DOT, LEGO Launch Competition To Make Scale Models Of Intramuros Attractions

The Department of Tourism, through the Intramuros Administration, and LEGO team up to promote tourism of the historical attractions in the area. Through a model building competition called iMake History Fortress Architecture, 12 groups of students from different universities will build scale models of 12 attractions.

According to a Philippine News Agency report, 12 universities have been assigned an attraction each through the drawing of lots. Each group has 3 to 5 members, who are mostly architecture or engineering students. The groups will compete for the top prize of up to P50,000.

DOT And LEGO Foster History Appreciation Among Youth

In an Inquirer report of the launch, Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo said that the competition “aims to encourage youthful Filipino visionaries, particularly architecture and engineering students, to deepen their appreciation of our diversely rich history.”

For Lego Education, represented by its local partner Felta Multi-Media, the competition is “an exercise in creativity” so the students have some freedom when it comes to making the scale models. Groups are only limited by the size of the scale model, which has to be 1:100 meters in scale. Models also have to be 70 per cent made of LEGO bricks.

The competition runs from August to September with a deadline of submission on September 30. Felta Multi-Media will provide all groups with the LEGO bricks to use.

iMake History Fortress LEGO Education Design Learning Center

Aside from the competition, LEGO and the Intramuros Administration are also working on establishing a LEGO Education Design Learning Center in Baluarte de Santa Barbara in Fort Santiago. The center will feature LEGO learning materials and interactive displays that aims to teach future engineers, architects and designers.

According to the Intramuros Administration, after the restoration of the fortress, it hopes to draw in more visitors including students and youth who will surely like the new learning center. They are targeting that the center will be open to the public by October.