AC DESIGN YARD

I used to be a shy girl growing-up, until one day I finally found my voice. I find pleasure in having quality conversations with people, I act as a counsellor to my younger friends, upon learning that it made a positive impact on them, led me to start a club to broaden my reach, to inspire and uplift peoples' spirits.

I am strongly inclined in design and the arts, I was actively part of Philippine Fashion Week from 2008-2014.  Volunteered in a few NGO's, conducting dressmaking workshops for young (abused) teens. When I took a break from fashion I had stints as a Project Manager, and Product Development Designer.

In 2016 I was invited to present during Paris Fashion Week.  In 2017, finally set-up a company (www.acdesignyard.com), from MultiMedia to Fashion, Urban farming and Culinary to Up-cycling, we are ambitiously building a lifestyle brand, creating opportunities for the surrounding community.

Over-population and stress among city dwellers, hence the interest in off-the-grid living is slowly growing.  While locals in rural areas who are in need of livelihood are crying out for support. Imagine a consciously curated community wherein all of humans' basic needs –from the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual aspects are met, a model community that could be replicated in other underdeveloped areas, while highlighting each provinces' natural resources and cultural practices which in turn supports tourism, proving that an ideal world is possible through sensible design, collaborations with the best of the bests inventions and innovations from Science to the Arts. Nature-centered Architecture; Youth Enrichment Programs through Visual Arts, Performing Arts, and Music; Sustainable Farming using Permaculture and Aquaponics; Waste Management through composting methods and up-cycling projects.  No matter what social status, we provide an ecosystem for a holistic lifestyle. Transitioning from city life to nature-centered-living.

Poverty, illiteracy, Poor habits, overall quality of life specifically for the marginalized. Guiding people's thinking to shift into a healthier personal and community outlook, which leads to lifestyle enhancement in a deeper perspective. The change has to begin from one's mindset, which eventually would make the transition to the concept of the holistic community sustainable. Through setting tangible representations of the community concept, by implementing the project in phases, setting-up the farm, providing interactive workshops that integrates creative thinking, personal & social awareness, and such. Based on the most recent report made in 2019, there are 40 listed poorest provinces in the Philippines. Through my interactions with locals and symposiums I've attended, I learned that majority of the mindset among the poor is entitlement, ironically, for instance, whenever they see a foreigner visit their town, their automatic response is asking for alms, and expecting donations/relief goods, whether it happened after a major calamity or not. Of course this DOES NOT APPLY TO ALL locals. Undeniably this form of dependency impedes their opportunity for self-growth, we have to identify the root of their actions, providing practical support, while keeping the balance through strict compliance on rules and regulations within the community.

AC Design Yard - City Approach

We converted the ground floor of our warehouse into a garments factory, while the 2nd floor is set-up for an art gallery, production studio, design/lifestyle brand showroom, and office. While the front yard, part of it is for vegetable gardening, and another for the up-cycling station.  Initially, we will be partnering with local farmers from nearby provinces for our Pantry-set Monthly Subscription service (pre-prepared veggies/meat/homemade condiments), a convenient way to grocery shop while reducing food waste.  Then slowly introduce our whole foods refilling station, and home needs. As we slowly transition to our farm community.

AC Design Yard - Farm Approach

Transforming idle provincial lands into a flourishing self-sustaining community, integrating both traditional practices and modern-technology. Providing impoverished locals an opportunity to regain dignity in their own lands, while giving those nature-loving city dwellers a breezy transition from urban life to farm life, that would still enable them to pursue a virtual career (via AC Design Estates). Systematically building a village that would benefit both groups of individuals, through a healthy exchange of services and goods.

AC Design Estates

Nature-centered architecture combined with innovation and technology, providing the accustomed city-comfort within your jungle home.

AC DESIGN YARD (ACDY) - City Approach

Employees (in-house):  healthy work culture; stable income; opportunity for vocational/professional growth.

Project-base-workers (homeless / job less due to COVID):  an alternative source of income through up-cycling projects and urban gardening in our front yard. 

Consumers/Clients:  providing sustainable products and services, joining the slow-food-movement, such as pre-packed/pre-cooked quality ingredients to minimise food waste.  Slow-fashion & lifestyle items, quality-wardrobe-staples, heirloom-isnpired pieces, and indigenous products.

Artist Incubation:  discovering raw/underground talent, by providing a space for growth and a platform to showcase their work.

AC DESIGN YARD (ACDY) - Farm Community Approach

Locals :  up-grade the outlook and quality of life, by enhancing their natural skills set and resources.

Tourists :  offering a more diverse and holistic experience from (ACDY) farm community excursions. We are joining the eco-tourism movement.

Artist Incubation:  opening a safe space for artists to reflect on their craft, while sharing their talents with the local youth within the community.

ACDE Residents (AC DESIGN ESTATES) :  A dream come true for a nature-loving human, providing a viable environment to pursue a virtual career within the curated lush of greeneries.  A breezy city-life transition to a nature-centered lifestyle.

The goal is to design an environment that inspires and supports building healthy habits which leads to the holistic lifestyle. A community that reinforces a sense of solidarity, and also nurtures an individual's need for personal space and time – in which being surrounded by nature can provide.

This curated community must select the best partners and collaborators in the fields of technology (renewable energy, and alike), innovation (water/waste management, etc.), processes (permaculture, aquaponics, etc.).

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It all started when my nine year old self realized the obvious negative effects of the amount of garbage we produce in each household, however the idea of working with trash was not popular back then, hence, I've been discouraged by my elders to do so.

As a teen, during commute stuck in traffic, I often watch people in the streets, buses and sidewalks, having a certain look in their eyes, I often wonder what's on their mind, what kind life they're living. As I reached my mid-twenties, gained my freedom and started to see the world (my country) more, I noticed so many aspect in our society gone terribly wrong, I immersed myself in different communities as much as I could to get first-hand interaction with the people, to learn more about their sentiments, hopes and dreams. For the past years I have been actively exposing myself to different workshops, symposiums, in different subjects, from Art, Design, Meditation, Eco-tourism, Real Estate, etc.

Concocting all the informations I've gathered from the past decade, it fuelled me to prove that this curated community is one of the best changes we could do to reroute our ways of loving our planet.

At an early age, I have been exposed to narcissism, gaslighting and criticisms. I have learned to be emotionally and mentally independent, it took me years to heal my spirit, it was hard work. I often wonder how many more people experience what I have gone through. I always believed things can be done better, I like understanding a situation in depth and bringing resolutions from the root of an issue. Growing-up, I often felt limited, trapped, and underestimated.

I often daydream about an alter-world wherein I am free to be myself and flourish in whatever field I plan to pursue.

Now that I am older, and have seen different aspects of the world, I learned to introspect on my childhood stepping outside of the picture. I knew I had to make this “alter-world” into a reality.

We could define two types of people, those who are happy living a pleasant and comfortable life, another who yearns for more -- to create, inspire and lead.  I believe I lean towards the latter.

I am open-minded and curious - I welcome new ideas/processes if it can deliver better results than what was initially planned.

I see potential in people and situations - I always find ways to see the positive side and strength of a person/place/thing, then figure ways to nurture it. Also, practicing resourcefulness reinforces one's creativity. Hence, turning mishaps into an advantage and/or opportunity.

I am passionate about self-love and social harmony - I have managed to heal myself, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Really, one must care for oneself, to fully be prepared and capable to lead others.

I have learned to be persistent - I hold on to my goal, my dream, even if no one else believed that it can be possible. I also had to learn to speak the language of my business partner (whose expertise is brand marketing & management), I had to convince him that this community project isn't all about charity work, but also has a viable business connected to it. I believe that "the impossible just takes a little longer" (one of my favorite quotes by Art E. Berg).

With my broad interests, I can create associations between opposite ideas and concepts. I can easily interact with people of different backgrounds and social status. I have a vision of an ideal world, and believe it can be made possible.

I am fearless.  I am not ashamed of starting from square-one whenever I make mistakes, I keep going until I reach its peak potential.

Rather, I take on challenges. Back when I was still a fashion student, I entered a competition which was considered the most prestigious in the industry at that time. Having no experience in accessory design, being the “adventurous artist” that I am, I sent in my entry, got in the finals, and experimented my way through - then found myself winning the grand prize, I was amazed by the whole experience, the entire process.

Another memorable moment I had, during my early years as a freelance designer, since I use my allowance to purchase materials I needed, as I work with limited supplies, I did not want to waste any of it, there was this instance wherein I made a mistake with my stitches, so I tuned-up that “adventurous artist” in me, turns out that sewing mishap experiment became the staple design technique that I was well acknowledged for by fashion editors/critics. Up to this day, I use that design concept, that I now call, FLVX (you may find out more about it via www.alodiacecilia.com).

I see potential in someone - one of my staff used to be a housemaid that I befriended at our neighbourhood park. Currently, she assists me in training four of her siblings who now joined the team.

I'm resourceful and level-headed - from operations at the factory, during photo/video shoots, or events management, I'm able to quickly come-up with solutions without wasting time on blame. Unless it is something that needs to be reprimanded, I keep my cool then speak to the person in private afterwards.

I encourage direct and open-communication - I hold one-on-one meetings with my staff, practice putting myself in their shoes to understand where they're coming from. They may directly message me for any concerns, whether it be about work or personal troubles. I also encourage them to share their thoughts and suggestions during my design process to make them feel more involved and valued (I am lucky to have a team with good taste). Another instance, having to let go of a promising prodigy, who confessed that he still dreams to pursue acting in Hollywood, letting them follow their heart's desires. Leaders must choose what is best for the majority in the long-term perspective.

AC DESIGN ESTATES, will be the next step after setting-up the farm community, this will provide potentially higher ROI, for the project as a whole.

As mentioned above, the project has three (3) phases:

1.  AC Design Yard - Neighbourhood City

2. AC Design Yard - Farm Community

3. AC Design Estates - Nature-centered Living

What sets our AC Design Yard - Farm Community (and AC Design Estates) apart from other existing eco-villages, is that our concept is based on bringing different classes of people into one community (local farm families, migrate city-dwellers, incubated artists, visitors/tourists), we create an ecosystem that is inclusive of all of humans' basic needs, shows how we all could offer support and appreciate each of our role in society.

The ultimate goal is to expand our nature-centered communities to achieve the protection of our lands, and forests, in an effort to keep our country as green as possible.

For this section, I will focus on expounding the concept of, AC DESIGN YARD - Farm Community Approach

LOCALS

Input : Setting systematic eco-farming and food production centers

Activities : Training and guiding the people throughout the entire process of the farming and food production set-up. Also, providing personality development and enrichment programs through music and art for local families and the youth.

Output : Providing activities that would consume their attention and time more productively (an effort to keep them away from destructive vices).

Outcome : Giving hope and a sense of purpose (encourage local youth back into appreciating the art of farming).

Impact : Gaining a new outlook on oneself and a holistic perspective in life.

TOURISTS

Input : Accessible means of discovering about the farm and good customer service, convenience in booking a stay (solo/duo/groups).

Activities : To offer both Interactive and self-reflective workshops such as, eco-farming, local cooking classes, both traditional and unconventional arts&crafts, music, yoga/meditation, tree planting, of course the classic tours available in nearby beaches and mountains (possibilities are endless).

Output : Providing a more meaningful, purposeful, and fruitful experience.

Outcome : An opportunity to have a first-hand experience of a culture and tradition different from one's own.

Impact : Appreciation of all people from different backgrounds, as well as a deeper understanding of oneself.

ARTIST COLLABORATORS

Input : A safe space to self-reflect and create art, while providing part-time jobs within the farm community.

Activities : Honing in their crafts (may it be visual arts, theatre or music), and an opportunity to share their skills and talents to the local youth community and visitors.

Output : Conducive work environment for a more creative mind, and productive body.

Outcome : Defy the age old belief of “starving artists”.

Impact : A more purposeful sense of self.

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At Present:

AC Design Yard – City

We've managed to keep all our employees (despite the challenges during this pandemic)

We have eight (8) full-time employees, six of which started off as trainees/interns.

Part-time job for two (2) homeless couples (squatting at the corner of our warehouse).

A local community of Kantarines and Inabel weavers from the Ilocos Province (northern part of Luzon Region), and Pineapple-silk weavers from Aklan (a province in the Visayas Region), these hand-woven fabrics are used in all our in-house clothing brands.

A small group of college students in need of a part-time-job, in an island southern most part of Palawan, Bgry.Punta Sebaring, we are in the process of creating products out of natural resources found within the island, these products would be part of our Lifestyle brand collection.

In One-Year:

Targeting 3 to 9 small group of farmers and native artisans in need of support to market their produce/products, that we can incorporate through our Lifestyle brand and Pantry-set service, as we work on increasing the number of our subscribers.

In Five-Years:

AC Design Yard - Farm Community 

By the 2nd or 3rd year, through a collaboration with a resort-farm lot owner in Palawan, to accommodate an average of 9 to 12 families, depending on the space allotted for this project.

As we generate more funds, we then build (ACDY-owned) farm community (target lot size of 3-5 hectares) to accommodate 24 to 30 families (with an average of 3-4 elders, 3-6 children; considering grandparents).

The purpose of assembling a team of creatives to be deployed to the farm community, is a way to inspire the local youth, to provide an experiential form of education.  As we build reputation of a skill-sharing community to the "outside world", we begin inviting other professionals from different fields to conduct workshops and talks, through this we aim to discover potential youth leaders within the farm community, whom later could carry on the tasks initiated by our team of creatives. What's important to remember is that workshops and seminars are not limited to the youth alone, we will be designing interactive workshops for the adults as well.

All the goals of the company for this (AC Design Yard) project will only be possible with the cooperation of the people, so we must prioritise nurturing a healthier and positive mindset.

One, would be the construction/renovation/additional electrical installation for power supply for the warehouse are all costly, the pandemic also slowed everything down. 

Two, application of government documents are usually unpredictable and takes time.

Three, still building a network of collaborators, partners and suppliers for the farm community, anticipating that it may take time to find the right one to assemble a winning team.

We shift some plans, yet still prioritise what is urgent. We focus on what we have readily available, do activities that are crucial to start a project for long-term results.  We try to simultaneously work on new projects with lower (financial) investment, to complete the puzzle slowly but surely.

An example would be, product development for one food item, nut butter, using local nuts, supporting small farmers from Samar (Eastern Visayas), one of the poorest provinces in the Philippines. From this nut butter, we then introduce more food products as we slowly build the Pantry-set service.

We just keep on going, keep ourselves busy with what we can do, we try to take care of what is under our control.

To build a network of collaborators, partners and suppliers as we build the farm community.  We need the best of the bests in various fields of technology, innovation, advisors in architecture/engineering/agriculture, to help make smarter decisions and link us to people/suppliers who works towards the same goal as ours.  The prize funding would ultimately be of great advantage, as well, it would expedite the project's pace.

Below are some of the previous finalist from Solve - MIT, that I think would be beneficial for the farm community.

All three products/technology are practical and very useful for most rural lands, especially far flung areas.

- Mauricio Cordova pitch Faircap Clean Water

- Aadish Rakhecha pitch Insanirator

- Diana Yousef pitch Change:Water Labs-iThrone Evaporative Toilet