UAP POST - 2nd Issue (FY 2016-2017) | Page 3

MESSAGES EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the transcript of the State of the UAP Address delivered by UAP National President Arch. Guillermo Hisancha on the occasion of the Joint Area Assembly at Iloilo City, October 14, 2016. UAP’s landmark accomplishments of the past first quarter have paved the way for a future of milestones. where we must go, about what we have done and what we must do. There are times of distress, when our organiza- tion and its leaders must bring their energies to bear on a single urgent task. We have lived in and have overcome such times. We have come through a period of apprehen- sions and doubts, but we have once again found our moral course, and with a new spirit, we are striving to express our best instinct to the rest of the organi- zation, particularly to our profession. Dear Colleagues, GETTING STARTED This is the first occasion that I will be speak- ing on the shape of our organization and I come before you under very different circumstances; this is my first opportunity to address the status of our organization as a whole since my inaugu- ral address more than three months ago. So I plan to speak at some length on where we stand and where we are heading. From day one of my presidency— whether it was meeting national and chapter leaders or chat- ting with members during inductions—I have been listening and learning about this great institu- tion from every imaginable source on every part of the organizational structure. Through our thrusts: Unity, Accountability and Professional Excellence, I have come to know this organization and a thou- sand members better than ever before. I have had the chance to see up close our organization in all its diversity - its great accomplishments, and the UAP members, in the metropolis and in the countryside who make them so. And I've never doubted what a blessing it is to be the National President of this prestigious organization. We've got good reason to be proud of this or- ganization. As a matter of tradition, I have the satisfaction to state that in just the 1st Quarter of the Fiscal Year 2016-2017, in line with the profession, professionals, professional organization and professional product, in spirit, our organization is sound, great and trium- phant! To God Be The Glory! To the great men and women of this great organiza- tion, Maayong Aga Sa Iyo Tanan! I need to report to you today about where we are and For the last three months, you national president, together with the other members of the UAP Na- tional Board, have coursed the islands of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao and even abroad, not only to fulfill the obligation of our office, but to secure the faith, confidence and unity of the general member- ship and to build upon them the confidence of being empowered. As I witnessed your inductions and anniversaries, I found out that there is within our organization a growing sense of responsibility and a sense of com- mon purpose that is to serve this organization to- wards the upliftment of the architecture profession. During this period, I was deeply moved by the unity you have shown and by the space you have accommodated. I was touched by the welcome banner, the garlands and festoon you have distinc- tively prepared for us, apart from the sumptuous breakfast, lunch and dinner which you have extend- ed.I believe that the best vision and strategy for any institution comes both “bottom up” and “top down”. It is based on the hopes, dreams and realities of members of the community, with the job of leaders to listen carefully, to challenge and test, to synthesize and build a shared understanding and ultimately to build consensus on vision and strategic direction. In this, we took the opportunity to listen to our chapter leaders and members during inductions; we created a shared understanding of the issues and opportuni- ties at hand, creating the foundation for further plan- ning and action. That’s why in every chapter we visited, we have learned to listen to their sentiments, we allotted time before the conduct of their major events, to give ears to their request, opinions, com- ments and suggestions. And we want to let you know, these are always counted in every decision we made and those decisions we are going to make in the future. This is also the reason that for the first time in the history of governance in UAP, the present leadership empowered our local leaders nationwide, more than 50 of them, to work with us in the implementation of our flagship projects and with various commissions and committees, aside from the hundred volunteers based here in Metro Manila. Upon assumption into office last July, our concen- tration dealt with United, Accountability and Professional Excellence. Under this thrust, we have committed ourselves that we’re going to become a much more vibrant professional organization b y empowering Filipino architects. national president’s page ON OUR PROFESSION And just for the 1 st Quarter, we have fostered excellent programs and executed projects that build our reputation as the integrated and accredited pro- To be continued on Page 4 STATE OF THE UAP ADDRESS Joint Area Assembly Iloilo City October 14, 2016 Arch. Guillermo H. Hisancha, FUAP, APEC Ar., ASEAN Ar. National President UNITED ARCHITECTS OF THE PHILIPPINES The Integrated and Accredited Professional Organization of Architects 3