CHAPTER 2

DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY

This chapter discusses about the research method used,
description of the population and reasons for the choice,
what instruments or materials were used, how the research
was done, and the procedure for the analysis of the data.
Research Design
This study used a descriptive research, specifically
library research type, wherein data collected from different
sources will be recorded, described, interpreted, analyzed
and compared. The method descriptive research was selected
since the process helped in obtaining information relating
to the problem, which is a design for a Cultural Heritage
Center. This method can be achieved in two ways, namely: a)
Observational, defined as a method of viewing and recording
the participants, and b) Case study, defined as an in-depth
study of an individual or group of individuals. Another
research design used is historical research. It is the
process of inquiry into past events, in order to produce a
description and interpretation of those events. The sources
of historical information are commonly classified as primary
or secondary. This method was used since the proposed

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22

project is about the planning and design of a building which

involves culture and heritage of Mountain Province.
Descriptive research was mostly used for this research
where it focused on gathering information about the Mountain
Province heritage and culture.
Population and Locale of the Study
The proposed project is located in Mountain Province, a
province belonging to the Cordillera Administrative Region
(CAR). It is subdivided in 10 municipalities, which includes
Sagada, where the site is located (Shown in Fig. 5). Sagada
on the other hand, is a fifth class municipality in Mountain
Province consisting of 19 barangays and has a population of
11,244 people (Census, 2010). Geographically speaking,
Sagada is located 1705N and 12054E and is nestled in a
valley at the upper end of the Malitep tributary of the
Chico River some one and a half kilometers above sea level
in the Central Cordillera Mountains, enveloped between the
main Cordillera Ranges and the Ilocos Range. It is bounded
on the north by the municipality of Tubo, Abra, on the east
by the municipality of Bontoc, on the south by the
municipality of Sabangan and on the west by the municipality
of Besao. It is 157 kilometers from Baguio and 18 kilometers

Design and Methodology

from Bontoc via the Halsema Highway.

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Design and Methodology

24

Fig. 5 Location Map of Sagada, Mt. Province

The site for the proposed project is located within the

34,000 square meters Episcopal Mission Compound, in barangay

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25

Poblacion, Sagada. Some buildings within the compound is

considered a heritage land mark of the province because of
its historical significance, although not yet declared by
NCCA, which includes the Church of the St. Mary the Virgin
(a stone church built from rubbles of the WWII), Saint Mary
High School, St. Theodores Hospital, and other old
buildings within the compound. (Refer to Appendices for
photos)
People involved in this study will be the locals of
Mountain Province, the tourists visiting the place, the
government and/or non-government organizations/officials and
the owner of the lot (the Episcopal Diocese of Northern
Philippines). The respondents are chosen simply because they
are the main concern in this study.

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26

Data Gathering Tool/s

Tools used in gathering information, procedures done,
and the treatment of the data will be discussed per problem.
1. Tools used in gathering data regarding the culture
and heritage of Mountain Province to be integrated
in the design of the proposed project
2. For the second problem about the activities to be
incorporated in the proposed project which will
determine the needed facilities, materials used are
computer and camera. Computer is used to search for
online references to be used in the study and camera
is used to capture images related to the study.
3. And lastly for the third problem concerning the
architectural design approach that will be used in
the proposed Cultural Heritage Center for Mountain
Province, tools used are computer and the library.
The tools are used to search for references to be
studied for the third problem.
Data Gathering Procedure
1. Method used in gathering data regarding what unique
culture and heritage of Mountain Province will be
integrated in the proposed project is by reading
through books like the one entitled Ethnography of

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27

the Major Ethnolinguistic Groups in the Cordillera

where the researcher obtained data about the
different material culture of the tribes in Mountain
Province. Information is also obtained by
researching through online references to support the
data gathered from the books.
2. Data gathering procedure for the second problem
about the activities to be incorporated in the
proposed project which will determine the needed
facilities is through online research to look for
case studies related to the subject and base the
activities and facilities on similar existing
buildings. Data gathered for the case studies is
shown in the conceptual framework. Another is
through visiting and observation of the researcher
of related buildings like the Bontoc Museum and the
Baguio Museum.
3. For the third problem concerning the architectural
design approach that will be used in the proposed
Cultural Heritage Center for Mountain Province,
method used is through reading books, specifically
sustainable architecture books. Another is through
researching for online references still about
sustainable architecture and vernacular
architecture.

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Treatment of the Data

1. Culture and heritage of Mountain Province that will
be considered in the proposed project.
- Data acquired for the first problem from books and
online references will be compiled and sorted out
to filter important details, like the different
cultural heritage of the province, that are to be
considered in the proposal.
2. Activities to be integrated in the proposed project
which will determine the needed facilities.
- Data gathered for the second problem will be
compiled and reviewed thoroughly by the researcher
to determine activities and facilities to be
integrated to the design of the proposal.
3. Architectural design approach that will be used in
the proposed Cultural Heritage Center for Mountain
Province.
- Information collected about the last problem will
also be compiled and reviewed by the researcher to
prove its validity with respect to existing
rules / ordinances where the site is located and
if these concepts and trends can be integrated to
the proposed project.