By Arch. Stephanie N. Gilles, UAP, ASEAN Arch, PIEP
Coinciding with the week of the ASEAN Summit where the Philippines played host to delegates from other ASEAN member states, the 1st ASEAN Architects Congress was held on April 26-27, 2017 at the City of Dreams Grand Ballroom and SMX Convention Center, respectively. This Congress was not just a first in the Philippines but was also declared the first for the entire set of ASEAN Member States( AMS), as adopted by the ASEAN Architects Council.
This two-day event was hosted by the Professional Regulation Commission( PRC) through its Professional Regulatory Board of Architecture( PRBoA) and the ASEAN Monitoring Committee on Architectural Services of the Philippines( AMCASP). It was jointly organized by the Philippine Association of the Professional Regulatory Board Members, Inc.( PAPRB) and the United Architects of the Philippines( UAP).
On the first day, 39 Filipino ASEAN Architects and 9 Foreign ASEAN Architects participated. ASEAN Architects Council Chairman Tateng K. Djajasudarma from Indonesia gave a powerful keynote speech, pushing the ASEAN Architects to prove and show the world that amidst the pessimistic tendencies of going back to protectionism movement, an anti-thesis to the objective of fostering Mobility and Collaboration, the focused determination of ASEAN Architects can reach this goal. In the interest of having more Filipino ASEAN Architects next year, a total of 63 Observers and Guests responded to the invitation to witness this pioneering event. The presence of 9 Foreign ASEAN Architects representing Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore, paved the way for the promotion of intra-ASEAN mobility of professionals as they mingled, networked and set an eyeball to eyeball meeting with each other. A parade of talents from Architecture students of Adamson University came in the form of a cultural show blending native songs and dances.
The second day of the Congress, participated in by 43 ASEAN Architects and 16 Guests, coincided
RIGHT: The ASEAN Architects Council Chair Tateng Djajasudarmagestures during his keynote speech on Day One of the ASEAN Architect Congress; BELOW: ASEAN Architects converge on the first day of ASEAN Architects Congress, held at City of Dreams Ballroom, Pasay City; BELOW-LEFT: Awarding of Distinguished ASEAN Architects on the second day held at the SMX Convention Center, Pasay City, April, 27, 2017.
with Day 1 of the 43rd United Architects of the Philippines( UAP) National Convention( NATCON), both held at the SMX Convention Center, giving the Filipino and Foreign AAs alike the privilege of getting involved in the UAP NATCON as well. To facilitate getting to know each other more especially in the field of the Architecture Profession, a Business Matching session was conducted. ASEAN Architects were divided into 4 fields of interest, namely( 1) Hospitality and Resort
( headed by Jose Mari Cañizares),( 2) Commercial, Malls and Retail Architecture( c / o Dennis Villanueva),( 3) Conservation Management, Historical Structures and Sacred Architecture( moderated by Stephanie Gilles), and( 4) General Practice of Architecture. The participants of each group were asked to fill up an information sheet with their contact information and subjects of interest for collaboration. A Collaboration Agreement Template of ASEAN Architects between ASEAN Member States( AMS) was drafted
by Architects Abelardo Tolentino, Robert Sac, and Fidel Jose Siapno consolidating inputs from several other Filipino ASEAN Architects, as discussed in a previous meeting.
Council Chairman Tateng Djajasudarma of Indonesia commended the Philippines for an excellent move that raised the bar for other AMS to follow. It is his earnest desire for the professionals to share their ideas and reminded everyone to think out of the box. Everyone was also reminded by Arch. Larry Ng Lye Hock of Singapore that with good architecture, passion, and enlightenment, our respective cultures and creativity for each ASEAN Member State shall be duly recognized. Arch. Amer of Malaysia expressed that, as of the moment, his country sets their local Architects as top priority, only after then do the ASEAN Architects follow suit.
The first ASEAN Architects Congress was made possible, significant and relevant through the participation, interaction, and passion of everyone involved. Special thanks are in order for the members of the Organizing Committee of this pioneering endeavor,
UNITED ARCHITECTS OF THE PHILIPPINES
The Integrated and Accredited Professional Organization of Architects
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