MESSAGES
Catherine Balce-Carunungan,
fuap, asean ar.
Director, 41st National Convention
The journey of being at the helm of our 41st UAP National Convention with the theme “Empowering Architects Towards
ASEAN Integration” has given me great pleasure and a sense of accomplishment contributing to the UAP. What is overwhelmingly
heartfelt was the collaboration and professionalism of the kind-hearted member-architects of the Organizing Committee,
consistently inspiring each to bring out the best in every member.
The desire to elevate the level of this convention was the real motivation and the shared feeling among the members.
With this came the long hours of planning, designing and discussing our dreams for this convention to come to a reality. This
may probably be the best way, should there be something higher, to describe the common objective of all.
I will always remember this feeling with fondness and cherish all the memories I have and the new friends I have made.
I feel so fortunate to have been of service to the UAP in this way and I am grateful to its present leadership, Ar. Ma. Benita
Regala, for providing me this opportunity. I wish that everyone is able to have a good experience from the 41st National
Convention and likewise be able to bring home good memories.
For this year, the UAP will be delivering the 41st National Convention to a higher level to be able to be at par with its
ASEAN partners. This year 2015, the Philippines will join the other 9 ASEAN member-nations in the process of integration, as
part of the ASEAN Mutual Recognition Arrangement.
Allow me to quote what the brilliant American writer James Baldwin said: “Between 1917 and 1941, the ocean, inconceivably,
had shrunk to the size of a swimming pool. As we open our doors so shall doors be opened for you.”
We are now going to be part of the movement towards globalization. The world will be slightly smaller with this Integration
and the practice of our profession will transcend our geographical borders.
As we open our doors to a broader horizon which we term as “ASEAN”, it is probably normal to have a sense of apprehension
in relation to our professional practice.
Actually, many foreign Architects who have specialized in various fields in architecture have practiced in the Philippines
for quite some time now, likewise, for Filipino architects who have worked in foreign countries. Some of these fields, which
we, practicing architects in the Philippines may also engage in, include facade design, building traffic specialist, sound and
acoustic specialist,Certified LEED specialist, Quantity Surveyor, Project management, Materials Specialist, and many others.
With the ASEAN integration, 10 ASEAN countries including the Philippines, will open its doors to architects from all over
the region. It is best that we, as architects, be globally competitive by equipping ourselves with the knowledge and skills
required by our profession.
This may be a sort of “Baptism of Fire” for many of us, but as the old folks say: “You will be better for it.”
Warm regards to all.
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