The 50th National Convention of the United Architects of the Philippines (UAP), or NATCON 50, was a landmark event that celebrated the organization’s golden jubilee. Held from April 7 to 12, 2025, at the SMX Convention Center in Manila, it was the largest gathering of architects in the country, uniting thousands of professionals under the powerful theme of “Borderless,” a powerful call for the profession to transcend geographical, technological, and creative frontiers.
Heeding this call, two (2) Architecture faculty members represented the University of Baguio: Ar. Divina Ligaya Benigno-Rillera and Ar. Jovito A. Danganan. This year’s convention emphasized events that foster deeper collaboration between professional practitioners and architectural educators, supporting UB’s goal of attaining Sustainable Development Goal (SD) No. 17: Partnerships for the Goals through continuous collaboration between other professionals, companies, and higher education institutions. Discussions revolved around the evolving landscape of architectural education, curriculum development, and the integration of cutting-edge technologies. All with the intention of nurturing the next generation through sustainable and robust academic programs, ensuring the relevance and positive impact of the profession to society and the continuous attainment of SDG No. 4: Quality Education.
NATCON 50 was a powerful reaffirmation of the symbiotic relationship between the profession and the academe. By focusing on quality education, continuous innovation, and the empowerment of young talents, the foundations of the Filipino architectural profession is set for future growth, impact, and excellence. To ensure that UBaguio, one of the pillars in training future professionals, is in keeping with these trends, members of the academe should be at the forefront of these networking and development activities.
