I was meaning for a long time to blog about the existing 3D building models in the Philippines found in Google Earth and the Google SketchUp community, but Mike Gonzalez beat me to it last year by listing his top 10 best Filipino 3D sights in Google Earth. I agree with his assessment that U.P. Diliman has the best set of 3D models right now. Bacolod is also getting some 3D-modeling love so if Mike ever updates his list, I’m sure the City of Smiles will get prominent placing.

So, instead of doing a rehash of Mike’s post, I’ll just give a virtual tour of the 3D models in U.P. Diliman. If you have Google Earth, go check them out now!

By the way, all of these models in U.P. Diliman, the models in Bacolod, and many other models in Metro Manila, including the Edsa Shrine and the Rizal Monument, were created by Juan Carlos Ayeng, an engineer who hails from Bacolod. He has created all of these models on his own free time. Give props to this man, please!

The first model we’ll explore is Quezon Hall, the first grand building that will greet you when you enter U.P. Diliman from University Avenue. This is colloquially called the Admin Building and it is where the main office of the university and the U.P. System as a whole is located. Included in the model are the two checkpoints along University Avenue, the amphitheater behind Quezon Hall where the university graduation takes place, and the University of the Philippines’ foremost symbol, the Oblation. You can even see the plaques surrounding the sculpture in the 3D model though the resolution is not enough to read the text. Also note the yellow-black striping along the curb.

Next is Gonzalez Hall, home of the U.P. Diliman Main Library and the Institute of Library Science (where fellow blogger Juned graduated from). I’ve also included a detailed shot showing the photo-textures of the main door. Impressive, ain’t it?

The next building is Ang Bahay ng Alumni. This is where the original branch of Chocolate Kiss—my most favorite restaurant in U.P. Diliman—is located. It’s too bad that Juan Carlos didn’t model the interiors, which should’ve been visible from the outside.

This bright maroon building is Villamor Hall, popularly known as the University Theater. This is where many concerts, plays, the Miss Earth coronation nights, and other grand events are held.

Next door to the University Theater is the U.P. Carillon Tower and the U.P. Film Institute. The Film Institute is where many independent films get a special screening. Interestingly, it seems that Juan Carlos took photo textures of the building on October 16, 2008 based on the signage shown to the extreme right of the screenshot above. If you’re curious, the films screened that day, as seen on the signage, were Brillante Mendoza’s award-winning Serbis and the comedy My Monster Mom.

Last, but not the least, is U.P. Diliman’s UFO church or the Parish of the Holy Sacrifice. This is possibly the most detailed 3D model in U.P. Diliman because the interior is modeled as shown below. You can see that the church pews were also included! Fortunately, the art contributed by five National Artists to the church were modeled.

First is the church itself which was designed by architect Leandro Locsin. Second is the double-sided crucifix and altar created by Napoleon Abueva. Both crucifixes are included in the model (though as flat images only). Third is Arturo Luz’s River of Life, which can be seen as the flooring along the main aisles. And last are the stations of the cross murals by Vicente Manansala and Ang Kiukok. Unfortunately, Juan Carlos only took a picture of the crucifixion station so we can’t see all 14 murals in Google Earth.

In addition to these models, Juan Carlos has also modeled the Sunken Garden grandstand, the grandstand of the track and field oval, the Shopping Center, and the U.P. Coop building, which has a small supermarket.

So there you have it. A quick tour of the 3D models of U.P. Diliman created by the talented and OC Juan Carlos Ayeng. Here’s hoping that he can finish the rest of the buildings.