Friday, November 6, 2015

A Lady Architect with RCLA MARU ARCHITECTS CO.

RCLA MARU ARCHITECTS CO. 
is a SEC-Registered General Partnership Architectural Professional Consultancy Services and Construction Company.

It had gone thru a transition from the previous Evangelista -Lamasan and Associates in the year 1997 and with the RC LAMASAN AND ASSOCIATES as an Architectural Firm established in 2002 with the Mission to cater to Clients requiring Design-Build Services. 
It had also worked in partnership with MARU BUILDERS, a Construction Firm since the year 2008. Finally, in February 2015, it was mandated by the Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to engage in Architectural Professional Consultancy Services and as amended later, to engage in Construction Business as follows: 

To carry on and conduct a general construction business including  the construction, enlarging, remodeling, developing operation and maintenance or otherwise engaging other work upon, buildings, roads, highways, sidewalks, airfield, bridges, piers, dams, public markets, irrigation systems, waterworks, railroads, railway structures, manufacturing plants or other public improvements. 

Also to engage in iron, steel, wood, bricks,concrete, stone, cement, masonry and earth construction. 

To manufacture and / or furnish the building material, equipment and supplies connected herewith. 

WELCOME TO OUR BUSINESS OFFICE, GALLERY AND DESIGN STUDIO


ARCH MA. ELENA EVANGELISTA-LAMASAN
 one of the Managing Partners of RCLA MARU ARCHITECTS CO. 
The company is looking forward to facing greater challenges this Asian Integration 
and to achieving the highest standards of Professional Service to the Industry


Office Address: 
Unit 102 FEMII Building, A. Soriano Jr. St.
Intramuros,  Manila,   1002  Philippines

The LIGHT OF GRACE AND HAPPINESS
This paper lamp had been significant to our Private Practice as Architects and to our Business.
It became a part of our Office Reception Area and we bring it wherever we transfer office location. 

During times of tightening our belts, it stays in our home for sometime. Its a 3-Cycle rolling-up HIGH.
 It is the LIGHT TO OUR JOURNEY

The Reception Area is done  with SEACAST wooden "baol"  which means WEALTH
guarded with a Lizard Body  on top  signifying persistence.
An Array of Handwritten and Manual drafted Perspective presentations of our Architects
of the late 1980"s and the 1990"s  welcomes the visitors.

Corporate Statement

...."We are FILIPINO ARCHITECTS
We are PROUD  of our CULTURE and BELIEVES in OUR ARTISTIC STATE OF MIND
We are Visionary that thru our RESPONSIBLE DESIGNS, families would make their HOMES and WORKPLACES not just as structural envelop but a
REFLECTION OF THEIR PERSONALITY and trendy COMFORT.
We make it our  MISSION TO MAKE THE FILIPINO ARCHITECTURE DESIGN STATEMENT
 a Significant Contribution to the GLOBAL COMMUNITY.
We are RCLA MARU ARCHITECTS CO.
Your Partners in Translating your VISION into REALITY"....

The Business Papers and Government Permits Board
The Company maintains obedience to the Provisions of the Law especially on the
Welfare of its Organization by diligently conforming to the Requirements
like Social Security Systems (SSS), Philhealth,
ag-ibig Fund Remittances and Bureau of Internal Revenue 

Our Accounting Department and the Legal Department are headed by Accredited Professionals
in their Fields and are being maintained by the Company on a Retainers Basis 

The Executive Lounge in  Paintings of  NATURE - Flora and Fauna -
 as its subject, bringing the overall atmosphere in tranquility.

The Construction Supervisors on the Workshop before the start of the Construction Project.
Each Design-Build Project is taken cared of in Planning Stage focusing on details and estimate,
Program of Works and  Implementation Strategies.

The MARU STUDIOS SOLUTIONS and the FIFI'S GOOF CART,
as part of the Artist Arm and 3D Illustrators of the Company

Our Student Trainees (OJT) from MAPUA Institute of Technology, Intramuros, Manila.
The RCLA  MARU ARCHITECTS CO is in Memorandum of Agreement  with MAPUA on the
 responsible guidance and Mentorship of the Architecture Students in their Apprenticeship.
This is an ongoing accommodation and training following the school's 4 terms school year. 

Student Trainees (OJT)  from De La Salle, College of St. Benilde, School of Design and Arts, Manila.
They are one of the Architectural  Schools,  the company also accommodates in the Mentorship Program

Working while we Learn and Learning while we Work.
 This is the Line of  Thought we promulgate in the Company Organization.
On Going trainings, workshops and studies are maximize to keep our selves abreast
 with the fast moving  Technology.

Openmindedness and Strong  Determination.
Our weapon to survive in this Challenging World of
Architectural Design and Construction Industry


Every day is New Day !....Its Compassion ..
 Willingness to serve and be a part of this Architect's Global Community
Its our Business and Pleasure TO SERVE!


Visit our Website: http://architectsrclamaru.wix.com/gallery
Our Blogspot: http://rclamaruarchitectsco.blogspot.com/about-us.html
Facebook Page: Rcla Architects Design and Construction

Friday, September 25, 2015

Exploring BORACAY...


RCLA MARU Architects Co. ... explores BORACAY!


To clear the white rocky hills, mobilize and erect the four story structures in the lime-like hills of Station One, is a challenging job, managing the construction of Cluster-A, a Four Storey Condotel, now part of the well-known The PALMS - Boracay.

The origin says, the island is known to have been formed out of  "borac", a Sponge and the "corals", that now became like silky "white crumbles" - hence the name BORACAY.


 
AERIAL PRESENTATION of the Proposed Resort, 
The PALMS - Boracay  located at Station One  by RCLA MARU ARCHITECTS CO.



Aerial View of the 7 kilometer stretch of Boracay Island

The JETTY PORT, the terminal upon arriving the Island.
Doing construction in Boracay Island needs guts and strong determination. This is an island and construction materials coming from Manila and the mainland of Panay had to cross the sea that oftentimes contradicts the waves of the season. This dictates the progress of the work that makes any construction team's  PERT CPM vulnerable. The work schedule is being dictated by the weather condition like  holding  of trips of Bancas from the Aklan Port due to dangerous waves affecting not just delivery of construction materials but also manpower.   






Roads that determines construction material delivery and accessibility of manpower in the island is not that wide during the construction, ( hope diversion roads are done and finally the construction of an international airport is materialized). Being far from batching plants, there is no Premix - Pumpcrete system,  thus several 2 bagger up to 3 bagger - concrete mixers are used.




The FREE-HAND Architect's Presentation of the Cluster-A Condotel by RCLA MARU ARCHITECTS CO.

The Construction Works progress of Cluster - A Condotel


View of the whole white beach at the third floor of the Condotel

On going construction of the Swimming Pool




Construction Progress of the Construction of a Four Storey Cluster-A Condotel


Progress of the Construction of  the Clubhouse and the Swimming Pool

For the duration of the project that lasted a year, traveling by air made some company staff literally friendly with the clouds and the sky... so it really has to  say it... remembering the LET of SEAIR that accommodates 11-14 passengers and flies like roller coaster with the clouds formation. It also gives  a unique hush-rush,  traveling round trip from Manila to Boracay at 4am and going back to Manila at 9pm. After a year, it seems  we lost our gravity and experience a floating- bouyant effect. 



It was a calling for Architect's passion and responsibility. Despite battling with the erratic weather condition, of rainy season, and of numerous typhoon that struck the island, also taken beneficial is the luxury of exploring flora and fauna, discovering more about the soil stability and other environmental concerns that need to be addressed. 




Construction materials such as such and gravel are taken from the neighboring towns within the island of Panay. These are transported thru "Bancas" from Aklan Terminal and has to fall on worker's shoulder down the shore before it gets to the delivery trucks to the construction site. Bulk of finishing materials fro installation from Manila like tiles and glass and aluminum are brought to the island thru RO-RO from Batangas Port. There are also Fast Crafts for passenger going back and fort Batangas to Boracay. 


Though surrounded by the sea, the reality speaks of a problem of the supply of clean, potable water in the island. Ingenuity must be harnessed to let the swimming pool be operational. The technical team has to innovate means of sourcing cubic meters of water to  start-up for the swimming pool operation

Photo shows the Clubhouse and the Swimming Pool nearly completed.



Acknowledgement of this photo taken from the Internet showing the Olympic Size Infinity Swimming Pool overlooking the White beach.
Despite the challenge,in producing volumes of concrete, RCLA MARU ARCHITECTS CO. was able to complete the Olympic Size Swimming Pool in Diaphragm Structural Design and turned the limestone hill into a HAVEN. ... Thanks to the Ilonggo Construction Team,  the strong core group of the company who endured to bring one of the Beauty SPOTS to the Island.

Acknowledgement of a photo taken from the internet showing the Clubhouse and the Pool done in  softening bamboo enclosure.

More view taken from the internet showing the comfortable space planning of the Condotel, the Clubhouse and the Swimming Pool.




RCLA MARU ARCHITECTS CO. DESIGN and CONSTRUCTION Projects in the Visayas. 




Main Office is located at Unit 102 Femmi Building, A. Soriano Jr St, Intramuros,  Manila 
Contact us at 02-5037276  *   0927-8269808

Email: rcla.update@gmail.com  Facebook: Rcla Maru
Website: http://architectsrclamaru.wix.com/gallery




















Tuesday, September 22, 2015

Our Community, Our Responsibility: An Analysis of the Effects of Overcrowding in University Belt Residential Areas, Manila




 A Literature Review
by Arch. Ma. Elena E. Lamasan

Abstract

Student’s   residences,  their  workplaces and communities are part of what we carefully consider in territoriality.  How these are  perceived and defended  depends on the levels  that differs in each individual. As these young adults undergo the learning  stage in life,  their definition of  personal space varies depending on one’s  history and personal upbringing until they become mature working individuals.  Territorial infringement  results when  spaces are invaded, violated  and contaminated.

Our capacity  to  control  the environment and each individual’s  expectation on it  dictates our  emotional and social well being.  It depends on who we are and how we perceived the environment that helps us to understand  and to make choices.  A person’s  ability to   cope with the environment stressors and connect with them emotionally is in great  part,  dependent on his  emotional, mental and physical health.  Very evident  environmental challenge  is the population density and overcrowding as a problem in highly urbanized city like Manila in the Philippines.  The effects of overcrowding on the emotional and mental state are detrimental in the growing years of these young adults.  With the problem stated,  this study will investigate the  hypothesis that adequate open spaces are helpful for students health and wellbeing.



I.                  Introduction

“Our love of home is in turn an acknowledgement of the degree to which  our identity is not self-determined. We need a home in the psychological sense as much as we need one in the physical: to compensate for a  vulnerability.  We need a refuge to shore up our states of mind, because so much of the world is opposed to our allegiances. We need our room to align us to be desirable of ourselves and to keep alive the important, evanescent side of us.”  This is what Alain de Botton says in his book titled,  The Architecture of Happiness.

Such a pacifying and positive description of what supposed to be a  “home”  a residential aspect as a primary territory for each human being in this world. And whoever are we in this scene, an Architect who designed that physical structure,  the builder who constructed those walls and its structural  members or the occupant who gives warm and life to this composition,  all of us, has a participation in making this haven,  a great determinant  of  the whole  human wellbeing.  Many factors determines the condition of this primary territory.  The sense of place and our feeling of safety is governed by the  geographical location,  the economy, the neighbors, the utilities system of the community and  the architectural structure itself , all composes the natural and the built environment.

This study on the Analysis of the Effects of Overcrowding in University Belt Residential Areas, Manila  is discussed  starting with  the phenomenon of Urbanism in the context of the World and to the prominent cities in the Philippines.  The topics are well presented  for the reader to have an order of understanding from the macro level to the micro level of the environmental psychology   issues.   In detailed,  are discussed some local and national government laws and policies that gives solutions to Noise Pollution and the Green Environment Laws in general,  affecting  the  Manileno  young adults.  

The students or the young adults residing in apartments, condominiums and other owned or rented residences are the main subjects of this study.  The psychological effects,  definition of  Spaces, coping with Stress,  arousal, territoriality, emotional and physical aspects on the effects of  overcrowding are the core of the  topic in  this study.

An appreciation of the significance of open spaces as a  relief ,  both physical and psychological to the human being constitute a larger part in the discussion. This is to validate the hypothesis   that adequate  Open spaces is helpful to the health and well being of young adults.  Realization of this matter can be one of the consideration in designers PDR or predesign research to evaluate  clients requirements prior to construction. This is also a signal for behavior setting solutions in urban planning.

The last part of the body of this literature review  shows recommendations compiled from various research groups on how to mitigate overcrowding and to achieve an individual who can endure hazardous stimuli and capacitated with a coping ability to blend  with both the built and natural environment.


II.                Human Health and  Environment

The population of the City of Manila is  increasing  at the rate of 0.44 percent annually.  This is published  on  the Article :  Population  of the City  of Manila  Climbed  to 1.7  Million   ( Results from the 2010 Census of Population and Housing) released last July 26, 2013  thru the website of the Philippine Statistic Authority, https://psa.gov.ph/content/population-city-manila-climbed-17-million-results-2010-census-population-and-housing,  Base on the Census of Population and Housing (CPH), the  City of Manila, a highly urbanized city in the National Capital Region, posted a total population of 1,652,171 persons as of May 1, 2010. This is larger by 71,089 persons compared to its total population of 1, 581,082 persons counted in the 2000 CPH. The increase in the population count from 2000 to 2010 translated to an average annual population growth rate ( PGR) of 0.44 percent. This is higher than the negative 0.13 percent annual PGR of the city between the census years 1990 and 2000. The census showed that 159,027 number of households owned/ being amortised/owner-like  and there are 153,266 number of households rented.

In this Capital City of the country,  when people think about environment and health, they focus on things like pollution, traffic problems , congestion, informal settlers, waste disposal  and flooding, more than anything else. Though green building ordinances had already been implemented in Quezon City and in other cities together with the compliance with Executive Order  301 Series 2004, which directs all departments, bureaus, agencies and offices under the Executive Branch of government to establish a Green Procurement  Program, a part of this concern is answered.  This directive, the NELP-GCP will act as the 3rd party verifier for the government’s eco-purchases.  The Green Building Requirements are already part of the Building Permit Requirements of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). Thus, many advocacies and cause-oriented groups are vocal in this concern. Aside from PhilGBC, the Philippine Green Building Council, there are other monitoring and implementing arms cooperated in by professionals in the design and construction industry.

However, pollution  is only one of the many aspects of the relationship between healthy people and a healthy environment. How individuals and societies react with the environment has substantial implications for lifelong physical and mental health. 



III.               Crime Prevention and the Defensible Space Theory

There  is a common notion  that says,  grime causes crime.  This is usually linked to neighborhood in highly urbanized cities where social , cultural and economic factors affects the local crimes and the young adults are in a disadvantage position.  A neighborhood character and culture is contagious, and what the  young adults see by their eyes and hear by their ears are not deleted until their years of maturity.

Overcrowding or congestion in urban communities in Manila  is an agent to this. It makes the place vulnerable that will be harmfully contagious if relegated to the background.   Mainly because of the  vulnerability of dilapidated scenes that  invites intrusion.  Unrepaired gates, broken glass windows, unstable sidewalk canopy and even sidewalk illegal parking done day and night are hot in the commitment of crime.

It is in neighborhood leadership  or the occupants of the place to defend their place.  In the Defensible Space Theory ( DST), as a means of empowering the residents of these areas  and other urban built environment defend their place, the degree on how the occupants  defends its space determines the degree of the occurrence of crimes in the environment.

Oscar Newman, the originator of this idea says that “ physical environment can create perceived territories and  certain physical features that tend to encourage people to appropriate and exercise territorial control – which reduces both the opportunity for and the fear of crime”.  Understandably, when people claims ownership, watches over it,  takes care  of it, the space is less likely to be violated. In environmental design, the Crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED) is a multi-disciplinary approach to deterring criminal behavior. Based on Wikipedia, retrieved on September 12, 2015, on Article,  “Crime prevention through environmental design” , “CPTED strategies rely upon the ability to influence offender decisions that precede criminal acts. Generally speaking, most implementations of CPTED occur solely within the urbanized, built environment. Specifically altering the physical design of the communities in which humans reside and congregate in order to deter criminal activity is the main goal of CPTED. CPTED principles of design affect elements of the built environment ranging from the small-scale (such as the strategic use of shrubbery and other vegetation) to the overarching, including building form of an entire urban neighborhood and the amount of opportunity for "eyes on the street".

Some of the published strategies for the built environment says that  CPTED strategies rely upon the ability to influence offender decisions that precede criminal acts. Research into criminal behavior shows  that the decision to offend or not to offend is more influenced by cues to the perceived risk of being caught than by cues to reward or ease of entry. Certainty of being caught is the main deterrence for criminals not the severity of the punishment so by raising the certainty of being captured, criminal actions will decrease. Consistent with this research, CPTED based strategies emphasize enhancing the perceived risk of detection and apprehension.




A.     Natural surveillance and Landscaping Barriers


The Landscaping Network in the Topic: Landscape Noise Reduction had mentioned Four Easy Steps  to minimize noise and impose psychological barriers. These are provisions of plants that may absorb noise, deflect and reflect noise,  refract noise and to create white noise which at the same time implies  “ barriers to entry or seclude” .





B.     Helpful Social Learning Theories

We learn by first observing others and eventually reproducing their actions. Behavior modeling is intrinsic to all behavior settings. And these are all for the positive result if the modeling observed is a good act. But in city areas where varied cultural influences has set-in, modeling for the young adults can be for the bad side if not supervised and monitored.

Albert Bandura, another proponent of the social learning theory as published in the book Environmental Psychology in Design by Dan Kopec,   agreed that “personality is an interaction among the environment, behavior, and the person’s psychological processes and that the environment and a person’s behavior induce each other ( a concept called reciprocal determinism.) The importance of observational learning or modeling as a primary means of obtaining reinforcement is stressed because people naturally observe, process and imitate of others to gain approval, acceptance or rewards.”

Young adults needs monitoring and parental guidance to gain control over peer pressures and bad influences. Being situated in crowded areas, the person cannot fully change the environment event but can do cognitive control by changing the way in which he/she conceive of an environment. Here follows the decisional control, the ability to choose a response.

C.     Government Intervention

In the government side, the City of Manila, the Official Gazzette, Republic Act No. 10630: “An Act Establishing a Comprehensive Juvenile Justice and Welfare System, Creating the Juvenile justice and Welfare Council under the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Appropriating Funds Therefore, and for Other Purposes.” http://www.gov.ph/2013/10/03/republic-act-no-10630/ . This is to coordinate the implementation of the juvenile intervention programs and activities by national government agencies and other activities which may have an important bearing on the success of the entire national juvenile intervention program.

The Clean and Green program is being reinforced  by the local government. The Proclamation No. 244 declaring September of every year as National Clean-up Month and the 17th to the 23rd of September of each year as the World Clean and Green Week is imposed to support this purpose.


VI. Understanding Territoriality, Privacy, and Personal Space

A.     Privacy

As fully stated in the Book, Environmental Psychology for Design by Dan Kopec, many researchers elaborated that  the word  “Privacy” which  involves more than just control of physical access, our visual, acoustical, olfactory, or informational privacy can also be infringed upon.

Alan Westin, as written in the same book, described four aspects of privacy such as, Solitude,  Intimacy,  Anonymity  and Reserve. Solitude refers to the state of being alone, free from physical invasion. Intimacy refers to a group privacy and emotional bonds  like lovers who want to be alone. Anonymity is the desire to be invisible or to be unknown to  others, is a form of privacy commonly lost by celebrities and other who want to be among others but do not want to personally interact with or be identified by them.  Reserve refers to the  distance  people create between themselves and others  by erecting psychological barriers to protect inner thoughts and feelings, in public or in private.

Perception is a revealing component of population density in that, if ample space is perceived, the crowding effects diminish. Therefore, changing the perception of space is as influential as actually providing more space. According to Straub (2007), in the online article:  Population Density and Noise - A Research Paper by Dra. Monetha Williams ,  retrieved  on website: https://www.allbestessays.com/Psychology/Population-And-Noise-Density-Paper/38852.html,  “ the crowding effects of population density are not inevitable, and perhaps designing space in such a way to appear bigger than it actually is can affect psychological crowding.  In any event, mitigating the perception of crowding is of consequence as space becomes a limited resource, and perceiving ample space has far-reaching effects on subjective well-being and health.  When individuals perceive ample space, they report feeling a stronger sense of control over their environment and are less prone to anxiety and stress .”




B.  Personal Space
Referring to the same online article on Population Density and Noise, stated that “personal space is the physical distance we choose by which to maintain interpersonal relationships (Hutchinson & Kowalski, 1999). Edward Hall defined four basic interpersonal distance zones: intimate (0-18”), personal ( 18” to 4’) social ( 4’ to 12’).  Personal space and territoriality are two mechanisms for maintaining privacy. As defined by Sommer (1969) personal space is “an area with invisible boundaries surrounding a person’s body into which intruders may not come” . Altman (1981) suggests such space is changeable, similar to privacy, and varies between individuals, situations, and culture. Neuroscientific research claims personal space is created and mediated by the human brain, and although boundaries shift within circumstances, it is of value and consequence to all people (Kennedy, GlƤscher, Tyszka, & Adolphs, 2009)”.




C.     Territoriality

Human territoriality encompasses temporarily durable preventive and reactive behaviors including perceptions, use and defense of places, people, objects, and ideas by means of verbal, self-marker, and environmental prop behaviors in response to the actual or implied presence of others and in response to properties of the environment, and is geared to satisfying certain primary and secondary motivational states of individuals and groups (Edney, 1974, p. 963). 

Territoriality, privacy and personal space involve personal choice and individual perceptions of the use of space for normal functioning. Depending a person’s history and upbringing, the psychological effects of these perceptions vary between individuals, but undeniably, the limited space has an eventual effect on humans, more so if this is not engineered.

According to Clayton & Myers, 2008, in urban environments, when space is limited, aggressive and violent behavior, poor academic performance, and more negative social interaction between community members is observed. Intrusive noise causes limited to severe annoyance, depending on how individuals interpret and perceive the intrusion (Straub, 2007). Noise reduction strategies can range from simple to complex, but are worthwhile especially in cases in which individuals have little control over anxiety- and stress-provoking noise.


D.  Territoriality, Privacy, and Personal Space as Population Density Increases
Straub (2007) refers to a study by John Calhoun by which he experiments with population density within the living conditions of rats. In this study, rats behaved normally by all standards when there was ample living space, although as the population increased, the rat’s social environment deteriorated. They fought, became more territorial, infant mortality increased sharply, reproductive capacity diminished, and some rats became cannibalistic. Although these discoveries may not necessarily translate to human behavior under similar conditions, population density certainly has practical affects on populations.

Population density affects people, and it also contributes to the psychological effects of crowding whereby people feel confined and limited with less access to necessities. Crowding has been linked to aggression, social withdrawal, increased criminal acts, and inappropriate social interaction (Stokols, 1972). To decrease the symptoms of crowding, it is essential to preserve privacy, personal space, and honor territoriality as a basic human social need. As the resource of space decreases, privacy and personal space demand greater acknowledgment to prevent psychological affects. Without privacy and personal space people tend to feel less control, more competition, and have an increased tendency to react negatively to minor annoyances (Straub, 2007).


VII.   The Effect of Nature on Individuals Living in Urban Environments

Managed natural settings such as zoos, parks and other green spaces can create support and social context for interaction with nature. Not only does such interaction provide interaction, but also nurtures an environmental identity that is so often inhibited in urban living situations. Natural settings found within urban living areas encourage a perception that people should, and need to convene with nature. Maller et al. (2005), refer to beliefs promoted during the Civil War that claimed the influence of the natural environment on people’s health reduced disease, promoted health, supported community health and reduced crime. Contemporary evidence continues to supports these theories.

A. Noise and its Effects on Individuals

Health psychologists have studied the negative health affects of chronically noisy environments. In human and animal studies, the damaging effects of noise raise blood pressure and cortisol levels, which indicates increased levels of stress (Straub, 2007). Chronic exposure to noise can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and decrease learning ability. Children are especially vulnerable to the disruptive effects of chronic noise as they learn maladaptive skills that provoke them to block specific stimuli. This can be problematic since children do not have the capacity to fully understand which stimuli should be blocked and which is essential to their learning experience (Straub, 2007). Verbal skills are decreased because when children block noise they are likely to block verbal elements as well.

According to Straub (2007), investigation into chronic noise effects in laboratory settings showed louder noise can disrupt short-term memory and decrease the ability to perform simple tasks. Individuals vary in their appraisal of noise, and the more disturbing the individual finds the noise, the greater the affect the noise will have on the individual. Even though noise may not be directly responsible for stress, the affects on sleep, anxiety provoked, and subjective attitude toward the noise has a direct effect on individual health (Straub, 2007). Noise, over which individuals have little to no control has a more severe affect on stress levels.

b. Crowding and Density

Crowding happens when there are too many people, too little space, or both. The three components of crowding are the situation, the emotion (affect)  and the behavior produced by the emotion.  The nature and organization of an environment make up the situation: this will evoke an emotional reaction, which, if unresolved, will result in a behavioral manifestation. Once we begin feeling the negative pressures of density, our predominating   concerns are loss of control, the inability to act toward a particular goal, having a limited number of options or any combination of these.

High density is a source of psychological arousal and stress as demonstrated by numerous laboratory and field studies of its effects on skin conductance and perspiration, cardiac malfunctions, including  blood pressure and other stress indicators.

Our experience of overcrowding within the environment depends on our perceived levels of control over it, our purpose for being it, our expectations of it and the others sharing it.  Studies suggest that feelings of crowding are intensified when people are in an environment with others whom they perceive to be different  from themselves. In dormitories in a nearby university, six college girls are harmonious in a 4m x6m room with 3 double deck beds. They call them  selves  as “bedspacers” which means, they pay as per the bed occupancy per month, not the room occupancy. Still they won’t feel crowded since they came from the same province and study in the same school who feels a  belongingness and share many things in common. But, there is a psychological overcrowding to the 3 girls of same room sleeping I three single beds if they are unknown to each other and don’t have good things in common.

Many write ups illustrates that the feelings of crowding are highly contingent on individually personality factors. For example, people with a strong internal focus  of control believe they can control many aspects of their lives and  will attempts to control situations presented by crowded environment, which increase their odds of incurring  greater level of stress. In extreme situations, individuals subjected to crowding may engage in behaviors related to learned helplessness. High social density is a more source of emotional arousal and feelings  over anxiety- and stress-provoking noise.



IX. DISCUSSION

The  previous readings directly showed the   social and psychological effects of overcrowding on Health as it poses direct and indirect health risks to all aspects of the population not just young adults but likewise, the elderly, the disable and the young children.

Overcrowding results in insufficient ventilation in homes, causing or exacerbating respiratory illness.  Susceptibility to disease, the severity of diseases, the spreading of illness, and the mortality due to disease all increase as a result of social and physical overcrowding. Overcrowding exacerbates health risks related to insufficient and poor water supply and poor sanitation systems in the camps. Likelihood of accidents in the home and community increases. Overcrowding physically and emotionally overburdens mothers and other caregivers, increasing health risks of dependents.  Also, lack of space and overcrowding  directly impacts on the physical development and psychological well being of disabled residents.

The Social effect is evident in far- reaching social problems by placing a strain on social relations within the home and community. Overcrowding in schools and homes is linked to substandard education and functional illiteracy, and may be related to increased child labor. It is a 'push factor' in the decisions leading to girls' early marriage (before the age of 18) which, in turn, leads to serious health and social ramifications for women and children.  Overcrowding affects women's access to social and economic resources; it increases their responsibilities in the home and burdens their time.  Direct and indirect psychological effects result from overcrowding. Very sensitive is the  lack of privacy is linked to depression and other negative psychological outcomes.  Overcrowding contributes to psychological frustrations which, in turn, have a bearing on behavioral responses and residents' ability to cope with the conditions.

There are few programs on the part of NGOs, and insufficient resources allocated, to address social and psychological effects of overcrowding. Nonetheless, there is a great deal of concern by stakeholders about the issue and a belief that it is of critical importance.

In Article IV, Crime Prevention and the Defensible Space Theory, the elements of CTPD is discussed where the word “ environment” is commonly used to refer to  external environment of the place. Natural surveillance is also introduce as it increase the threat of apprehension by taking steps to increase the perception that people can be seen. Natural surveillance occurs by designing the placement of physical features, activities and people in such a way as to maximize visibility and foster positive social interaction among legitimate users of private and public space. Potential offenders feel increased scrutiny and limitations on their escape routes. These are engineering solutions to impose barriers and to set behavior for safety.

According to Arch Felino A. Palafox Jr.,  “Open spaces are also important for emergency preparedness. The open space at the ground level must be able to accommodate the number of residents in the building, plus the fire trucks, ambulances, and other emergency vehicles. There should be at least one square meter allotted per person for evacuation. I have observed that some developments with tall buildings in Metro Manila do not have enough open spaces for such emergencies. Many tall buildings want to reach the sky but do not know how to meet the ground. Moreover, our building codes allow high-rises to only have two meters of space between tall buildings. Without enough distance, these buildings will hit each other during big earthquakes, which will cause greater damage to life and property.”



X.      CONCLUSION

The psychological/emotional benefits from contact with nature  and mentally in communication with nature are widely recognized as relieving stress and tension and diminishing anxiety. These benefits may become more prominent as the global burden of disease changes over time. Exposure to open space, and green space in particular, is important in promoting restoration and relaxation, and reducing stress. A number of studies have investigated the impact of green space on mental health.  

Ulrich, in his write up I, Ulrich RS. 1979. Visual landscapes and psychological wellbeing. Landscape Research, found Americans’ stress levels to be less after exposure to nature scenes, compared with  urban scenes. In contrast to nature scenery, urban scenes lacking natural elements tend to work against emotional wellbeing, significantly increasing sadness. They found later that natural settings’ restore positive effects, reduce anger/aggression and reduce fear.

According to  Cohen, D.A. et al. 2008. The built environment and collective efficacy.  Health & Place, 14(2), 198-208,   “Parks are considered community assets and bring people in the surrounding areas to a common place for leisure purposes, a time when people are more likely to be open to what they see around them and receptive to others, because they are recreating together and sharing a common space”.  Active lifestyles depend, as much upon environmental settings as upon individual will. Open spaces, and especially green spaces, promote healthy behaviors by providing an accessible, affordable and enjoyable place to be physically active. Open spaces encourage walking and outdoor activities such as outdoor games, sports, and cycling, increasingly recognized as some of the best ways to improve physical health and mental wellbeing.

 The joint efforts of Local Government in Metro Manila ( LGU) is promoting the maintenance  of open spaces and these are almost within the range of reach of young adults in the city. Some these are the Rizal Park,  Paco Park,  Washington Sycip Park , Legaspi Active Park, Track 30th , Garden Park 6, and the Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife are some of the examples. 

According to Chris Crawford, “A city with great parks , trails, and recreational amenities attracts talented and educated people because it is viewed as a good place to live”. 






References:



Books:

1.      J.P. Chaplin, Ph.D., DICTIONARY OF PSYCHOLOGY, Second Revised Edition ( 1985, October) Random House Inc. USA


2.      Dr. Karen Cullen, CHILD PSYCHOLOGY, (2011) Icon Books , UK and USA


3.      Alain de Botton, THE ARCHITECTURE OF HAPPINESS, 1st Edition, (2008, April) First Vintage International, Vintage Books, USA


4.      Tara Bennett-Goleman, EMOTIONAL ALCHEMY, (2001) Three Rivers Press, New York


5.      Josefina E. Gaerlan, Delia A. Limpingco and Geraldine E. Tria, PSYCHOLOGICAL BASIS OF HUMAN BEHAVIOR, 3rd Edition, ( 2017) Ken Incorporated, Quezon City , Philippines



6.      Don Norman, THE DESIGN OF EVERYDAY THINGS, (2013) , Basic Books , USA



7.      Alicia Hernandez-Kahayon and Ma. Rita Teresa Villacarlos-Berba, PSYCHOLOGY TOWARDS A NEW MILLENIUM, (2009) National Bookstore, Philippines


8.      Jason Pomeroy, SKYCOURT AND SKYGARDEN, Greening the Urban Habitat ( 2014) Routliedge, New York


9.      Richard Sennett, THE FALL OF THE PUBLIC MAN, (1976) Penguin Books Ltd, England


10.    Kevin Lynch, IMAGE OF THE CITY, ( 1990) The MIT Press, United States





Websites:

1.      Philippine Statistic Authority, “Population of the City of Manila climbed to 1.7 Million ( Results from the 2010 Census of Population and Housing. (released July 26, 2013).



2.      The Effects of Population Density and Noise, Retrieved on Website (September 16,2015)



3.      City of Manila Official Website, Retrieved Setember 10, 2015



4.      Arch Felino A. Palafox, Jr. “Parks and Open Spaces”, Manila Times, Retrieved September 15, 2015 at Website:




5.      Health and Open Spaces: A SUMMARY OF THE IMPACT OF OPEN SPACE ON HEALTH AND WELL BEING.Regional Public Health Information Paper – March 2010 Retrieved September 11, 2015 thru Website: http://www.rph.org.nz/content/e992bb93-6aa9-410f-9d8f-226dd474730e.cmr



6.      Landscape Network: LANDSCAPE NOISE REDUCTION: Four Ways to Design for Peace and Quite










Online Articles:

1.      Brian Christens & Paul W. Speer, Vanderbilt University: Predicting Violent Crime Using Urban and Suburban Densities, Retrieved as internet article on September 17, 2015 at


2.      Crime prevention through environmental design, Wikipedia, Retrieved September 16, 2015 thru website:





3.      Philippine Official Gazzette, Republic Act No. 10630: “An Act Establishing a Comprehensive Juvenile Justice and Welfare System, Creating the Juvenile justice and Welfare Council under the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Appropriating Funds Therefore, and for Other Purposes.”




4.      Psychological Musings, Effects of  Population Density and Noise






5.      Published Research Paper on Population Density and Noise by Alycia Moss PSY/460, January 4, 2012, Dr. Monetha Williams.




6.      Manila Bulletin, CCTV cameras required in all business and public places in ParaƱaque
http://www.mb.com.ph/cctv-cameras-required-in-all-business-and-public-places-in-paranaque/#Rrg8Z6QDALM3p8DT.99



7.      Philippine Official Gazzette: Proclaimation No. 244: Declaring September of every year as National Clean-up Month and the 7th t the 23rd of September as the World Clean and Green Week. http://www.gov.ph/1993/09/03/proclamation-no-244-s-1993/