Fueled by a passion for landscaping ignited in her hometown of Zamboanga City, Landscape Architect Rizamay Basing set out to pursue the dream of becoming a Landscape Architect. That journey ultimately led her to the University of Philippines – Diliman and culminated with passing the board exam in 2006 and eventually practicing as a landscape architect in the government of Zamboanga City.
Working with the City Government of Zamboanga has been an enriching journey for Architect Rizamay Basing. When she was just 29 years old, she was allowed to become the Assistant Department Head – an option that is rare in the landscape architecture profession, let alone for a female. Since she has been in this role for 16 years, she is proud of her many contributions to the city’s development and growth.
As a landscape architect working for the government, she’s most proud of redeveloping public open spaces, parks, plazas, gardens, and other recreational areas and promoting the profession. Throughout her career as a landscape architect, she convinced the City Government that professionals must be heard to achieve the government’s goals.
There are two particular projects that Architect Rizamay Basing is very proud of. The first is the Jardin Maria Clara L. Lobregat at Pasonanca Park.
Jardin MCLL was her first park project. Her supervisor at the time was a University of Sto Tomas graduate well-versed in Landscape Architecture as a specialized field within Architecture, so she saw it as a blessing in disguise. Hence, she entrusted the project to her.
The second one is the newly inaugurated Zamboanga City Waterfront and Heritage Walk Development at R.T. Lim Boulevard.
The Department of Budget and Management funded the project through its “Green, Green, Green Program.” The Department of Budget and Management also gave the government funding for two more projects from the 2018 funding, which they’re finalizing now.
With many notable projects in her field, Architect Basing notes that being a Filipina Architect has advantages. However, she said, “The greatest advantage of being a Filipina Architect is understanding more the different desires of our clients.”
She also notes that having her little ones contribute to her gaining more empathy.
“As a mother and a Filipina designer, I believe I can understand the users’ needs more through empathy, maybe because we are more attentive and intuitive,” Architect Basing explains.
With Architect Basing’s innovative landscape architecture designs embedded in culture, hard work, and dedication to creating beautiful projects for the city, she is truly a leader in her field. She has the unique advantage of understanding the desires of her clients more deeply due to being a mother and Filipina designer, as empathy comes so quickly from within. Along with that understanding comes an acute perception of their needs, making her designs outstanding. Her works are what dreams are made of for many. Architect Basing inspires all those seeking to follow their dreams, showing them just how successful one can be when one pursues what one loves. Her success and accomplishments should inspire us all toward our greatness!