Ontario Fil-Can architects to scale up practice on 14th year

Ontario Fil-Can architects to scale up practice on 14th year

By Ysh Cabana

TORONT–With a span of almost a decade and a half as the first branch in Canada, members of the United Architects of the Philippines-Ontario Chapter (UAP-OC) celebrated their anniversary at Novotel Toronto on Saturday September 23, 2017.

Elected chapter president Alvic Doctolero shared that imagination to innovate and plan ahead while fostering creativity is his vision in leading the organization beyond its current professional practice. He also led the rites to induct the new members and incoming set of officers: Jackielyn Calabocal, Mariano Villanueva, Christina Policarpio, Barry Chan and Emma Luz Ignacio. The board of directors include Richard Aguirre, Agnes Mediodia, Mark Philip Gabriel, and Rommel Agulto. All were garbed in malong tube cloth from the Philippines.

From their inauguration as an international chapter, members of UAP-OC continue to be committed to finding ways to further embrace and integrate newly arrived architects into professional practice in Ontario. For that, Mario Sarandi gave a speech on his experience working as principal partner in global design firm B+H Architects. Other distinguished guests include Toronto Philippine Consul Edna May Grecia-Lazaro, UAP incumbent national President Guillermo Hisancha and Sheena Sharp, past president of the Ontario Architects Association.

Practitioners from both the Philippines and Canada are also observing World Architecture Day on October 2. Celebrated on the first Monday of every October, the day is dedicated by the International Union of Architects (UIA) to focus on the role of architecture in providing a better future for people and creating solutions to global challenges through effective design. For this year, organizations in the world are called upon to mobilize efforts to respond to the impact of climate change caused by rapid urbanization and building development.

The UIA announced that its members and partners will “celebrate their achievements and visions of architecture that is responsible, innovative and enriching communities.”

In a memo, the UIA also promoted the theme “Climate Change Action!” by participating and supporting the events in COP 23 (Bonn, Germany 6-17 November 2017) and the World Urban Forum 9 (Kuala Lumpur 7-13 February 2018)