BIZ BUZZ: DMCI brings holiday cheer to UP

The Consunji group is already one of the biggest donors to the University of the Philippines (UP), the alma mater of many members of the family and top management.

But it added even more to its tally following the completion of the landscaping enhancement project for the iconic Church of the Holy Sacrifice in UP Diliman.

Church-goers who will gather for this year’s “Simbang Gabi” masses will be treated to new and improved surroundings to better show off the beauty of the UP Chapel, which is celebrating its 70th anniversary on Dec. 20, 2025.

The historic structure was designed by National Artist for Architecture Leandro Locsin with former dean of the UP College of Engineering, Alfredo Juinio, as structural engineer.

It is one of the iconic landmarks built by DMCI Group founder David M. Consunji.

The enhancement project was led by DMCI Homes’ award-winning in-house Concepts and Landscape Management team, which started the project in May 2024 with the goal of creating a warm and serene outdoor setting for worshippers and the UP Diliman community.

The UP Chapel remains a unique achievement in Philippine architecture, being the country’s first circular chapel and the first to feature a thin-shell concrete dome.

It is also the only structure in the Philippines that brings together the works of five National Artists: Leandro Locsin for Architecture, Napoleon Abueva for Sculpture, Arturo Luz for Visual Arts, Vicente Manansala for Painting and Ang Kiukok for Visual Arts.

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It also holds special a special place in the hearts of the people of the entire DMCI group.

According to DMCI Homes president Alfredo Austria, UP Chapel featured the pioneering use of high-strength concrete that was developed by Consunji with the guidance of dean Juinio.

Since the concrete could support more weight, it allowed the chapel to become the first “thin shell” dome structure in the Philippines.

“In a way, the chapel has become a symbol of what we can do as a team, what’s important to us, and what we aspire to become,” Austria said.