UAP Celebrates 100 Years of the Architecture Profession

By Dean Lorelei B. De Viana, PhD, UAP Executive Director, UAP Center for Filipino Architecture

the announcement and awarding of the Centennial Logo Competition winner, Mr. Harold Haber.

A highlight of the centennial was the inauguration of the UAP Museum and the opening of the exhibit Architecture of Statecraft: Imaging Architecture in the Early 20th Century, curated by Architect Gerard Lico, Phd, who is UAP CFA Deputy Director and Publications Chair. The exhibit attended by representatives of the ACCC and the UAP presents archival plans and drawings of major government buildings courtesy of the Department of Public Works and Highways.

The UAP celebrated the 100 Years of the Architecture Profession in the Philippines through activities that commemorated the passing of the Engineering and Architecture Law or Public Act No. 2985 on February 23, 1921. The law created the Board of Architecture and established the holding of a licensure exam for architects to be held twice every year. Professionalizing the field of architecture, the law gave the title of Architect to all those who not only passed the board but also who had practised as architects for years with valid diplomas from architecture institutions. Maestros de obras who had been engaged in architecture could still continue practising but were not allowed to sign architectural plans and drawings.

Under the leadership of past UAP National President Renato A. Heray, FUAP (+) the UAP initiated the creation of the Architecture Centennial Coordinating Committee (ACCC) composed of participating architecture organizations namely the Philippine Institute of Architects, Architecture Advocacy Federation, Inc., Bangsamoro Architects, and Society of Moro Architects. Past UAP National President Heray was named Honorary Chair of the ACCC. The UAP Center for Filipino Architecture under Executive Director Lorelei de Viana was the UAP lead in the celebration.

A Centennial Logo Competition was launched immediately, after with the UAP Committee on Education drafting the guidelines.

On February 22, 2022, representatives of the ARCC participated in a Centennial Tour of the Ayuntamiento de Manila, Intendencia Building, and Mapua University which was founded by the first registered architect, Tomas Mapua. This was followed by an honor lunch for the different participating organizations of ACCC in the UAP Headquarters which included

The UAP Del Pilar Bulacan Chapter unveiled a marker for the restored Tomas Mapua House in Taft Avenue, Manila; launched The American Colonial Public School Buildings: The Archival Materials book, the product of a research grant from the NCCA; and, exhibited at the UAP Headquarters lobby, Tomas Mapua’s drafting table, which was lent by the Mapua family.

Culminating the celebration was the launching of the two-volume Arkitekturang Pilipino by Architect Gerard Lico on the second day of the UAP Area B Assembly held in Villa Escudero, Tiaong, Quezon on February 19, 2021. The book is a definitive take on Philippine architecture, discussing not only historical periods, styles, and personalities, but contemporary issues and debates that also includes heritage conservation and sustainability issues. This was followed by a short video of the centennial activities undertaken by the ACCC with messages from UAP National President Armando Eugene de Guzman III, UAP National Executive VicePresident Richard Garcia, and Philippine Institute of Architects President Josefina Bautista.