A proud Bisaya with roots in Iloilo and Antique, Anna Mae Yu Lamentillo graduated with a Master of Science in Cities from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE Cities) during a ceremony at the Peacock Theatre.
Her capstone project, “Assessing the Viability of the 15-Minute City Model in Metro Manila,” examines how globally popular urban design models can be adapted to the unique social and spatial realities of the Philippine capital. A daughter of the Visayas, Lamentillo draws deeply from her Bisaya upbringing, which she says shaped her view of community, service, and inclusion.
“Growing up Bisaya taught me the importance of pakig-ambit—sharing not only resources, but also empathy, burdens, and hope,” she said. “Urban planning should reflect that spirit. Cities must serve the everyday lives of people, especially those whose voices are often overlooked.”
Her research explores the fragmentation of Metro Manila’s urban fabric—from informal settlements to rapidly expanding suburbs—and proposes a phased, localized approach rooted in equity, accessibility, and climate resilience. Her work argues that urban development must go beyond theory and reflect the lived experiences of Filipinos across socio-economic backgrounds.
“As cities evolve, we must listen to our communities—those in wheelchairs, solo parents, street vendors, elders, and young children,” Lamentillo emphasized. “We cannot keep applying outdated frameworks to new challenges. In climate-vulnerable cities like Manila, we need real solutions: sponge cities, permeable pavements, and community-first design.”
Lamentillo’s academic and professional career reflects her commitment to systems thinking and cultural preservation. She is the founder of NightOwl AI, an initiative that leverages machine learning to document endangered Philippine languages—particularly those in the Visayas and Mindanao, such as Kinaray-a, Hiligaynon, and Cebuano.
She holds a Juris Doctor from the University of the Philippines College of Law (2020), completed executive studies at the Harvard Kennedy School (2018), and graduated cum laude from the University of the Philippines Los Baños (2012) with a Faculty Medal in Development Communication.
She is also currently pursuing a second master’s degree in Major Programme Management at the University of Oxford. LSE Cities is an internationally recognized research center that fosters innovation in sustainable and inclusive city-building. For Lamentillo, graduating from LSE is more than a personal achievement—it’s a step forward in championing cities that reflect the values of her Bisaya heritage: resilience, compassion, and collective strength. “As a Bisaya and as a Filipino, I carry the voices of people who want safer, smarter, and more humane cities,” she said. “Urban planning must be rooted not only in policy, but in the everyday wisdom of the people it serves.”