices of Commoning – Mohan Rao addresses collective stewardship, participatory governance, maintenance, repair, and the shared responsibility of caring for landscapes through collaboration and community engagement.

Event date and details
📅 Wednesday, 19 August 2026
7:00 PM – 8:30 PM (UTC+5:30, India Standard Time)
9:30 PM – 11:00 PM (GMT+8, Singapore Time)
Visit our link to register for this free session: https://ifla-apr.glueup.com/event/ifla-apr-talk-share-ecologies-of-care-people-place-shared-futures-189618/

19/08/2026

In accordance with Memorandum Circular No. 131, issued by the Office of the President and posted on the Presidential Communications Office page, the UP Diliman (UPD) Office of the Chancellor announced that UPD will observe alternative arrangements for classes and work (except for essential offices) tomorrow, 20 August 2026.

Stay safe.

15/08/2026

14/08/2026

[𝗣𝗢𝗦𝗧𝗣𝗢𝗡𝗘𝗗: 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗱𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗹𝘆 & 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗦𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲]

As per the Memorandum Circular No. 126 issued by the Office of the President we would like to inform you that the Graduate Assembly and Research Seminar will be postponed to a later date due to inclement weather.

The new schedule will be announced at a later date. For now, kindly stay tuned to our official social media pages for further announcements and updates regarding the rescheduled activities.

We hope everyone is safe and well. Please take care and stay safe!

13/08/2026

31/07/2026

The UP College Admission Test will be held on Saturday and Sunday, August 1 and 2, 2026

Best of luck to all examinees! We are excited to welcome you to the University!

30/07/2026

🌱 Looking for environmental data on UP Diliman—or have research to share?
Knowledge is meant to be shared! The Green UPDate Research & Outputs Database brings together studies, reports, and campus environmental resources into one growing, accessible repository to help preserve institutional knowledge and inspire sustainable planning. 📚✨
Whether you're looking for references for your next project, documenting past initiatives, or just curious about exploring the campus through different academic lenses, this space is for you.
🤝 How to Get Involved
Explore: Discover research, policies, and projects shaping our campus environment.
Contribute: Have a thesis, report, policy paper, or study on UPD's environment? Help us build a stronger, shared knowledge base!
📩 Share your work: Send your knowledge products to ⁠[email protected]⁠
🌐 Dive into the database: https://greenupdate.upd.edu.ph