Quezon City, Philippines – The 8th APEC Architect Conferment Ceremony was held on 13 April 2023 at the Luxent Hotel in Quezon City and was hosted by the United Architects of the Philippines (UAP).
Chairperson Hon. Charito A. Zamora; Commissioner Hon. Dr. Jose Y. Cueto, Jr.; Chairman of the Professional Regulatory Board (PRB) of Architecture, Hon. Robert S. Sac and Board Member Hon. Corazon Tandoc; and representatives of the International Affairs Office attended the ceremony.
Hon. Ar. Sac emphasized that the title ‘APEC Architect’ is a privilege given to only 71 out of 56,000 registered Architects in the Philippines and congratulated the five distinguished Filipino APEC Architects for having fulfilled the requirements of the APEC.
Commissioner Cueto highlighted the importance of Mutual Recognition Arrangements as a tool to facilitate mobility of architectural services especially the establishment of Registries. He said that the mobility may be achieved not only through the presence of Filipino APEC Architects in other APEC Economies but also through supplying consultancy services or architectural works proudly designed by Filipino APEC Architects to businesses in the Philippines and abroad. He encouraged the newly conferred APEC Architects to continuously develop and advance their knowledge and skills which will arm them to offer specialized architectural services.
Chairperson Zamora underscored that the conferment is a testament to the remarkable qualifications and noteworthy potential of the newly conferred APEC Architects to contribute to the advancement of the architectural profession globally. Having bestowed with the APEC Architect title will open access to professional development activities and build strong linkages with fellow practitioners of member economies which may further harness their capabilities and architectural expertise. Hence, the Commission is hopeful for the innovative actions and initiatives by the Filipino APEC Architects to further improve people’s environments and quality of life, and transform the way we live for the better.
Closing the ceremony was a message from Hon. Ar. Mirafuente, delivered by Hon. Ar. Tandoc. He recalled his answer to a question addressed to him during a Convention, “What do you think the practice of architecture would be like 10 years from now?”. Opposite to the usual response on further utilization of advanced technologies, he emphasized that Architects must go back to the use of basic architecture, including the creation of spaces with the right placement and correct orientation for ventilation, big windows for views, and uses of lines with interesting shapes and forms, which requires efficient and effective planning and designing skills of an Architect. Lastly, he stressed that: “As we prepare to open our world to the borderless practice of our profession, we must always respect each other’s skills, capabilities, values, and culture. While staying unique and respectful, each of us shall aspire to promote excellence through responsible and sustainable architecture design. As APEC Architects, we are considered leaders representing the Philippines. We can influence our peers and stakeholders through our design, leadership, and collaboration. We must use design skills to great advantage and we must take the right action and decision that is best for everyone.”
