A FEW months ago, the United Architects of the Philippines (UAP) bagged two prestigious awards during the 2024 PRC Awards Night, organized by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) together with the Foundation for Outstanding Professionals (FOP) Inc., and held at Conrad Manila in Pasay City.
During the event, the UAP was recognized as Outstanding Accredited Professional Organization (OAPO) and recipient of the Seal of Excellence in Continuing Partnership Award (Secpa).
With these recognitions, the UAP becomes the first and only accredited professional organization (APO) to win the OAPO 12 times and the first of the two recipients of the Secpa among professional organizations to be conferred by the PRC.
Architects receive the PRC award. From left: Robert Mirafuente (PRBoA member), Corazon Tandoc (PRBoA member), Robert Sac (PRBoA chairman), Outstanding Professional of the Year in the field of Architecture Awardee Edison Padilla, UAP immediate past national president Richard Garcia. PHOTO FROM UNITED ARCHITECTS OF THE PHILIPPINES
The OAPO award, the highest accolade given by the PRC, is presented annually to recognize accredited professional organizations for their notable contributions, achievements and dedicated service and commitment to their professions.
Accomplishing such achievements is a testament to the UAP’s unwavering commitment to professional excellence since its establishment. As provided in its by-laws, one of the UAP’s main objectives is to establish and promote the highest standards of ethical conduct and professional excellence in the practice and service of architecture.
Through the years, the UAP has remained steadfast in upholding this mandate. Before this year, the PRC named it the Most Outstanding Accredited Professional Organization multiple times: 2002, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022.
In 2009 and 2010, the UAP received the Father Neri Satur Award for Environmental Heroism and EAROPH 50th Golden Jubilee Award, respectively. It is the first-ever recipient of DTI-CIAP’s Outstanding Accredited Professional Organization in 2017 and bagged the PCAAE’s ANG SUSI Award (Community Service) in 2018. 2019 was another banner year for the UAP when it won three major awards: the APAC Association Award, the International Achievements Award by the Europe Business Assembly (EBA) of the United Kingdom, and the PCAAE’s ANG SUSI Award (Catalyst Change).
Grander event
The UAP’s hallmark for professional excellence has been proven time and again with these awards and recognitions. The organization’s efforts to promote the architectural profession, safeguard practice standards, and protect the interests of its members have not escaped the eyes of award-giving bodies locally and abroad.
Formed on March 26, 1975, with the integration of three existing architecture organizations then, the UAP will be celebrating its 50th founding anniversary next year. This year, the organization is already gearing up for a milestone celebration in 2025 to highlight its golden jubilee, with the theme of “Celebrating 50 Years of Unity, Advocacy and Professional Excellence.”
Last March 23, 2024, the UAP launched the “Road to 50” campaign in Cebu City. The location of the kick-off activity was appropriately selected since the Queen City of the South is the home to the first chartered UAP chapter. A 50+ Architects Exhibit at SM City Cebu was complemented by a stunning gala event at NuStar Resort.
Two months later, an equally significant celebration took place in Davao, the city where the second UAP chapter was chartered. The occasion, the Mindanao leg of the “Road to 50,” was held at Waterfront Insular Hotel Davao on May 26, 2024. The occasion was a memorable night of camaraderie, dinner and fun, celebrating the UAP chapters in Mindanao.
Come March 26, 2025, a bigger and grander extravaganza is expected. Not only will the UAP be commemorating its golden jubilee, but it will also celebrate the five decades the organization has embodied professional excellence.
The writer is the editor-in-chief of The UAP Post, the official news publication of the United Architects of the Philippines. He finished his BS Architecture degree at the University of the Philippines Diliman. He is a past district director of UAP Regional District D1 and a past chapter president of UAP Davao and UAP North Davao Chapters.
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