TIM eMagazine Vol . 2 Issue 9 hawkers ’ stalls that define a distinctive style of settling the street . The vendors whether or not officially registered as such , represent a unique collective composed mainly of women ( 69 %) with years of experience ( 50 to 60 years of age ) that manages a homey modus vivendi , more often stationary than itinerant . Despite being a living treasure of the other side of Manila , the real one or the one that is not mentioned in tourist guides , - like in other capitals in the world – belittled .
Aware of the importance of socially accommodating this collective of itinerant vendors and the possibility of contributing to it through cultural cooperation initiatives , the Spanish Cooperation , through the ACERCA Program of AECID , has enthusiastically welcomed the Rolling Manila ! project of Zoohaus , a platform for networking that combines the interests of different agencies linked to architecture and urban planning , which for two weeks will design strategies that will demonstrate the human heritage of the network physically improving the food carts to make them more attractive and effective as well as making them more visible for visitors to get acquainted with them .
The project recommends a process of enhancement of the vendors in Intramuros as human heritage , working with them in terms of how to
Architech Manuel Dominguez , Designer
Guillermo Escribano , First Secretary of Cultural Affairs – Embassy of Spain
include them in the tourism context as well as promoting the local culture through people and what they know to do .
Zoohaus has partnered with the Intramuros Administration ( IA ) and the Design Center of the Philippines for the Rolling Manila ! project to support IA and Design Center ’ s joint goal of developing a creative cluster in Intramuros . The active partnership between the three agencies explores Intramuros as a laboratory for creating design strategies that will effectively work for the upliftment of the Filipino street food vendors collective as well as reflecting a gastronomic culture that is distinctively Filipino . Moreover , the vision of the creative collaboration is in line with the development plans for the Philippine creative economy .
Intramuros Administration will make available to Zoohaus all the means at its disposal in order to carry out a thorough research on the practical needs of the itinerant vendors , such as location mapping of the street vendors within Intramuros , and engagement of the street food vendors into the project .
Seeing how the project necessitates a design research process , Design Center of the Philippines prepared curated food and design tours around Manila to provide Zoohaus an immersion to Intramuros and its history , Philippine street food culture , and the design and built environment . Also part of the design research process are interaction and visits to tricycle manufacturers and Sarao factory for a deeper understanding of the city ’ s landscape and transportation system ; and visits to Divisoria , Tondo , Quiapo , and Recto for sourcing of possible materials for the redesigned food carts .
Design Center also tapped cultural heritage conservation expert Associate Professor Eric Zerrudo to discuss the significance of Cultural Heritage mapping as a tool in recognizing , understanding , and planning the future use of Intramuros cultural assets ; and Chef Claude Tayag to share an overview of the Filipino gastronomic culture .
At the same time , the tours around Manila allows Zoohaus to see the food carts the vendors built themselves in its natural , dynamic environment , which will provide information on the very context in which they are set , and lends the design process the necessary context . Unraveling these devices , Rolling Manila ! will allow the discovery of some aspects of the socio-economic reality of this area in Manila , its industry and resources , the form of settling the public space of the city and other elements .
ZOOHAUS will share their techniques and expertise with designers from the Design Center to improve and modernize these stalls on wheels using designs and objects that may increase their effectiveness and enhance its attractiveness to visitors .
The prototyping of the redesigned carts and stalls has been done in partnership with Escuella Taller de Filipinas and student observers from the Lyceum of the Philippines University . At the end of the project , a map will be developed to further put in context the food culture and assets within the walls of Intramuros and a new experiential dimension .
The public display and conference on the redesigned carts and stalls has commenced on 29 November 2017 at 10:00 AM in Escuella Taller , Intramuros .
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