APC JOURNAL | Volume 1 2018 edition
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Formation History of UAP-Brunei
On 8 November 2013 , 21 architects gathered for the very first general assembly with the goal of forming the Brunei Chapter of the United Architects of the Philippines . But long before that first general assembly , the story of UAP Brunei Chapter has begun , closely interwoven with the story of Brunei ’ s building industry . It may have begun when UAP ’ s very own Leandro V . Locsin , fuap was commissioned to design what would be the official residence of the Sultan of Brunei and his family , the Istana Nurul Iman , in the early 1980s . When the Philippine firm Ayala International constructed the Istana , a number of Filipino architects came to Brunei to work on the project . The Istana was completed in 1984 , the same year Brunei regained its independence from the British . In the 1990s , Brunei ’ s economy started to pick up . An influx of Filipino architects filled the demand for architects in the local building industry as massive development took place in the country . During this time , Brunei ’ s largest mosque ( Jame ’ Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque ), a shopping center ( Yayasan Shopping Complex ), an amusement theme park ( Jerudong Park and Country Club ), a private hospital ( Jerudong Park Medical Center ), a 6-star hotel ( The Empire Hotel and Country Club , then Jerudong Park Hotel ) and other government structures were constructed . The building industry was booming with several private shophouses and housing projects also under construction .
Architectural and consulting firms in the Philippines assigned their staff to work in Brunei as CAD Operators or Designers under local Brunei offices . Other Filipino architects found jobs through recommendations from other Filipinos already stationed locally . AutoCAD was just introduced then as a drafting medium , and presentations were done in watercolor or airbrush . When the Asian financial crisis hit in 1997 , economies of surrounding nations fell but Brunei was shook with a different crisis when the country ’ s biggest developer was closed down in 1998 . The building industry slowed down as projects were shelved or abandoned . Local architectural , engineering and the few that remained in the building industry got busy as Brunei prepared to host the South East Asian Games in 1999 . Additional facilities were constructed surrounding the Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in preparation for the Games . The Ong Sum Ping Apartments were refurbished to be used by the athletes participating in the Games .
This was followed by the activation of The Empire Hotel in 2000 . Meanwhile , in 2002 , two passionate architects , Neil R .
UNITED ARCHITECTS OF THE PHILIPPINES
Rutor and Hernando ‘ Nonoy ’ J . Hautea , Jr ., with the vision of forming the Brunei Chapter of the UAP , contacted other Filipino architects in Brunei . On 22 November 2002 , architects Neil R . Rutor , Hernando ‘ Nonoy ’ J . Hautea , Jr ., Ma . Christina ‘ Marie ’ G . Esclabanan-Bajarias , Alan F . Filio and ‘ Bong ’ Aguirre held the first meeting to initiate the formation of the Brunei Chapter . However , the group was not able to gather the required minimum number of membership during this time and the formation of the Brunei Chapter was deferred . In the mid-2000s , local architectural , engineering and construction firms started hiring again as more projects and developments sprouted both in the private and government sectors . A new influx of Filipino architects was once again seen in the local workforce . This time skills in computer-aided presentations and 3D drafting were in demand . Wawasan Brunei 2035 ( Vision of Brunei 2035 ) was launched in 2008 to set goals for a first class education , a high quality of life and a dynamic and sustainable economy in Brunei through strategic development in its institutions , education , economy , security , local businesses , social security , environment and infrastructure . This provided a positive outlook for the local building industry and secured the demand for Filipino architects . Then in 2013 , architects Neil R . Rutor , Dominic N . Cordova and Wario ‘ Jigs ’ C . Tacbad connected , and the idea of forming the Brunei Chapter of the UAP was brought to life again . More Filipino architects were reached with the help of social media . Then the first general assembly was organized . This time , the minimum membership requirement was met and the chapter formation process was initiated .
On 9 April 2014 , the formation of the UAP Brunei Chapter was approved by the UAP National Board of Directors through the sponsorship of the UAP Makati CBD Chapter under District B-3 as the 135th Chapter of the United Architects of the Philippines . The UAP Brunei Chapter was inaugurated on 24 August 2014 with 31 Charter Members including 8 Charter Officers . In the UAP 42nd National Convention in April 2016 , UAP Brunei Chapter was awarded Best Foreign-based Chapter and its Chapter President the Best Foreign-based Chapter President just over a year after its inauguration .
The Chapter ’ s annual activities in conjunction with the UAP National ’ s programs include the Sketchwalk for World Day of Architecture ( WDA ), which aims to document Brunei architecture through manual sketches and renderings as well as to deepen the appreciation for arts and architecture , and seminars during the Philippine National Architecture Week ( NAW ), which aim to provide continuing education to the members with topics relevant to Philippine architecture and to the Filipino architect . In addition , UAP Brunei Chapter also organized original programs aimed to develop its own members as well as to mentor future architects . Potluck Sessions are brief talks that feature chapter members as speakers of their specialty topics . The annual Architecture Licensure Examinations Review aims to assist the Filipino architecture graduates in Brunei in following through with their licensure by providing review classes conducted by chapter members . As of printing , 13 of the reviewers under the Chapter ’ s ALE Review have successfully passed the ALE . With a current membership of 49 architects and growing , UAP Brunei Chapter remains true to its vision , mission and objectives .