History of UAP

The Beginning

The magic that attends all beginnings, the pains that accompany all births - these are privileged
memories that belong to our founding fathers.

They were there when an emergent UAP burst into the light in 1975, a news-born whose proud
genealogy could be traced back to the Spanish era, the descendant of many transmutations of brilliants
genes. Its parents were the best architects in this land who in their youthful energies conceived,
nurtured and labored to give it birth.
Lest we forget, let us go back in time - to understand the proud origin of what we now casually call the
UAP.

The Prologue
During Spanish time there were no schools of Architecture in the Philippines. The closest a
Filipino could aspire to the title of an Architect or practice Architecture was to be a Maestro de
Obra. The first school of Maestro de Obra was founded by the Spanish government: the Escuela
Practica y Professional de Artes Oficios de Manila.There were two classes: first, was with academic
title Maestro de Obras-Academico; and second, those who acquired their expertise through practical
experience licensed by the Ayuntamiento de Manila called Maestro de Obras-Practico The first
Filipino graduates were Julio Hernandez (1891), Isidro Medina (1894), Arcadio Arellano (1894) and
Juan Carreon (1896).
However, the First Filipino Architect was Felix Roxas y Arroyo who was schooled in London and
began his architectural practice in 1858. In 1877 – 1880, he was employed by the Spanish government,
as the Municipal Architect of Manila. His outstanding works were the Santo Domingo Church and the
Ayuntamiento de Manila in Intramuros, which, unfortunately, were both destroyed during the Second
World War.

The 1st Organization

In 1902 the first organization of architects was formed with the surveyors: Academia de
Arquitectura y Agremensura de Filipinas. (AAAF). This was headed by Guillermo Gardiner (Maestro
de Obras and Surveyor) as President; Arcadio Arellano (Maestro de Obras and Surveyor) as vice
President, Jose Perez Siguereza, (Surveyor) Secretary, Tomas Arguelles (Maestro de Obras – Surveyor)
and Jose Paras (Maestro de Obras – Surveyor) as Directors.
In 1903 the organization was transformed as the Academia de Arquitectura, Ingenieria y Agremnsura
de Filipinas (AIAAF). The Academia promulgated the first standards of professional practice for the
practice of civil engineering and architecture, known as the Tarifa de Honorios. which was patterned
from the AIA documents.
In 1921 the first Engineers and Architects Law: Act no. 2985 prepared by AIAAF was passed. This law
created separate Board of Examiners for Architecture and Civil Engineering. The law also allowed
practicing Maestro de Obras to be automatically registered as Architects Tomas Mapua was given the
number 1 license as architect and Carlos Barreto and Antonio Toledo as numbers 2 and 3. All the three
of them graduated in Architecture abroad.
In 1933 the organization was transformed as the Philippine Architects’ Society with Don Juan Nakpil as
president, Tomas Mapua as Vice president, Harold Keyes as Secretary-Treasurer, Carlos Baretto and
Fernando Ocampo as Directors. The Constitution and Bylaws of the Society was patterned after
American Institute of Architects.
In 1938, the Society drafted Bill Number 1850, proposing the separate statute for the practice of
Architecture from that of Engineering, which was approved in the second reading by the National
Assembly.

In 1941 the Society’s National Convention, with 96 members, was celebrated with a message
from President Manuel L. Quezon, speeches from Vice President Sergio Osmena and the Manila Mayor
Eulogio Rodriguez, Sr . The Professional Services of the Philippine Architects Society was promulgated.
The architects in government service were allowed to become members of PAS, thus, Juan Arellano,
Antonio Toledo and Elias Ruiz joined the society.
Then the Second World War came. The Architects formed a civilian group stationed in Fort Santiago
through Harold Keyes (co-founder of PAS) as appointed by the U. S. Army Corps. The civilian group
included Gabino de Leon, Angel Nacpil, Edmundo Lucero, and Arsenio Topacio. Carlos Arguelles
served as a member of the 32ndArmored regiment, First Reconnaissance Battalion of the U.S. Army
stationed in the Philippines.
After the war, in 1945, the Philippine Architect’s Society re-organized with Fernando Ocampo
as President, Cesar H. Concio as Vice President, Jose Zaragoza as Secretary, Luis Ma. Araneta as
Treasurer; Juan Nakpil, Andres Luna de San Pedro, Gines Rivera and Gabriel Formoso as Directors.
The name of the organization was changed to the Philippine Institute of Architects and Planners (PIAP)
which was later changed to the Philippine Institute of Architects (PIA) by a Resolution presented by
Carlos da Silva.
In 1948, PIA presented to the President of the Philippines Elpidio Quirino a resolution offering
professional services of its members to the government to assist in the preparation of plans for public
works projects under the War Damage Commission.
A group of members of the PIA incorporated as United Architects, Inc. as a corporate body so that the
members of the Institute composed of selected members can enter into Agreement with the
Department of National Defense on the Design of the Veteran’s Memorial Hospital. However this
much sought of project was awarded to another group of architects and engineers.
At about this time 15 members of PIA formed another organization: the League of Philippine Architects
(LPA) headed by eminent architects of the time – Pablo S. Antonio, Antonio V. Bañas, Pablo D. Panlilio,
Jose L. Reynoso and Elias L. Ruiz – the splinter group elected the much younger Jose V. Herrera as its
first president.

Under the 6th President of the PIA Cesar H. Concio, the repealing of Act 2985 was approved by
Congress which was vetoed by President Quirino.
During these past five years, PIA was working on the preparation of the Documents for the Practice of
the Profession, such as the standard Forms of Membership, Architectural Competition, Awards, etc.
In 1947, the first Architectural Exhibition was held at the lobby of the Consolidated Investment
Building at Plaza Goiti as part of the 3-day PIA Annual Convention, which was held at the Manila
Hotel. The highlight of the Convention was in the Convention’s Honor Dinner wherein the first
Architect of the country Carlos Barretto, one of the founders of PAS and surviving member of AAIF ,
was elevated as PIA Fellow.
In 1948, Congress enacted Republic Act 472, amending Administrative Code, Section 1901;which
legalized the awarding of the design of public works and buildings to private architects and engineers,
which may be considered as the magna carta of the practice of private architects against bureaucratic
architecture and engineering.

In 1949 the Law which separates the statutes of the Architects from the Engineers was passed as
R.A. 544 and R.A. 545; the Engineers’ Law and the Architects’ Law, respectively. (R.A. 545 has been
repealed as R.A. 9266, as R.A. 544 still governs).
In 1950, the first Gold Medal Award for a Filipino Architect was given to Andres Luna de San Pedro for
the famous “Crystal Arcade “
In 1951, the Standards of Professional Practice prepared by the PIA was printed and released.
In 1953, during the 20th Annual Convention of PIA, President Quirino hosted a cocktail part in
Malacanang, the first time the Architects were honored as guests by the President of the Philippines.
In 1954, during the 96th Anniversary of the American Institute of Architects, Carlos da Silva was
honored as AIA Honorary Member, which was a recognition and honor to the Filipino Architect by
the American Architects..
On January 23, 1957, the Philippine Institute of Architects was officially admitted as the
National Section of the Union Internationale Des Architects (UIA).
In 1957 through the initiative of the PIA Committee on Professional Practice, PIA and LPA had joint
meetings to reach an agreement on the Standard Schedule of Fees. This was an effort for the two
organizations to be as one.
In 1958, the Architects employed in the government formed themselves into another organization
: Association of Philippine Government Architects (APGA).
In the early sixties, another group of young architects tried to organize another architects’ group, which
was called Molave. This did not prosper.
Through many years, much effort had been exerted to bridge the gap among the three groups.
The Philippine Council of Architects (1962) was a short-lived organization of , LPA and APGA, which
eventually became, in 1962, the Council of Filipino Architects (CFA), conceived to be the umbrella
organization under which the three societies would come under one banner. PIA did not affiliate to the
CFA.

In 1965, APGA, LPA and PIA unanimously approved the Architects’ National Code, the
Architects’ Services and Schedule of Fees which were later approved by the Board of Examiners for
Architects.
In 1969, during the presidency of Manuel T. Manosa , PIA; Librado Macalinao, LPA; and Luciano
Aquino, APGA a memorable joint fellowship was held.
The Architect’ Bowling Club (ABC) was organized with the members of the 3 organizations actively
having tournaments, with members of the 3 organizations playing in teams decided by handicaps and
“barcadahan” rather than the affiliation with the Architects’ organizations. There was also the
Philippine Standard Invitational Ten-Pin Bowling Tournament joined in by the architects
Other sports activities were also organized such as basketball, golf, etc. with members of the three
organizations participating.
 In 1971, on the occasion of the celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Profession an Ad-Hoc
Committee of young architects with Carmencita L. Rosales, as Chairman (PIA), . Maximo P. Candelaria
(LPA), Vice Chairman, Remigio G. Abello (PIA) as Secretary and Luzdivina Barawed (APGA) as
Treasurer together with some 14 young architects from the 3 organizations, the committee were
formed. Margie Poblete. Of Architectscope was the Over-all Coordinator. It was a very successful affair,
held at the Manila Polo Club. Most of the big names in the 3 organizations attended the affair as if there
was only one organization of architects. Pablo Ocampo, Cesar H. Concio, Juan Nakpil, Gines Rivera,
Eric Nubla Ariston Nakpil Otillo Arellano,, Anastacio Bernal, Edilberto Florentino, Manuel Manosa,
Deogracias Atienza, Contantino Agbayani, Jose Herrera, Aquiles Paredes, Luciano Aquino, Norberto
Nuke, Gabriel Formoso, Leandro Locsin, Felipe Mendoza, among more than one hundred architects,
joined the celebration. Oscar Mapua, representing his father was awarded as the holder of the number
one Architectural license in the country and then Senator Helena Z. Benitez ( later given a UAP
Honorary Membership ) as a special friend in the government..
The first one hundred architects were acknowledged and awarded.
During this time the members of LPA and APGA under the name of the Council of Filipino Architects
endorsed the resolution which designated the second week of December as the Nationwide
Architecture Week by President Ferdinand E. Marcos.

Looking Forward to Professional Unity

The year 1973 was the year when the illusive goal of professional unity was explicitly
conceptualized. In April 1973, the LPA President Arch. Edilberto Florentino invited PIA President
Ariston Nakpil to a meeting which started a series of conferences between the two organizations and
eventually with Deogracias Atienza, APGA President. This culminated to the formation of the Panel of
Negotiators.
The Panel of Negotiators representing the 3 organizations was created by the 3 incumbent Presidents:
Deogracias Atienza of APGA; Edilberto Florentino of LPA and Ariston Nakpil of PIA composed of 3
the Presidents together with Benjamin Meamo and Alfredo Tungpalan for APGA; Luisito Guiang and
Ricardo Poblete for LPA and Otillo Arellano and Carmencita L. Rosales for PIA. Antonio Asiniero of
Marblecraft acted as the Moderator in all the meetings of the Panel of Negotiators and at the same time
of hosted the group, together with other concerned members present at the Architectural Center Club
Inc. (ACCI) at the ABC Building, Ayala Avenue..
On June 1973 President Ferdinand Marcos issued PD 223 creating the Professional Regulation
Commission (PRC) for the purpose of regulating the practice of all professions.
On July 13, 1973, APGA-LPA-PIA Fellowship Affair was held at the Architectural Center Club
Inc. (ACCI).
On September 4, 1973 – after a long span of time, enough to heal the bruised knuckles and egos
of the members of the three organizations, the Panel of Negotiators after the approval of each of the
Boards of the 3 Organizations signed the Joint Communiqué defining the principles and guidelines of
the Integration of the three Organizations headed by the incumbent Presidents.
On October 13, the Council of Filipino Architects endorsed the integration move, while the Panel of
Negotiators formally communicated with the Board of Architecture on the proposed integration on
October 24, 1973.
On December 9-10, the Architecture Week was jointly celebrated by APGA-LPA-PIA, highlighted on
December 10, by the passing of the Joint Board Resolution of Integration of PIA, LPA and
APGA. This Joint Resolution was ratified without objection in a joint general assembly on December 16,
1973 at the Architectural Center in Makati.
The Joint Board Resolution laid down the objectives and concepts of the integration and created the
Ad-Hoc Commission to implement the terms of integration and to prepare the constitution and bylaws
of the proposed organization.
The members of the Ad-Hoc Commission were: From PIA came Adolfo Benavides (President), Ariston
Nakpil, Otillo Arellano, Felipe Mendoza and Cesar Canchela; for LPA, Norberto Nuke (President),
Edilberto Florentino, Aquiles Paredes, Victor Tiotuyco, and Jose Herrera; and for APGA, Deogracias
Atienza (President), Benjamin Meamo, Alfredo Tungpalan, Benjamin Feliciano and Luciano Aquino.

The Journey to UAP

On January 1, 1974, the Ad-Hoc Commission assumed its function and formulated the
Constitution and By-Laws of the proposed new organization which was approved on December 19,
and ratified by the membership of APGA, LPA, and PIA on January 15, 1974.
A name for the organization had to be chosen. A Committee on Organizational Name was constituted
on June 8, 1974 and composed of Architects Felipe M. Mendoza (PIA), Jose V. Herrera (LPA) and
Deogracias Atienza (APGA) was tasked to submit to the Ad-Hoc Commission a list of names from
which one may be chosen, suitable for adoption by the new national organization.
After a thorough analysis, review and evaluation, many drawn to the name United Architects of the
Philippinesand was chosen because it directly expressed the central concept on which the organization
was founded: unity.
On December 12, 1974, after the Ad-hoc Commission completed its task, the Boards of all three
founding organizations unanimously approved the Constitution and By-Laws of the United Architects
of the Philippines.
To take over the task of administering the affairs of UAP until the first Regular Board of Directors
would have been elected, the life of the Ad-Hoc Commission was extended to become the Interim
Board.

On March 26, 1975, UAP was incorporated and was registered with the Securities and Exchange
Commission with Registration No. 60782 and on May 12, the Professional Regulation Commission with
Architect Eric Nubla as the first Commissioner, issued Certificate No. 001 to UAP as the duly
accredited professional organization of architects in the Philippines.
The members of the Interim Board were: Norberto Nuke (President), Cesar Canchela (VP for Private
Practice), Deogracias Atienza (VP for Government Services), Aquiles Paredes (VP for Allied Fields),
Benjamin Meamo (Secretary), Alfredo Tungpalan (Treasurer) and Luciano Aquino, Otilio Arellano,
Benjamin Feliciano, Edilberto Florentino, Bernandino Lozad, Arturo Mañalac, Ariston Nakpil, Victor
Tiotuyco and Evelio Valdes as directors.
Finally on December 12, 1975, the members of the UAP elected the First Regular Board of Directors,
namely: Jose Herrera (President), Manuel Mañosa, Jr. (VP for Private Practice), Ruperto Gaite (VP for
Government Service), Cesar Concio (VP for Allied Fields), Urbano Caasi, Jr. (Secretary), Librado
Macalinao (Treasurer), and Felipe Mendoza, Ricardo Poblete, Constantino Agbayani, Corazon Tandoc,
Jesse Mackay, Antonio Ascalon, Johnny Sulit as directors while Norberto Nuke as ex-officio.
Meanwhile, a group of PIA members led by Adolfo Benavides and some members of the Board of the
PIA, did not choose to become members of the United Architects of the Philippines. PIA did not
dissolve. Some members, while registered as members of UAP remained as members of PIA. Until
came a time, during the presidency of Felipe Mendoza, UAP has drafted a Board Resolution, and later
became part of the Bylaws of UAP, dual membership to UAP and PIA was not allowed. This led to the
existence of PIA as another separate Professional Organization.
In 1976, UAP became one of the founding members of the Philippine Federation of Professional
Organizations (PFPA, the Philippine Technological Council (PTC), and the Philippine Council for
Planning and Housing (PCPH).
In 1979, UAP became one of the founding members of the Architects Regional Council of Asia. In 1988
UAP became the National Section of UIA.
 History of PIA
The Philippine Institute of Architects (PIA) is an architectural society in the Philippines and is the
oldest architectural society in Asia. It is composed of noble men and women from the architectural
profession of the Philippines. It was founded by renowned architects in 1933 whose ultimate endeavor
is the professional development of architecture in the Philippines.
The PIA once served as the Philippine Section and founding member of the Union internationale des
Architectes (UIA), the International organization for architects from 1950 until 1991 until its
membership was then passed on to the United Architects of the Philippines.

The objectives of the PIA since its foundation in 1933.

 To organize and unite in fellowship the architects in the Philippines.

 To promote through collaborative efforts the advancement of the artistic and practical impacts of
the profession.
 To help in the advancement of design and construction by elevating the standards of architectural
education, training, and professional practice.
 To assist in bringing architecture more dynamically and intimately to the life of the social man.
 To coordinate the profession of architecture with allied arts, science, trade, industry, and the civic
enterprise of the community.
Since its founding in 1933, the PIA has elected among its members and sections, 50 architects as
president of the organization.
 41. Orlando Villamin
1. Juan Felipe Nakpil 42. Delfin Pantangco,Jr.
2. Tomas Mapua 43. Angelito Antonio
3. Pablo Antonio 44. J. Paul Octaviano
4. Fernando Ocampo 45. Alvin Vega
5. Juan Marcos Arellano 46. Joel Vivero Rico
6. Cesar Concio 47. Pablito P. Labao,Jr.
7. Andres Luna de San Pedro 48. Cynthia Naval
8. Gines Rivera 49. Renato S. Basa
9. Jose Ma. Zaragoza
10. Carlos Da Silva
11. Carlos Domingo Arguelles
12. Otilio Arellano
13. Antonio Sindiong
14. Felipe Mendoza
15. Leandro Locsin
16. Antonio Dimalanta
17. Jesus Bondoc
18. Manuel Mañosa,Jr.
19. Gabino De Leon
20. Ariston Nakpil
21. Adolfo Benavidez
22. Cesar Canchela
23. Arturo Mañalac
24. Nicasio De Venecia
25. Carlos Santos Viola

26. Paulino Lim

27. Imelda Cancio
28. Macario Pagdanganan
29. Faustino Ramon
30. Jessie Cayanan
31. Nepthaly Del Rosario
32. Ernesto Antonio Masol
33. J. Paul Octaviano
34. Delfin Viola III
35. Rogelio Villarosa
36. Manuel Go, Sr.
37. Francisco Flameno
38. Ma. Lourdes Pagulayan
39. Augusto Galang
40. Remigio Abella
PIA sections

1. Davao (first provincial section)

2. La Union
3. Tarlac
4. CaMaNaVa
5. Quezon City
6. Rizal
7. Cavite
8. Pangasinan
9. Ilocos
10. Makati
11. Iloilo
12. Zamboanga
13. Cagayan De Oro
14. Butuan
15. Singapore
16. Cebu
17. Negros Occidental
18. UAE a subsection of PIA Makati

Gold Medal of Merit Awardees

The PIA Gold Medal of Merit is the first, the most prestigious, and the oldest architectural
award in the country. It was designed by Adolfo Benavides> in 1950 and created by El Oro
engraving.
The organization started awarding merits to outstanding and renowned men and women of the
architectural profession who have either done, rendered, or contributed to the enrichment and
professional development of architecture in the Philippines and for the economic, civic, and
national growth of the country.
Below is the list of the distinguished 22 members of the PIA who have received the Gold Medal
of Merit Award from 1958 to present (2014).
1. Andres Luna de San Pedro
2. Juan Felipe Nakpil
3. Fernando Ocampo
4. Tomas Mapua
5. Juan Marcos Arellano
6. Antonio Toledo
7. Cesar Concio
8. Jose Ma. Zaragoza
9. Carlos Da Silva
10. Leandro Locsin
11. Carlos Domingo Arguelles
12. Antonio Sindiong
13. Cristobal Espina
14. Carlos Santos Viola
15. Maximo Vicente, Jr.
16. Manuel Go, Sr.
17. William V. Coscolluela
18. Rogelio ViIlarosa
19. Angel Dela Crus
20. Ramon Ma. Zaragoza
21. Ramon Orlina, Jr.
22. Jose Pedro Recio
23. Carmelo Casas