Presenting to about 9,000 Filipino civil engineers was awesome. But presenting the same presentation three times was a marathon experience!
In the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers (PICE) Midyear Regional Technical Conference (RTC) held at Iloilo City last June 13-14, 2018 I and my co-presentor, Engr. Kirk Yu delivered a lecture on the topic, "Structural Engineering and Heritage Preservation." I presented the basic definitions on heritage conservation, the impact of disasters on heritage structures and the role of civil engineers in heritage preservation. Kirk Yu presented our research on multi-hazard risk assessment of heritage buildings in Iloilo City CBD and examples of NDT and semi-destructive testing for determining material properties of heritage structures.
The registered participants to the RTC was about 9,000 but the capacity of the new Iloilo Convention Center (ICC) is 6,000. So what the organizers did was to have three venues for the RTC: venue 1 at ICC (6,000 capacity), venue 2 at Central Philippine University auditorium (2,000 capacity) and venue 3 at Diversion 21 Hotel (1,000 capacity). So the lecturers have to deliver the same presentation at the three venues at different times and day. It was an awesome and tiring experience!
 |
| What is the impact of earthquakes on heritage? I asked the audience. |
 |
| The audience (6,000 strong) at Iloilo Convention Center |
 |
| Part of my lecture was a tribute to the late Architect Augusto Villalon - a champion in heritage conservation |
 |
| At venue 2 - Central Philippine University |
 |
| The 2,000 participants at CPU Auditorium |
 |
| With former Dean Walden Rio of CPU and Kirk Yu |
 |
| The participants at venue 3 - Diversion 21 Hotel |
 |
| Receiving the token of appreciation after the lecture at ICC |
