2019 WORLD ARCHITECTURE DAY CELEBRATION AND 3RD GMM

A very nice evening started the 3rd General Membership Meeting with the UAP Marikina Valley Chapter last October 7, 2019, at CVJ Clubhouse. It was attended by 78 Chapter Members, 7 New Members, 3 Sponsors, and 3 Guests. That night also held the 2nd CPD-Seminar Thematic Module 02: Regenerative Architecture ± Sustainability from Building to Community. At this CPD event, the chapter introduced two (2) guest speakers: Ar. Ronnie Yumang, UAP, PIEP, Asean Architect, for Regenerative Communities, and Engr. Daniel Moritcho, PICE, PSSE, for Together in Nation Building. The EMCEEs of the night are Ar. Caroline Victorino, and Ar. Jhirom Miramonte.

This day is exactly the day UIA, the International Organization of Architects announced the celebration of World Architecture Day 2019, coinciding with the United Nations World Habitat Day with the theme: “Architecture.... housing for all”. This theme focuses on how architects can contribute to the realization of affordable housing for all, the implementation of the New Urban Agenda, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) specifically Goal 11 — “to make human settlements safe, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable.” With this, the UAP Marikina Valley Chapter set this special CPD Seminar in reflecting its awareness of the agenda by inviting two (2) speakers, set with two different settings but with the same goal -the GOAL 11. 

The dinner started around 7:00pm, followed by the product presentation of Knauf Gypsum Philippines for engineering and architectural interior solutions with the use of Gypsum Boards. Then the plaque of appreciation was presented to Knauf Gypsum Philippines by Ar. Merrijill Medenilla and Ar. Ranier Biglang-awa.

The program proper started at 7:40PM, with Invocation lead by Ar. Rodelo O. Vargas, National Anthem, UAP March, and Architect’s Credo. Afterwards, 8:15pm started, Ar. Ranier L. Biglang-awa introduced the guest speakers to the CPD Attendees.

Ar. Ronnie Yumang, started his talk Regenerative Communities, tackling how the world has changed within the decades, affecting the environment, flora and fauna. He showed photos and sources on how the changes we humans made only to reach the goal of developing our communities while disregarding much of the damaged natural resources. He also discussed the science of the biological cycle of the food chain, wherein humans are the end beneficiary from the linear network. With this concern, he tackled how his architecture concept of communities be redesigned or be fused with the environment. He also explained his side of learning about the different kinds of plants and its uses, wherein nature, it will invite the wildlife back to the communities. He also tackled about the awareness of the community with plant food for self-sustainability with the use of food wastes or scraps be use of compost. And most especially, he introduced one of his architectural projects showing the result of a responsible existence of a community towards the environment and wildlife -a development where all the living things co-exist harmoniously, away from diseases because of allowing a living plant or animal intended to control it.

Next was Engr. Daniel Moritcho, an engineer for the Philippines’ Gawad Kalinga Foundation, where in his topic Together in Building Nation focused on the foundation’s goal of restoring and building poor Filipinos’ mindset, dignity, and character to fight poverty by being a responsible citizen of the country. He tackled on how they help poor families aspire for their children to become successful people and an asset to the Filipino Communities. There also he showed the humble housing development projects for the poor. There he had shown a type of community that co-exist with the same positive mindset against poverty by being industrious and hardworking to acquire their own housing units, and jobs to survive everyday living, as well as sustainable farming within the community to lessen expenses and daily costs of food, responsible handling of the human wastes, become a source material for recycling products for selling and be another type of financial sources. 

The CPD Seminar ended around 9:30PM and an open forum was held, inviting numerous questions about the topics. Afterward, the two guest speakers are invited to receive their plaques of appreciation and photo opportunity.

The business proper ended with October Birthday Celebrators and raffle and a group picture with the CPD Seminar Guest Speakers. The Meeting adjourned 10:00PM.