In April 2025, the United Architects of the Philippines (UAP) marked a golden milestone with its 50th National Convention—NATCON 50. Held from April 7 to 12 at the SMX Convention Center, the event gathered thousands of Filipino and international architects under the unifying theme: “Borderless.” More than a celebration, NATCON 50 was a call for global collaboration, redefined design frontiers, and architecture that resonates across boundaries—cultural, technological, and ideological.
A CELEBRATION OF LEGACY AND VISION
UAP NATCON 50 wasn’t just a retrospective on 50 years of service to the Filipino architect—it was a forward-looking festival of ideas. The event fused continuing professional development (CPD) seminars, global keynote sessions, panel discussions, and cultural gatherings with a strong focus on nation-building, education, sustainability, and innovation.
DAY 1: Architecture and Nation-Building
The opening session was a powerful tribute to architecture’s role in shaping the Philippine nation. One of the main keynote speakers was Manuel Cervantes, the founder of Manuel Cervantes Estudio. Known for integrating context-sensitive modernism, Cervantes spoke about architecture as a vessel of culture and identity, emphasizing harmony between design, people, and place.
Another standout was Nathaniel Von Einsiedel, a Principal Urban Planner at CONCEP, Inc. and a respected Fellow of both UAP and PIEP. His talk on “Designing in Harmony with Nature” reflected a deep commitment to sustainable urban development rooted in Filipino landscapes.
This was followed by Daniel Oh, Partner at SquareMMKM, who spoke on “Sentiment-Led Urbanism.” He argued that emotion, memory, and human connection should be drivers of city-making. “Urbanism must be personal,” he declared, challenging the audience to design spaces that touch the soul.
DAY 2: Empowering Through Education
Day two turned the spotlight on architectural education, with a compelling keynote from Natalie Mossin, Head of the Institute of Architecture and Technology at the Royal Danish Academy. Mossin shared insights on preparing architects for volatile futures, advocating for resilient, multidisciplinary learning.
Next came Heru Wibowo Poerbo from Institut Teknologi Bandung, who discussed the importance of international accreditation in strengthening Southeast Asian architecture schools. He emphasized the need to elevate local institutions to global standards.
Chona Ponce, Dean of the National University’s College of Architecture, tackled the ASEAN integration of Philippine architecture curricula—stressing flexibility, cultural literacy, and global competitiveness.
Panel discussions led by Jocelyn Lutap and Junar Tablan brought together these insights, with speakers like Lam Kee Poh (NUS Singapore), Mourad Amer (CEO of IEREK.com), and Johannes Widodo (conservation expert at NUS) pushing for future-proof, AI-integrated, and sustainability-centered architectural education.
DAY 3: The Borderless Vision
Officially launched on Day 3, NATCON 50’s “Borderless” message was solidified with the presence of Pritzker Prize Laureate Riken Yamamoto as Guest of Honor. His message to the architects of the Philippines was clear: build not just structures, but communities. His talk was preceded by congratulatory messages from UIA Secretary-General Rui Leao, ARCASIA President Saifuddin Ahmad, and EAROPH President Jahangir Khan.
Later, Richard Wood, Managing Director of Snøhetta, delivered a stirring keynote on collaborative design processes, environmental ethics, and the role of cross-disciplinary teams in future cities. His “Tête-à-Tête” with Buck Sia sparked interest as they discussed building identities in Southeast Asian contexts.
DAY 4: The Power of Collaboration
The fourth day celebrated architectural synergy with a keynote by Dongnim Shim, Partner and Director at HBA Architecture. Shim emphasized co-design, inclusivity, and the magic of collaborative authorship.
Christine Sicangco, founder of the country’s leading lighting design studio, presented “Illuminating Synergy,” which explored the intersection of light, emotion, and space.
Furniture designer Jed Yabut offered a refreshing talk on “The Architect as Furniture Designer,” sharing how architecture can expand into lifestyle design and handcrafted expression.
Technical synergy was the focus of Emmanuel Punsalan, Managing Partner of L.R. Punsalan & Associates. His session explored HVAC integration for performance-driven, user-centered buildings.
The afternoon was equally riveting. Yolanda D. Reyes, a leading advocate for architectural heritage, reminded attendees of the importance of roots: “Architecture is also storytelling,” she said.
International speakers Patrick Coulombel (Emergency Architects Foundation), Thomas Cheung (CKAL), and Ingeborg Christian Hau (Royal Danish Academy) shared experiences from humanitarian design, healthcare architecture, and policy.
Finally, Maria Leonor Robredo, former Vice President of the Philippines, spoke with deep sincerity about architecture as a force for public good, anchoring her talk on the successes of Angat Buhay projects.
DAY 5: From Blueprint to Reality
Day five featured Magdaline Yeo, Principal at AEDAS Singapore, as the keynote. Her presentation, “Modern Approaches in Design and Construction,” emphasized digitization, climate sensitivity, and smart building systems.
Monish Siripurapu, the “antrepreneur” and founder of Ant Studio, then delivered a talk titled “Design with a Rear View Mirror,” where he proposed reimagining traditional technologies (like evaporative cooling) for futuristic designs.
A standout moment came with Jed Michael de Guzman of Bamboo Grassroots Atelier, who argued that bamboo could spearhead the country’s green revolution.
The afternoon boasted two standout sessions: Sudarshan Khadka and Alexander Eriksson Furunes gave a powerful presentation on “Borderless Practice,” detailing participatory and culturally grounded work across Southeast Asia.
And in a highly anticipated moment, Gloryrose Dy Metilla of Swito Designs Inc. took the stage with “Building Identity: Architecture as a Catalyst for Cultural and Moral Revival.” Her work in Mindanao shows how architecture can heal, connect, and empower. “We are an archipelago with so much stories to tell. Let’s share those stories through the buildings we design,” she shared to applause.
The day ended with Dino Delatavo of CCG Architects discussing the Eastern Creek Quarter project—emphasizing community and place-making in a globalizing world.
DAY 6: Youth, Identity, and New Paths
The final day focused on young architects and future careers. The keynote came from Denny Setiawan, Chair of ARCASIA’s Young Architects Committee, who encouraged Filipino youth to be both rooted and radical.
Talks from Chana Sumpalung, Melvin Keng, and Michelle Barreto focused on skills, storytelling, and brand-building in architecture.
Rounding off the festival were sessions on sustainability with Tan Szue Hann (Keppel), and insights into non-traditional careers with Kevin Hui of Archimarathon.
MORE THAN A CONVENTION: A COMMUNITY
The success of NATCON 50 was reflected in testimonials shared across Facebook and social media:
- “UAP NATCON 50 is truly a milestone event. Proud to be part of history,” said one architect from Cebu.
- “The lineup this year is beyond impressive! I feel energized and inspired for the future,” shared a young delegate from Davao.
- Another praised the hybrid format, writing, “I watched the talks I missed online. The accessibility is game-changing.”
Online, delegates posted photos with captions like “Hugot ng architect: inspired, challenged, proud. Thank you, UAP!” and “NATCON 50: Where heritage meets innovation.”
A BORDERLESS TOMORROW
As the music wound down on Dutchboy and Wilcon nights and as the final meet-and-greet ended at the UAP Festival, one thing was clear: UAP NATCON 50 had done more than commemorate history—it had charted a vision.