Faith in Action

During our visit at the National Museum, being surrounded by the walls of each building brought me to the realization that the Philippines is rich in culture and people: their crafts, ideas, and the biodiversity of unique animals and ecosystems native to the country. The National Museum of Anthropology stored ancient artifacts that were created by different groups and tribes with the resources they had to use for survival, battle, and many others that reminded me of when our ancestors already knew how to create objects that were strong, purposeful, and made to last through hardship.

With this, the geothermal model found in the National Museum of Natural History called to me to find a solution for these cramped and unventilated areas in the rural areas, especially in underground housing and palengkes. This reflected Filipinos' ingenuity and craftsmanship, which are still present in modern times, especially times where we have a lack of materials, but we still need to work around that to overcome it. The focus community of my civic solutions is informal vendors and settlers located in dim, cramped, and poorly ventilated public spaces in dense urban communities of Manila. Many of the vendors spend 8 to 12 hours a day standing in stalls that are trapped in heat, potential food spoilage, and inconsistent electricity—barely making enough to sustain their everyday necessities, especially when Filipinos are asking for “tawad” to lower the price (Merkado, 2023). This roots from poor urban planning and humid temperatures, especially during summer, in commercial spaces and the informal economy, even if it sustains the daily lives of the vendors and buyers. This is very well depicted in Garibay’s painting: resilient, overlooked, and carrying more than what their bodies show. Walking through the air-conditioned halls of the museums and the comfort I had going from school to home made me more aware that I am more privileged than I see myself. I have been to palengkes myself at a young age, and there are some things that I take for granted knowing that I live more comfortably. I realized how deeply art, history, and science are intertwined with the everyday struggles of our society. I was moved by how our history reflects both immense brilliance and continuous systemic inequality. Recognizing my own privilege compared to the realities many face, such as vendors in Manila, made me reflect on the systemic neglect. The quiet discomfort of being surrounded by cramped and dim spaces felt like calling to me because even if resilience is one of the notable characteristics of Filipinos, is Filipino resilience an excuse for neglect of those in power?

In the Gospel, Luke 4: 16-21, Jesus's Return to Nazareth, Isaiah was anointed to bring the good news to the poor that liberty will be proclaimed to captives and the recovery of the blinded and let the oppressed be free. He tells those gathered that these words have been fulfilled on that day of the hearing.

The National Museum visit, the unsustainable lifestyle that the masa go through is a silent form of captivity— not in the forms of being trapped in an enclosed box however, captured in that kind of lifestyle that they cannot simply flee from. Rerum Novarum addresses the severe exploitation of the working class and recognizes the harsh working conditions. Preferential Option for the Poor recognizes the prioritization of the marginalized and the Dignity of Work that concerns the rights of workers. Pope Leo XIV, Magnifica Humanitas, carries out the values of those who use it, and must be shaped around the dignity of human persons rather than for profit or convenience. The technology used for my proposal means that any solar or geothermal energy introduced has to be designed in favour of the dignity of the vendor and consumer. Alongside the Gospel, this provides a challenge rather than comfort; the design dilemma between solar and geothermal solutions for palengkes rather than for a luxurious development. This in itself is a moral choice of the purpose and service of technology.

The gospel tells us that faith cannot remain still. It demands an active call for those living in the shadows. The daily burden carried by informal vendors that are working in cramped and overheated spaces with financial instability. Our mission is to bring the good news to the poor and the needy and bring justice to the oppressed which challenges us to reassess how we use our human knowledge and resources. Creating something for the betterment of the people comes with ethical and moral considerations. Choosing direct clean energy sources, such as solar and geothermal cooling, to public markets rather than commercial spaces. This reminds me that true discipleship means using our gifts to alleviate human suffering and moving towards a more just society.

This was inspired by the geothermal power plant model I saw in the National Museum of Natural History. The materials used will be heavily inspired by indigenous and ancestral artifacts found in the National Museum of Anthropology, often made out of recycled steel, bamboo, wood, and iron. The symbolism of their craftsmanship and resilience prior to the colonization of the Spaniards. Thus, the palengke itself becomes a modern reflection of resilience to Filipinos other than depicting daily hardships and applying the scientific and technological principles of our current landscape to restore the dignity of the informal sector.

As a Theresian, I am a seeker for not just the truth but also for mission. I have witnessed the struggles and complaints of those in palengke markets; hence, my proposal follows the Theresian marking that I am critically aware of my environment and its current events. This proposal was a call for my passion for God and others, knowing the struggles that other people are still going through till this day in the Philippines. The proposal translates reflection into a solution by combining ancestral knowledge with modern technology. Integrating these systems using culturally rooted materials, such as bamboo and recycled steel, seeks to transform the public markets into safe and efficient spaces for vendors and consumers. This ensures that the project addresses climate action, clean energy, and economic security simultaneously. As a Theresian, this commitment expresses environmental awareness and active service. Success is not only measured by efficient technology, but by the improvement of life, dignity, and resilience of the community.

In conclusion, I realized that this immersion was an invitation to live out my discipleship as a Theresian servant leader rather than just an academic requirement. This honed my desire to innovate and produce things that will improve society in spite of challenges. Small deeds aren’t only always small for some people; they can have a significant impact when it comes to helping the marginalized. Given that installing solar panels and geothermal cooling for palengkes will be my modest act of faith.