Architect MARIE STEPHANIE N. GILLES is a registered architect and licensed environmental
planner. Soon after taking the Licensure Board Exam for Architects, she took a 3-year course
in Italy at the Centro Internazionale di Studi under a scholarship from a German Foundation,
where she was appointed professor while finishing her academic coursework, similar to her
task as Teaching Associate at the UP College of Architecture while doing her masteral course.
In 2008 during the Diamond Jubilee celebration of St. Joseph’s College QC, she was awarded
as the Most Outstanding Alumna in the Field of Architectural Design by her alma mater, where
she graduated as class valedictorian in both elementary and high school. In April of 2013 she
obtained her Master’s Degree in Architecture at the University of the Philippines -Diliman, where
she is currently taking a graduate course at the School of Urban and Regional Planning, hoping
to pursue a PhD specialization on Environmental Management. In June 2014, she successfully
passed the licensure board exam for Environmental Planners, her PRC license being #911.
She is currently the Principal Architect of SNG Design Enterprise, a dynamic service-oriented
design firm that has had projects all over the country and even abroad during its more than 2 decades of service. At the United Architects
of the Philippines-Diliman, she holds the position of Continuing Professional Education Director and is the Head of the Capacity Building
Group of the UAP Emergency Architects. Her corporate social outreach involvement has led her to devastated areas such as Tacloban &
Roxas, assisting in organizing seminars to architects on disaster-resilient design and in Bohol, where she is helping to restore churches
destroyed by the recent earthquake. As Chairman of the UP Planners Organization, she spearheaded the collaborative work of UP PLANO
with Workshop Architecture, a European-based technical team that is helping to provide shelter to homeless street children in Tacloban.
She has collaborated with several professionals in the field of planning, addressing the requirements of cities and municipalities such as
Comprehensive Land Use Plans with focus on mainstreaming DRR/ CCA, Comprehensive Development Plans, Urban Master Plan, Tourism
Master Development Framework, and the like. With reference to academic work, her passion for research has led her to participate actively
and to organize seminars and conferences here and abroad, delivering papers related to architecture, urban planning, disaster management
and climate change adaptation, and giving lectures organized by the Philippine Institute of Environmental Planners (PIEP). She is a member
of Architecture for Humanity (Manila Chapter), Asian Institute for Urban Resilience and the Philippine Green Building Council. Her extensive
work experience in the Philippines and other parts of Asia has given her the exposure of working with foreign professionals and providing
the competitive edge, leveling the playing field of architecture and urban planning, gearing towards ASEAN integration and globalization.
SEMINAR SPEAKERS
MARIE STEPHANIE N. GILLES, uap, piep
TITO MOISES S. ENCINAS, uap
Had over twenty-nine (29) years of experience in almost all facets of architecture, project
management, and corporate management across a wide range of projects including physical
planning, architectural design of government & private offices, and commercial, residential,
industrial, and transportation-related projects all over the Philippines. Had been the Project
Director, Project Manager, Project Architect, and Architect-of-Record responsible for various major
construction and facilities projects throughout the Philippines, Socialist Republic of Viet Nam,
Republic of Maldives, and Republic of Seychelles.
Most outstanding contribution in the field of architecture, was my 17-years dedication in
uplifting the quality of education and alleviating the conditions of the deprived, disadvantaged
and depressed public elementary & secondary schools in the remote barangays of the archipelago
through designing, quality control and construction supervision of effective school facilities that
are properly site-adopted, built under quality construction procedures, with a certain level of
typhoon-resistance and durable compared to the normal government school buildings which are
designed to serve as places for refuge during natural calamities.
Unique management skills had motivated my colleagues in the UAP Legaspi Chapter to actively participate in its planned projects for the
organization during my term as Chapter President in 1989. My administration paved the way for the Chapter to gain the “Most Outstanding
Chapter” award the following year. I continued to radiate my trustworthiness when unanimously elected as District Director of then Regional
District-9 covering the chapters of San Pablo, Lucena, Camarines and Legaspi in 1990. It was during my term that the first UAP Conference
of Architects was successfully held in Legaspi City. Was also instrumental in establishing the United Architects of the Philippines – Sorsogon
Kasanggayahan Chapter as a Cha rter Member.
Contributed to the academe as a part-time Professorial Lecturer in the Bicol University and Aquinas University of Legaspi through unselfish
sharing of actual professional experiences with students in the various architectural subjects taught from 1986 to 1991.
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