THE ARCHITECT'S PLEDGE by the Institute was published in April 1952 during

the term of then the 9th President, Gold Medal of Merit awardee and the
2014 National Artist in Architecture, Arch. Jose Ma. Zaragoza, FPIA
https://www.facebook.com/195052377246724/photos/a.610478109037480/1942243119194299/?type=3&theater
Seventy Years of History PIA 1933-2003
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 SEAL OF THE SOCIETY; (account of Francisco Nakpil, son of Juan F. Nakpil, designer of the
PAS Official Seal) " I believe it could have been 1935 or 36 that I saw the design being drawn
by my father in our office in Adriatico Street formerly Dakota Street in Ermita. To my belief the
more conspicuous feature of which is the Arch, is really to make one feel the entrance in to
the realm of the Filipino. Perhaps the arch is the embodiment of the feature worhy of the
Filipino motif that one should always embody in his desire to design buildings as an architect
worth his "soul". The feeling is even being brought to complete the picture with the typical
Filipino scene, the Mayon Volcano, a very good design subject because of its perfect
symmetry and supplemented in the foreground by the Tamaraw laced with the Sampaguita
garland which is just as indigenous. As a final gesture of the totality of the Filipino concept,
the lettering are all in the old Malayan type script writtent around the oval seal. Notable is
the framed picture that was embodied in the oval and compact perimeter and whose
proportion and symmetry would have been destroyed had any line added. A constant
reminder for all of us members that we are caught in this realm of the Filipino is perhaps and
I do sincerely believe the total idea that my father brought about when he designed the
seal".
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 THE PIA MARCH was composed by Maestro Josefino Y.
Cenizal (Sept. 14, 1919 - March 27, 2015). He also
composed the much loved songs, Hindi Kita Malimot
and Ang Pasko ay Sumapit and among others. With the
help of his friend, PIA President Arch. Jose Ma.
Zaragoza, FPIA, he combined poetry and harmony to
create a masterpiece which was first heard during the
20th PIA Annual Natinal Convention in 1953 and was
recorded in a doubled face disk in 1954.
https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/publicaffairs/kapusomojessicasoho/393078/meet-the-man-behind-the-song-ang-pasko-ay-sumapit/story/
Seventy Years of History PIA 1933-2003
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 The first National Convention of Architects was held at the Club Filipino on February
21-28, 1941. For the record, the first Filipina Architect is Mercedes Raffinan.
Seventy Years of History PIA 1933-2003
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 On January 23, 1957, the PIA was notified of its election as an affiliate organization of the
Paris based UIA (Union Internationales Des Architectes). PIA President Arch. Jose Ma.
Zaragoza, FPIA personally filed the affiliation papers of the PIA during his trip to Rome for the
conference of the Instituto Internacional De Arte Leturgica (International Institute of Liturgical
Art).
Seventy Years of History PIA 1933-2003
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 The Philippine Institute of Architects awards the Honorary Membership bestowed
posthumously to following Philippine Presidents.

Manuel Luis Quezon y Molina Sergio Osmeña, Sr.

February, 1950 February, 1955
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Ramon Magsaysay y Del Fierro Elpidio Quirino y Rivera

February, 1957 February, 1953
 The PIA Clubhouse was the Zaragoza Mansion located at 1022 R. Hidalgo St., Quiapo Manila.
The 19th Century ancestral house served as the office and residence of PIA President Jose
Ma. Zaragoza. The Clubhouse was inaugurated on June 8,1952.
https://www.marc7travels.com/marc7-travels-blog-entries/explore-manila-the-romance-of-quiapo
Seventy Years of History PIA 1933-2003
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 The prestigious PIA Gold Medal Award of Merit is bestowed on architects for their
outstanding achievements in the field of architecture and their distinguished service and
loyalty to the Institute. First given in 1950, the Gold Medal was designed by Arch. Adolfo
Benavides, FPIA and is considered to be the oldest and most prestigious award in Philippine
Architecture.

ANDRES LUNA DE SAN PEDRO JUAN FELIPE NAKPIL FERNANDO HIZON OCAMPO, Sr. TOMAS BAUTISTA MAPUA
1950 1951 1952 1953

JUAN MARCOS DE GUZMAN ARELLANO ANTONIO TOLEDO

1958 1961 CESAR R. CONCIO, Sr. CARLOS DA SILVA
1964 1966

JOSE MARIA ZARAGOZA LEANDRO LOCSIN CARLOS ARGUELLES ANTONIO SINDIONG CARLOS SANTOS VIOLA CRISTOBAL ESPINA
1977 1978 1988 1989 1990 1991
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MAXIMO VICENTE, Jr. MANUEL GO WILLIAM COSCOLLUELA ROGELIO VILLAROSA PAULINO LIM MAURILLO GARCIA ERNESTO ANTONIONO NASOL
1995 1993 1997 1997 1998 1999 2020
 In February 1994, during the term of the 36th PIA President, Arch. Delfin Viola III, the Institute
expanded its membership to include students and ratified the by-laws of the Junior PIA. The
Junior PIA is an organization of architecture students from various architectural schools. It
aims to provide students with opportunities to meet their aspirations within the Institute, and
understandably, to benefit from the constant interaction with the senior PIA members. The
first Junior PIA affiliated schools are Adamson University (AdU), Technological Institute of the
Philippines (TIP), University of Santo Tomas (UST) and Rizal Technological College (RTC).
Seventy Years of History PIA 1933-2003
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 Once upon a time, the Philippine Institute of
Architects assembled some of the finest
architects, artists and academes to form the
PHILIPPINE COLLEGE OF DESIGN in 1941. The
Philippine College of Design is the fourth
school of architecture in the Philippines. It
was the educational program of then
Philippine Architects Society now the
Philippine Institute of Architects. It was
established by PIA founding president Juan
Nakpil.
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 The original membership book for the Philippine Institute of Architects and
Planners in 1945, actually, its just a changing of names from the 1933
Philippine Architects Society to PIAP and finally PIA in 1945 as well. The
Institute for 87 years is committed to uphold the upliftment of our
architectural profession, to defend and protect, as well as to promote the
greatness of Filipino architects from all around the world..
Seventy Years of History PIA 1933-2003
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 The FELLOWSHIP CERTIFICATE of PIA past President and
first Gold Medal of Merit awardee, Andres Luna de San
Pedro from the archives of National Museum of the
Philippines.
Seventy Years of History PIA 1933-2003
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 The National Library of the Philippines in partnership with Philippine Institute of
Architects, will initiate the modernization the NLP Bldg. facade in T.M. Kalaw St.
It is currently undergoing its restoration and retrofitting, the NLP and PIA will
designed the most environmental and dynamic facade consistent to the
vision of its designers led by PIA past president and National Artist Jose Ma.
Seventy Years of History PIA 1933-2003

Zaragoza. HEXAGON ARCHITECTS was the career development division of the

PIA in the 1960s primarily tasked to designed the Luneta Park development
that included the National Library, National Museum and National Theater in
time for birth centennial of Jose Rizal in 1963, however, only the National
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Library was completed.

 The first Manila International Air Terminal built by the company of Ayala
y Zobel in 1936, and designed by PIA Gold Medal of Merit Award,
Andres Luna de San Pedro. It is now part of the Ayala Triangle
bounded by Ayala Ave, Makati Ave. and Paseo de Roxas in Makati
City. It was one of the first air terminal in Asia.
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 The very first Investiture Rites of the PIA College of Fellows at the Winter
Garden, Manila Hotel led by the first Chancellor and National Artist
Juan Felipe Nakpil in 1971. The PIA elevation to Fellowship started in
1936 as a way to recognized the members for its years of service and
loyalty to the institute, and it is the first and oldest architectural
Seventy Years of History PIA 1933-2003

fellowship in the country.

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 UST College of Fine Arts, Architecture and Engineering Bldg. in Espana,
Manila, designed by former PIA Board of Director and UST Dean, Julio
Rocha, FPIA, during the 1950s. They opened the second school of
architecture in 1930 and became one of the most successful and
respected schools of architecture in the world. Most of the leading
Seventy Years of History PIA 1933-2003

architects from the 20th to 21st century in the country were graduates
of UST architecture such as National Artist Leandro Locsin, IP Santos,
Jose Zaragaoza, as well as Carlos Arguelles, Angel Nakpil, Jose Pedro
Recio, Carmelo Casas and more.
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 The Master Plan for the NEW CAPITAL CITY PROJECT, prepared by then
PIA President and Chairman Juan Arellano and given as a gift to his
friend and future PIA president and National Artist Jose Zaragoza. This is
also the first attempt to transfer the capital of the Philippines from
Manila to the new Quezon City. This was the architect's copy of the
report in 1949.

Proposed NATIONAL CAPITAL PLANNING COMPLEX PROJECT for the

transfer of our capital from Manila to Quezon City in the 1960s
designed by the collaborative efforts of PIA, LPA and APGA under the
supervision of the Department of Public Works, Bureau of
Architecture, Federico Illustre. PIA COLLABORATIVES was the name of
the group of PIA architects led by then president and National Artist
Seventy Years of History PIA 1933-2003

Jose Ma. Zaragoza.

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 The first batch of Filipino Pensionados in Philadelphia in 1903, to study various
fields of education in America to be used later by the American Insular
Government for our self governance. Part of this group was Carlos Alejandro
Barretto of Zambales and Manila, the first Pensionado in architecture, and
the first acknowledge " architect" during the American regime. The
Pensionado Program was very important in our profession, in 1921, it became
the template of US government in the country to conduct the very first
licensure exam for Filipino and foreigners in the country Master Builders
(Maestro de Obras) to qualify as registered and professional architects.
everal Pensionado architects were Tomas Mapua, Antonio Toledo, Juan
Arellano, Cesar Concio, Carlos Barretto became the 3rd registered architect
in the country in 1921, and member of the Architecture Division of the Bureau
of Public Works and later co founded the Philippine Architects Society in
Seventy Years of History PIA 1933-2003

1933. member Emeritus of PIA in 1958.

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 FRIENDLY PROFESSIONS, a joint celebration for the passing of our respective
laws, RA 544 (Civil Engineering Law) and RA 545 (Architecture Law) in 1950 at
the old Winter Garden, Manila Hotel. our professions are distinct and
complimentary to each other. PIA and PACE are representing the architects
and civil engineers during that time.
Seventy Years of History PIA 1933-2003
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 Acclaimed as the " Father of Modern Architecture" and PIA Honorary Fellow,
Frank Lloyd Wright with Bureau of Public Works Consulting Architect and PIA
Board Member Federico Illustre, during the architectural tour of the Philippine
architects in America for the preparation of the NATIONAL CAPITAL CITY
COMPLEX in Quezon City. Federico Illustre is credited for the design of several
architectural landmarks in the country such as the Quezon Memorial
Monument, Welcome Rotonda Monument, old GSIS Bldg in Arroceros Manila.
Seventy Years of History PIA 1933-2003
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 The original architectural plan of the proposed " Philippine Insular
Government Complex" in Luneta, Manila prepared by Juan Arellano and
Antonio Toledo in 1939 for the Bureau of Public Works. Only the Agriculture
and Finance Buildings were completed in 1941 before the outbreak of World
War II in the country.
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 The objectives of
the Institute since
1953 until today,
for the glory of
God, upliftment of
our noble
profession and the
Filipino
architects...Juan
Felipe Nakpil,
Founder, Gold
Medalist, National
Artist.
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The oldest existing
copy of the
"Architect's Code" in
the Philippines, circa
1920s given to the
newly pass
candidate for
licensure of
architecture by the
Civil Service Office.
This copy was from
the collections of Don
Tomas Arguelles,
founding member
and president of
Academia de
Arquitectura y
Agrimensura Filipinas
in 1907, founding
member Philippine
Architects Society in
1933, Fellow,
Philippine Institute of
Architects 1952, and
Member Emeritus
1958, and a proud
mentor and father of
Carlos Arguelles, FPIA.
 the PIA College of Fellows, 1971. The history of elevation to Fellowship
started in 1939, with the founders of then Philippine Architects Society
elevated Juan Nakpil, Tomas Mapua, Andres Luna, Fernando Ocampo,
Tomas Arguelles and Carlos Barretto. In 1971, the PIA officially formed the
PIA College of Fellows as the primary source of guidance and wisdom of
the Institute. For over 70 years, the PIA elevated to Fellowship the best
Filipino architects, such as Leandro Locsin, Juan Arellano, Antonio Toledo,
Jose Zaragoza, William Coscolluela, Rogelio Villarosa, Jose Pedro Recio,
Manosa Brothers, and recently, Ramon Orlina. PIA Fellowship is the highest
recognition to be achieved by any member.
 The three highest architectural awards in the Philippines, the PIA Gold
of Merit Award first given in 1950 to Andres Luna de San Pedro, as the
first and oldest existing award in Asia, the UAP Likha Award first given in
1982 to Felipe Mendoza and the National Artist of the Philippines in
Architecture first given PIA founding president Juan Nakpil. These three
awards and their awardees were given a unified recognition by
PIA,UAP and CCP in 2007 and 2012 named as the GAWAD GINTONG
LIKHA.
 In 1996, the Board of Architecture (BOA) passed a Resolution No. 4 on the Continuing
Professional Education (CPE) Program for Architects. The CPE was conceived as a system to
upgrade and enhance the standards of architectural practice, but some of the Institute’s
members questioned the CPE’s requirement for every architect to renew his/her professional
license. These sentiments brought the entire CPE system under scrutiny. To express their
disagreement with some of the CPE’s stipulations. PIA filed the Civil Case No. 94-561, with the
Board of Architecture, PRC and UAP as respondents.

On February 13, 1996, Makati Regional Trial Court Judge Delia Panganiban decided in favor
of the PIA. In her order, she noted that Republic Act 545 already sets down the requirements
for the practice of architecture. PEC filed for reconsideration but was denied.

In 1997, The Court of Appeals affirmed the PIA stand on the CPE. It was ruled that the appeal
filed by BOA, PRC and UAP was without merit, and that the BOA Resolution No. 4 Series of
1993 was “void and unconstitutional because it infringes on the petitioner-appealee’s right
to equal protection of the law”…Far from the being germane to its purpose of continuing
education for the betterment of the architecture profession in the country, it is obvious that
there is here a discrimination against non-UAP architects.
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