M A B U H A Y !
Ako ay bumabati ng isang magandang umaga sa inyong lahat!
This is my opportunity to speak on the status of our organization as a whole since my inaugural address less than three months ago. So I plan to speak at some length on where we stand and where we are heading in line with our theme “The Filipino Architect: Advancing Towards a Meritorious Legacy”.
In a little more than three months, I have come to know this organization and a thousand members better than ever. I have had the chance to see up close our organization in all its diversity - its great accomplishments, and the UAP members, in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. This made me feel even better what a blessing it is to be the National President of this prestigious organization.
We have good reason to be proud of this organization. I have the satisfaction to state that within the 1st Quarter of the Fiscal Year 2009-2010, we have implemented programs in line with the profession, the professional, the professional organization and the professional product.
I realized that UAP binds us to one another as a community that transcends all boundaries of time and place. And in turn that community inspires UAP to continue to evolve to meet the changing needs of the architecture profession.
Upon assumption into office last July, our focus dealt with “MERITORIOUS”. Under this thrust, we have committed ourselves that we will become a much more vibrant professional organization by serving our profession.
Hence, in line with our Presidential Challenge as initiated both by the Office of the National President in cooperation with the Office of the National Executive Vice President, under the leadership of Arch. Michael T. Ang and in partnership with our National Area Vice Presidents, we have fostered excellent programs that build our reputation as the integrated and accredited professional organization of architects, to wit:
We have introduced programs that would promote the active and vigorous, energetic, and dynamic participation of members in UAP activities. Our Plans and Programs for the Fiscal Year 2009-2010 allow us to chart a clear course and permit us to link the richness of UAP's history to today's institutional assets in order to better address tomorrow's opportunities.
The first step to work on the first day of our office was to conduct leadership training seminars and workshops to groom member architects to become leaders of UAP.
We have promoted through seminars and forums the use of information technology as a powerful tool for global practice and networking. We hosted the Autocad Seminar Workshop at UAP Teatro Arkitekto last August 15 And September 15.
Together with the members of the Executive Committee, we have effectively administered the induction of officers and members of UAP Districts nationwide and conducted dialogues and consultative meetings with local leaders to discuss the thrusts and programs of the present administration. In order to maximize the use of our time toward achieving meaningful results on our priorities, the attendance of the Executive Officers to our District and Chapter Inductions was delineated based on the protocol adopted by the administration.
We have heightened our drive for the implementation of RA 9266 through improved UAP-LGU relations. Our Task Force on R.A. 9266 and the Commission on Governmental and External Affairs have initiated the dissemination of our Handbook on R.A. 9266 and the copies of recent court orders to our favor to our local government units. With the Professional Regulatory Board of Architecture, and other organizations, we held dialogues concerning the state of the law on Architecture which is being made issue.
We continue to advance the image of the UAP as the premier professional organization in the country. We prepared a video presentation to highlight the importance of being a UAP Member, and showed this initially during the oathtaking of recently-passed new architects. On the same occasion, we distributed printed primer on UAP which we prepared to introduce the organization.
We encourage participation to International conventions and conferences and establish linkages to open doors for global practice and encourage networking among chapters for collaborative practices. Last August 15-19, 2009, we attended the ARCASIA Forum 15 and ARCASIA Council Meeting which were both held in Ulaanbatar, Mongolia. Next year, together with your President, the UAP will establish the AIA Philippine Section / UAP Section and will join the 2010 AIA Convention in Miami on June 10-12, 2010.
We have up-scaled our promotion on Green Architecture as part of UAP's campaign for saving Mother Earth. As a matter of fact, we have approved a Memorandum of Undertaking with Green Building Initiatives which intends to promote awareness of the environmental impact of buildings and introduce a Philippine green building rating system, professionally designed and implemented, based on the broad and active participation of the country’s architects, engineers and construction industry professionals.
Last week, we sent our UAP Green Architecture Movement to the International Green Building Conference (IGBC) 2009 held at Suntec Singapore and ASEAN organizations to collaborate with the Singapore Government on the latest in building materials, design and architecture, with a concentration on eco-friendly and sustainable environments - coming together to share the latest innovations and
ideas to turn vision into reality and to formulate a Memorandum of Agreement on Sustainable Built Environment.
This coming UAP Convention, April 22-25, 2010 at the SMX Convention Center, we will be launching the UAP Green Mark for products to be incorporated in our very own UAP Catalogue of Design and Construction Materials and Services.
We successfully held our 8th UAP Golf Cup last September 9, 2009 at Sun Valley which generated a total amount of more than 3 Million Pesos. This amount is earmarked for the purchase of additional elevator in the UAP National Headquarters and one generator set.
We are happy to inform you that the construction of the UAP National Headquarters Auditorium is completed and it is now readily available for events and special gatherings. Located on the 7th Floor of the UAP Building, the 200-seat UAP Auditorium named “Teatro Arkitekto” features state-of-the-art audio and visual equipment designed to serve as a venue for numerous UAP educational, cultural, and social events.
In view of this, we are inviting you to sponsor one (1) of the 200 UAP Auditorium seats in the amount of Twenty Five Thousand Pesos Only (P25,000.00).
Your kind generosity can do so much towards the achievement of UAP many dreams, and as sponsor, your name will be acknowledged with a brass plate affixed to the back of a seat in the auditorium.
The amount you will sponsor will be used to fund the completion of our UAP National Headquarters; and our target is to have every seat sponsored – so please help us reach that goal!
We have initiated dialogues with the Professional Regulatory Board of Architecture, and the Council of Deans and Heads of Architectural Schools to discuss updates on architectural education and on matters pertaining to Logbook on Diversified Experience for applicants to the Government Board Examinations.
Last October 16-17, we attended the 9th Annual Conference on Architectural Research and Education in Cebu City as part of our continuing effort to establish and realize the effective functioning of the developmental network that is being envisioned for Philippine Architecture that highlighted ideas, concepts and innovations presented by academicians and practitioners involved in architectural education and research.
In the task of recovery and rebuilding our community that was devastated by Typhoon Ondoy (Ketsana) and Typhoon Pepeng (Parma), we offer a constellation of commitments and united efforts to help our community especially those affected areas, During the World Day of Architecture last October 1st we launched the EMERALD Project, introducing an ingenuously designed raft for use during floods. It has created a huge positive impact on UAP’s public image. We are also committed to continue developing a nationwide network of volunteers who are interested in providing disaster assistance, and many UAP Chapters nationwide are establishing new programs or growing existing ones using their expertise. Collectively, this national partnership can become a highly effective means of delivering the skills of the profession to devastated regions. Together, the architectural community can become a clearinghouse for information, a source of the latest research and manuals on hazard-resistant design and planning, and a beacon of hope in the most dire of times. By developing a near-seamless national program, the UAP and its members will become the leaders of a new day.
This Fiscal Year we chartered one local chapter and four international chapters. We welcome to the UAP Family the San Juan Pinaglabanan Chapter, UAP Singapore Chapter and three new Chapters in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, namely: UAP KSA-Eastern Province Chapter, UAP KSA-Riyadh Chapter, and UAP KSA-Western Region Chapter.
In lieu of the mid – year National Conference of Architects, this Fiscal Year, we will be holding Area Conference in four provinces. This paves the way to the UAP National Administration’s concept of bringing the Administration closer to the general membership, without them having to travel to the UAP headquarters in Quezon City, the “fountainhead” of the Organization’s policies and programs
Last October 23-24, 2009, the first of such assemblies, the First Conference of Mindanao Architects, was held at Pearl Farm Garden City of Samal Davao with the theme: “Excellence Driven Area D for A Meritorious Legacy”. At this point, I extend my congratulations to our UAP Area D Vice President and the members of her organizing committee for the job well done and for hosting the (1) Executive Committee Meeting, (2) 3rd UAP National Board of Directors’ Meeting, and (3) the Chartering of our three International Chapters in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia through Video Teleconferencing.
Last November 6-8, UAP AREA A held their First Conference of Architects in Luzon under the theme “ New Aspirations: Networking for Developing and Advancing Regional Advocacies and Global Concerns - United in Promoting and Preserving Area A New Directions or NANDARAGUPAN”, in the beautiful province of Pangasinan, known as the gateway to northern Luzon, a land of miracles, and the heartland of the Philippines
Last week, we were gathered together for the First Visayas Conference of Architects in the beautiful City of Iloilo, a place rich in historical and cultural attractions, home of the famous Dinagyang festival, stately mansions, majestic century-old churches, unsoiled countryside and exotic delicacies.
Today , the last but definitely not the least, we are gathered here for our UAP Area B Assembly from week, November 20-22, 2009 in this beautiful place of Daet, , the main gateway to the Bicol Region, the host to the first Jose Rizal monument, and of the world-class surf action.
Our First Quarter had been quite eventful, and together we will break down the barriers that stand between our dreams and aspiration for a meritorious legacy.
If we fulfill our obligation to the organization and our members we can confidently say that we have truly made our mark in the annals of UAP history.
UAP holds too much promise, too much potential and has too much at stake for us to dare go any other way but forward.
The next three quarters will not be determined by chance, but by the choices we make in the days and weeks ahead. And may almighty God grant us the wisdom to always make the right choices for our members and our organization.
Success follows those who aim high and never stop aiming. Let us go forward, together, in a spirit of courage, a spirit that has defined the many generations of UAP leaders and members, past and present, a spirit that will once again lead us to a better tomorrow.
So, I want to re-iterate the call to our colleagues to contribute and give time to serve your beloved UAP and make a stand for a stronger Profession, Excellent Professional, Remarkable Professional Product and Outstanding Professional Organization.
So my dear colleagues, salamat gid sa very very active support ninyo sa ating administration lalo na sa mga programa natin. Damo gid nga salamat sa inyo nga tanan. MABUHAY ANG MGA ARKITEKTONG FILIPINO!
