TAGUIG CITY, Philippines — The best ideas rarely emerge in isolation. They are pushed, pulled, challenged, and refined through the kind of conversations that only happen when the right people are in the same room.

On April 23, 2026, Enderun Colleges created exactly that room.

This year’s student-led CAD Fiesta 2026, themed “COLLAB: Where Big Ideas Come Together,” brought some of the Philippines’ most compelling creative, architectural, and design practitioners to The Tent for a one-day symposium and exhibition. The event gathered students and industry professionals from the fields of Creative Arts, Architecture, and Design for an afternoon of panel discussion, open dialogue, and an evening exhibition.

Moderated by Dean of the College of Architecture and Design (CAD) at Enderun Colleges, Ar. Nikki Escalona-Tayag and Film Director Mark Meily, the panel at the center of it all became a demonstration of collaboration in real life. As Tayag framed it early in the discussion, “Design is no longer done in silos, it’s built through conversations, teamwork, and the ability to bring different perspectives together.” It was a statement that set the tone for everything that followed.

At the center of it was a diverse group of creatives, each bringing a distinct lens to what collaboration looks like in practice:

• Ar. Jomike Tejido, architect-turned-visual artist and author, whose work spans over 100 children’s books and 25 exhibitions. As he noted, “Even when you work alone, you’re still collaborating in a way. You observe people, you respond to them, and you adapt your work based on what you learn.”

• Russell Molina, Chief Digital Officer and founding partner of Seven A.D., whose work in advertising and storytelling reflects the complexity of collaborative environments. He noted, “We’re in a time where anything can carry a story, spaces, media, experiences. Collaboration across disciplines is what brings those stories to life”

• Ar. William Ti Jr., Founder and Principal Architect of WTA Architecture and Design Studio and 2024 PRC Outstanding Professional of the Year and Rebecca Plaza Ti, Managing Director of WTA, whose international experience informs their perspective on teamwork. “It’s never about individual heroics. It’s always about collaborative action.”

• IDr. Nina Santamaria, Executive Director for Professional Development at the Philippine Institute of Interior Designers where she emphasized, “None of our work would be possible without collaboration between the designer, the client, and the builder… You can’t just work as an interior designer alone. It has to be built with other experts in the formula.”

From there, the conversation moved beyond definitions and into the realities of collaboration in the industry.

Molina recounted the high-stakes pressure of executing the Philippine launch for the first leg of the Superman movie. The project required a seamless blend of traditional advertising, cutting-edge tech, and live event production to welcome a global cast and crew.

“Maraming moving parts and the challenge was not the lack of ideas, but too many ideas,” Molina shared. “You can just imagine the coordination there… because there were so many different agencies working towards one goal.”

Ar. William Ti also presented the Pasig River Esplanade as another example of collaboration. The project transcended traditional blueprints, requiring a diplomatic and technical alignment of 46 different government agencies across five cities.

“As an architect, … the Pasig River project is not about architecture. It’s not about any structure… it’s a platform for life,” Ti explained. His colleague, Ar. Rebecca Ti, furthered, “At WTA, we have a research team. And in that research team, we have biologists, we have chemists, we have GIS (Geographic Information System) people, we have architects… it really enriches the way you look at things when you have different disciplines looking at a project.”

Meanwhile, Tejido shared a unique perspective on the collaboration between fine arts and commercial interiors. During the construction of the Fairmont Hotel, a Lebanese curator worked with a group of artists to ensure their work complemented the architectural vision. Tejido recalled being asked to “mute” his palette to pastel tones to ensure the art was “attuned with the interior corners,” illustrating how individual artistic expression often evolves through dialogue with the broader environment to achieve a world-class aesthetic.

Later that afternoon, a curated exhibition showcased selected works from CAD students across the academic year.

CAD Fiesta 2026 is not a lecture. It is a living testament for what becomes possible when disciplines stop working in silos and start building something together.

The event itself was a product of collaboration. Overall student leaders Miguel Catacutan, Isabelle Mapa, and Gabrielle Clavines led the initiative, supported by Enrico Cojuangco (logistics), Bella Urrutia (marketing), and Juliana Asencio (exhibit design), alongside Andreas Matteo Lopez and the sponsorship team. Their combined efforts ensured that the event was not just executed, but experienced.

At Enderun, this kind of initiative reflects more than student creativity. It reflects an education designed to challenge, refine, and elevate. With a strong emphasis on interdisciplinary learning, industry-relevant practice, and mentorship, Enderun cultivates not just academic excellence, but the capacity for students to lead, collaborate, and create meaningful impact beyond the classroom.

As Director Mark Meily concluded, “Great ideas don’t happen in isolation, they happen when people come together, challenge each other, and build something better.”

This June 1-13, 2026, the College of Architecture and Design of Enderun Colleges will hold CAD Summer Studio 2026, a two-week pre-college program designed to give students a firsthand look into the realities of creative education and studio practice.

The program welcomes students from Grades 9 to 12 into a professional studio environment that reflects the pace, discipline, and expectations of college-level design training. The summer studio is now open for registration through the official sign-up link: CAD Summer Studio 2026 Registration Form. See you there!

About Enderun Colleges
Enderun Colleges provides students with an immersive learning environment through its industry-specific programs, highly experienced faculty, and extensive local and international internship placements. The institution offers international-caliber Bachelor’s Degree programs in International Hospitality Management; Business Administration majors in Financial Management, Operations Management, Marketing Management, Technology Management, and Sustainability Management; as well as programs in Economics, Entrepreneurship, Architecture, Interior Design, and Multimedia Arts.

In addition, Enderun Senior High School provides excellent academic tracks in Accountancy, Business, and Management (ABM); Humanities and Social Sciences (HUMSS); Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM); and the General Academic Strand (GAS). Beyond the Department of Education-sanctioned strands, students may also earn advanced college credits through the globally recognized AP Capstone™ program

Visit Enderun’s official website through https://www.enderuncolleges.com. For PR-related matters, visit https://enderunmarketing.com/.