Friends,
please join me in welcoming the return of Philippine Landscape
Architecture News (PLAN) in its newest and latest incarnation
- as an electronic newsletter on the PALA website, <pala.org.ph>.
PLAN, under the more-than-capable stewardships of Karla Rey
and Joseph Soriano, aims to attract a much wider readership
than was previously attainable with the printed newsletter.
The new format, with a much wider range of topics, will be
accessible to even the most far-flung expat Landscape Architect
and ultimately, the world. we wish you happy reading and hope
to eventually see your contributions in these pages.
To recap the events of the past year, PALA achieved the successful
staging of its Third National Convention themed, Fusion of
the Old & New: Exploring the Natural, Cultural & Designed
Landscapes. This was held at the Philippine Army Officer's
Club in Fort Bonifacio in February of this year. The events
of the year 2005 culminated in December with the awarding of
the winning entries in the Professional and Student categories,
of the PALA- supervised and participated-in, National Commission
on Culture and the Arts' (NCCA) Cultural Center of the Philippines
Redesign Competition. Earlier in the year, thanks in no small
measure to the untiring efforts of Perry and Susan Ong as well
as media support from Paulo Alcazaren and Toti Villalon, the
endangered Dao tree in UPLB was spared from an ill-advised
as well as premeditated demise. This, unfortunately, cannot
be said of the once- proud Dap-dap trees (Erythrina spp.) in
the Philippines which were reduced to rotting stumps and a
few struggling survivors infested with the gall wasp. These,
we are told, all but wiped out the Dap-Dap trees in Singapore.
Last year also witnessed the passing of three dear friends
of PALA , Dean Honny Fernandez, Cliff Peronilla and Par Patacsil
who took their leave in the prime of their lives. They will
be sorely missed but forever remembered for the gifts their
very existence brought to each one of us. To each of them,
Godspeed!
For every star that fades, other stars shine on in their stead.
None more brilliantly than Ildefonso P. Santos, Jr., bestowed
the highest honor of National Artist for Architecture and the
Allied Arts. No mean feat in this fledgling profession. Then,
there is Earn Villavicencio, PRC’s Most Outstanding Professional
of the Year for Landscape Architecture for his work in the
National Parks System and last, but not the least, Cynthia
Morales-Sundiang was appointed Examiner of the Board of Landscape
Architecture (BOLA) where, together with Carlito Pesons and
Cecile Herras- Tence, she will serve the final baptism of fire
for aspiring Landscape Architects.
The Successful Examinees of the 2006 Licensure Exams for Landscape
Architects and this year's PALA Board of Directors were inducted
in ceremonies held at Cafe Benissimo, Eastwood City which also
served as the venue for the celebratory get-together to roast
and toast IP Santos for his achievements. On behalf of the
Board, let me welcome all the new members into the PALA Family.
This year, the focus of our attention will be on our members.
Because of the efforts of previous Boards who, by necessity,
perseverance and determination, worked hard to establish awareness
and recognition of the profession in the public consciousness,
this Board is now able to address the needs of its members
and do its best to protect the rights and privileges that the
previous administrations worked so hard to achieve through
the passage of The Philippine Landscape Architecture Act of
2000 (RA 9053).
We are reviving and revitalizing the Website and the Newsletter;
we are responding to the need for Continuing Professional Development
with a number of upcoming seminars/ workshops/ field trips;
we are repackaging ourselves with a new, vibrant PR brochure
that will showcase the varied facets of the practicing members.
We are re-establishing bonds among the general membership with
fellowship get-togethers and we hope to reinforce our ties
with the Allied Professions and Practices through dialogue
and mutual respect.These projects may be ambitious or modest
depending on one's perceptions but we hope to achieve them
all with your support and participation. I cannot emphasize
enough how an organization is only as good or as great as its
members. And I know we have greatness. All that we shall ever
need is within us. IP has shown us the way. Please keep that
star burning bright.
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