Alarmed by the irreversible impact of climate change, many Filipino architects and engineers are taking a second look at traditional, native designs and techniques which were, for centuries, in tune with a tropical environment.

Last Saturday, the United Architects of the Philippines (UAP) launched the “Green Building Initiative.” In her introductory speech, erstwhile UAP president, Arch. Prosperidad C. Luis, saluted a precursor of “green architecture” – Arch. Geronimo V. Manahan – whose book on passive cooling and sustainable ventilation for tropical Filipino houses is an irreplaceable fount of knowledge for students and practitioners alike.

Significantly Arch. P. Luis pointed out the vital and inevitable connection with heritage: “Our forefathers knew how to ‘green’ and early testaments of their wisdom in designing with nature are the bahay kubo and bahay na bato...” She continued to say, “...but the Americans who introduced air-conditioning almost succeeded in making us forget all that.”

However, Arch. P. Luis ended her talk with an optimistic note when she showed her faith in our historians, archaeologists, advocates and action people of heritage conservation societies who will make sure that our remaining heritage resources and the “green” wisdom and skills with which these were constructed will not be obliterated.

The “greenies” have gone a long way since their salad days in the late 80s. In 1992, UAP president, Jaime Marquez, signed the Memorandum of interdependence for Sustainability in Chicago. After that the UAP held a national conference in Cagayan de Oro and resolved to give seminars on environmental sustain ability to local government units as well as to students of architecture and engineering.

In 2000, the UAP formally established the “Green Architecture Movement (GAM)” with Arch. Amado de Jesus as chairman.

Seminars and teaching modules were developed. Eight years later members and stake holders felt it was time to take another leap forward so the Philippine Green Building Initiative (PGBI) was drawn up by then Undersecretary of Energy, Mariano Salazar.

The PGIB is a comprehensive tool to assess and rate “green building” levels in accordance with internationally – recognized standards for design, construction, performance and energy efficiency, environmental responsibility and cultural sensitivity. Policies, laws, rules and regulations at the national and local levels will guarantee implementation and continuity.

The Heritage Conservation Society was a signatory to the PGIB Memorandum of Agreement which can only mean that built HERITAGE is recognized as the ORIGINAL GREEN.

(gemma601@yahoo.com)