London, UK — July 24, 2025 — Anna Mae Yu Lamentillo, a proud Bisaya with roots in Iloilo and Antique, has earned her Master of Science in Cities from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE Cities). She graduated during a ceremony at the Peacock Theatre, presenting research that reimagines how global urban design trends can be meaningfully applied to Metro Manila’s complex realities.
Her capstone project, “Assessing the Viability of the 15-Minute City Model in Metro Manila,” examines how this internationally popular concept can be adapted to address the Philippine capital’s fragmented urban landscape. Drawing from her Bisaya heritage, Lamentillo emphasized the value of pakig-ambit—a cultural principle of sharing resources, empathy, and hope—as the foundation for inclusive city planning.
“Urban planning should reflect the spirit of community,” she said. “Cities must serve the everyday lives of people, especially those whose voices are often overlooked.”
Lamentillo’s research calls for a phased, localized approach to development, prioritizing equity, accessibility, and climate resilience. Her proposals include sponge cities, permeable pavements, and community-first design strategies to address both mobility challenges and environmental vulnerabilities.
Beyond her academic achievements, Lamentillo is the founder of NightOwl AI, a machine learning initiative documenting endangered Philippine languages, especially those in the Visayas and Mindanao such as Kinaray-a, Hiligaynon, and Cebuano. She previously earned a Juris Doctor from the University of the Philippines College of Law, completed executive studies at Harvard Kennedy School, and graduated cum laude from the University of the Philippines Los Baños with a Faculty Medal in Development Communication. She is also pursuing a second master’s degree in Major Programme Management at the University of Oxford.
For Lamentillo, her LSE graduation is more than a milestone—it is a commitment to shaping cities that honor 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.”
LSE Cities is a globally recognized center for research and innovation in sustainable, inclusive city-building.
