The UAP National President's Report The UAP National President's Report | Page 56

Asian architects feel there is now a need for the two additional committees considering envi-
ronmental concerns happening at present times.
ARCASIA aims to unite different country member institutes of architects on a democratic basis
throughout the region to foster friendly, intellectual, artistic, educational and scientific ties.
It also after ways to foster and maintain professional contacts, mutual cooperation and assis-
tance among its member institutes.
ARCASIA has worked out to represent architects of member institutes at national and interna-
tional levels to promote and recognize the architect’s role in society; to promote the develop-
ment and education of architects and the architectural profession in their service to society;
and to promote research and technical advancement in the field of the built environment.
Meanwhile, the gathering included representatives outside of Asia such as the president of the
Union of International Architects (UIA), architects from Africa, Europe and the United States and
Australia.
The United Architects of the Philippines (UAP), being the integrated and accredited professional
organization of architects in the country, is committed to fulfil its role in the national and interna-
tional arenas.
In 1977, the UAP joined the formation council of ARCASIA to complete its founding member
institutes.
UAP also hosted the first ARCASIA Congress of Architects (ACA-1) in 1982. This was followed
by another UAP hosting of ACA in 1994.
Three Filipino architects held the chairmanship or presidency of ARCASIA. These were Archi-
tects Felipe M Mendoza, FUAP, the third chairman of ARCASIA from 1985 and 1986, Arch.
Richeto C. Alcordo FUAP, from 1993 and 1994, and our very own PRC commissioner Arch.
Yolanda David-Reyes who was the third president of ARCASIA that came from UAP. As the
13th chairman, she served for one term (two years) from 2005 and 2006. She was also the
first woman president of the prestigious organization.
To meet the challenges of environment, technological innovations and professional devel-
opment, the UAP, being the prime professional organization of architects in the country, is
mandated to establish a global partnership with international organizations in the fields of
architecture, environmental design, arts, science and technology.
56 2018-2019 Annual Report
Such partnership commits the organization to engage in a continuous and constructive dia-
logue, inspired by the need to achieve a more efficient and equitable world economy, and
keeping in view the increasing interdependence of the community of nations. It is also driven by
the fact that sustainable development and regenerative architecture should become a priority
item on the agenda of the international community.
For the success of this partnership, it is important to overcome confrontation and to foster a
climate of genuine cooperation and solidarity. It is equally important to strengthen national and
international policies and multinational cooperation to adapt to the new realities.
Collaborative intervention comes into play among member institutes to realize the involvement
and participation of architects in the region.
There are scheduled roundtable discussions of various ARCASIA committees, office bearers and
committee chairs meetings, professional practice forums, urban teachers training workshops,
heritage roundtable discussions, green and sustainable architecture meetings, Emergency
architects trainings, conferences and the MOUs signed between ARCASIA and the American
Institute of Architects, the African architects, the Australian and New Zealand groups and the
European architects groups.
Applicable projects and workable programs are also being pushed for implementation among
the 21 country member institutes to accelerate collaborative growth in the region.
ARCASIA is now geared towards promoting the practice, protecting the professional and
enhancing the professional product collaboratively among member institutes and architects.
Come March 2019, UAP, under its present leadership, has committed to invite ARCASIA’s
foreign Architects into the Philippines for a roundtable discussion on the professional practices
around the region.
This will be a good opportunity for UAP architects to listen, learn, and interact with their Asian
counterparts about the pressing concerns in Asia.
UAP has also been awarded to host another roundtable discussion of the ARCASIA Commit-
tee on Academic Education in April 2019. The date is relatively close to the annual UAP Na-
tional Convention. UAP architects will have in their midst their Asian counterparts who would
also be gracing the national convention.
The occassion will provide local architects anew the opportunity to mingle, exchange academic
educational opportunities, and socialize with their foreign counterparts in Asia.