Union Internationale des Architectes
The UAP will host the 119th UIA Council session in Manila on 19 & 20
April 2012, and I would like to express my sincere thanks to UAP President
Ramon Mendoza and all the Philippine architects on behalf of the UIA.
Council members elected last October at the UIA general assembly in Tokyo
will meet for that session and we are all very happy to come together in this
part of the world.
We have not forgotten the recent earthquakes that shook the Philippines
in February, nor those that have hit the Asian continent with an unprecedented
frequency and violence. Never before has the entire world community of
architects felt such solidarity and been so touched by tragedies; the Tokyo
Declaration is a strong and unique commitment by the architects of the world
to face the new professional responsibilities brought on by climate change
and its consequences.
Wherever disasters occur, the most fragile and poorest members of
the communities suffer the most and count the most casualties. Philippine
architects have worked for years to improve precarious housing and living
conditions in the poorest areas of their cities. I hope they will overcome the
inherent difficulties in these complex social, technical and human problems to
show, together with their colleagues worldwide that our profession can face all
forms of crisis with responsible, professional, and fair solutions.
I have had the opportunity to measure the dignity of the Philippine people
and the quality of their architects and civil officials. It is for me a great pleasure
and honour to pay tribute to them today, and to send my best wishes that
the 38th UAP convention would be a huge success and a moment of fruitful
exchange with the architects of the world and the UIA.
The UAP unites the architects of the Philippines; the UIA unites the
architects of the world.
Albert Dubler
UIA President
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