By LEO ORTEGA LAPARAN II
For long, architects have been stereotyped as serving only the upper crust of society. Well, perhaps, no longer this time, especially after making the public aware that their organization – the United Architects of the Philippines – actually holds a National Architecture Week (NAW) every year for three decades running, meant to dispel the notion.
 |
Architecture students
participating in the 34th
National Architecture Week
pose with NAW 34 president
Arch. Tony Valdez. | | "In this day and age of modern architecture, architects and their services has been dubbed as luxury rather than necessity. We have lived to the stereotypical concept that they service only the upper [classes]. [NAW is here] to change that misconception through various efforts that will initiate a broadminded view on these issues with media as their prime tool," states UAP’s rationale behind their endeavor.
Bearing the theme "Architects At Your Service", the 34th installment of the annual event aimed to promote awareness among outside the architects’ niche market through related activities and exhibit, as well as their service both to their niche market and potential clients specifically classes B and C.
For eight days in December, the NAW featured various activities at the MC Home Depot in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City, simultaneous with other city and provincial UAP chapters’ activities, such as the book launch of WOW Philippine Architecture (Tourist Guidebook), an architectural photo exhibit, symposium and workshops, medical and dental missions, and other outreach programs involving architects.
The culminating activity included another gathering of architects, special guests and media representatives for a gift-giving for children in Taguig, recognition of senior architects, launching of the Specialty Council headed by project director Geronimo Manahan, recognition of UAP Panel of Negotiators and awarding ceremony.
Joining UAP members were Architecture students from 15 schools in Metro Manila offering architecture courses, who conducted their local version of the said lineup in their own respective institutions.
Among those students was fifth year and graduating Architecture student of Adamson University, Rein Reyes, who enjoyed very much the said weeklong event.
"Malaki ang maitutulong ng ganitong activity sa aming pag-aaral. We did the physical arrangement of the venue prior to the event proper, so we learn things in the process," says Reyes, who is also the national executive vice president of the UAP student auxiliary.
Reyes’ professor and current UAP Area-B vice president Jean Cornejo cites, "The good point of this event is that it brings about involvement of the students, especially in the exhibit, which showcases the their architectural works, though it is not required for them to participate in but is encouraged."
The weeklong NAW celebration dates back to November 18, 1971 when the late former President Ferdinand E. Marcos approved and issued Presidential Proclamation 934 declaring the second week of December every year as the "Architecture" prior to the resolution submitted by Architects Maximo Candelaria and Ricardo Poblete during the 1971 Convention of Filipino Architects (CONFA ’71) four years before the birth of UAP. Since then, the event was strictly adhered to and was put into practice for national implementation.
|
