The United Architects...
READ MOREThe History
Brief History of the formation of the UAP Southern California Chapter
After the founding of UAPCAL 116 in 2008, under the presidency of Arch. Eduardo Quezon, a vision to reach out to Filipino Architects based in Southern California became first and foremost in their objectives.
To realize a separate and independent chapter in Southern California would best meet the needs of our colleagues in the area. This move would prove beneficial for some who reside in the Southland holding positions of responsibilities with the Northern California Chapter, thus, making them more effective in the service and pursuit of the UAP’s mission and aspirations. From a small group of Filipino architects based all over Southern California, informal gatherings and meetings held from one place to another attracted other Filipino architects to come and join in the formal establishment of the UAP-SOCAL Chapter.
Rodolfo Loveria, Jr. was appointed by UAPCAL 116 to spearhead the chapter formation for Southern California. With considerable investment in time and effort coordinating and contacting people, a formal meeting was set on October 17, 2009, in Glendale, California, attended by about thirty (30) Philippine-registered architects. The officers from Northern California (UAPCAL 116) together with Arch. Joseph Palafox, then chapter’s president, some chapter members, and invited Architects based in Los Angeles, came to discuss and start the new chapter organization. The meeting went successful though the plan did not gain traction and did not move forward.
More than a year had passed, a new elected group of officers came in for the Northern chapter (UAPCAL 116) with Arch. Jaime Maliksi as the president. Weeks after their election for FY 2010‐2011, Arch. Emerito Maulion, from Los Angeles, received a call from Arch. Maliksi informing him of his appointment as Vice President for Southern California to represent UAPCAL 116 in this part of the state.
Past Chapter President Arch. Eduardo Quezon contacted Arch. Leilanie Pekson‐Panyawai, Arch. Teofilo Cotangco, elected director for membership for Southern California, and his wife Arch. Gemilda Cotangco and invited them to the induction of officers of UAPCAL 116 for the fiscal Year 2010‐2011. Together with Arch. Emerito Maulion, they drove to Silicon Valley on October 1, 2010, to attend the event. Arch. Cynthia Asis‐Leif, a co‐director of Arch. Cotangco for Southern California membership was also able to witness the induction. Immediately after the induction program, a small quorum was formed at the hotel lobby to discuss and reintroduce the plan to organize a new chapter in Southern California. They consented that the architects from Southern California present at the quorum to hold a meeting in their area with the North Cal officers and South-based architects.
UAP Southern California
Welcome to the UAP Southern California (SoCal) Chapter, a duly accredited architects professional organization based in Los Angeles, California and one of the foreign-based chapters with a National Headquarter Office located in Manila, Philippines.
NEWS!!!
UAP Website
The four architects, Emerito Maulion, Teofilo Cotangco, Leilani Pekson‐Panyawai, and Cynthia Asis‐Leif, had their initial meeting on October 16, 2010, in Costa Mesa, CA. Subsequent meeting for the Northern and Southern California-based architects was held on November 6, 2010, in Pasadena, CA, attended by architects from Northern California: Reynaldo Banzon, Romulo Ferro, Jaime Maliksi, Animado Medrano, Joseph Palafox, Eduardo Quezon, Nini Reyes‐Bolinger, Leo Rodriguez, and Carmel Sanchez; and from Southern California: Eric Biscocho, Gemilda Cotangco, Teofilo Cotangco, Enrico Cinco, Eliseo Farol, Joven Joaquin Jr., Cynthia Asis‐Leif, Euler Manansala, Emerito Maulion, Florentino Mendoza, Ray Ojeda, Leilani Pekson‐Panyawai, Dexter Riobuya, and Elmer Valino.
Interim officers were elected. They initiated the formation of the Southern California Chapter and started gathering information on Southern California-based architects.
A first exclusive meeting for Southern California organized by the Interim Officers was held on November 20, 2010, in Duarte, California. Attendees discussed the process of forming a new UAP chapter and the benefits it will bring for its members. Present in this meeting were Cynthia Asis‐Leif, Danny Battung, Imelda Bautista, Eric Biscocho, Ray Caballes, Eustacio Castro Jr., Teofilo Cotangco, Gemilda Cotangco, Benedicto De Guzman, Eliseo Farol, Rita H. Jalandra, David Labrado, Butch Lara, Edwin Lei, Rodolfo Loveria Jr., Teodoro Luna, Euler Manansala, Emerito Maulion, Florentino Mendoza, Ramon Nadres, Cezar Obnial, Milton Ogdoc, Ray Ojeda, Leilani Pekson‐Panyawai, Jesus Reyna, Norberto Saavedra, Kim Bak Tu, and Alex Young.
There was a proposal to have an election of officers during the meeting. However, a consensus was reached to keep the interim officers until the chapter approval from the UAP National.
On December of 2010, the elected interim chairman for the chapter formation, Emer Maulion, flew to Manila to meet with UAP National President Ramon Mendoza and National Auditor Angelito Soriano. He sought UAP’s blessing and discussed the requirements and process for charter approval.
On his return to the United States, during the January 22, 2011 meeting held at Horacio Zablan’s residence in Reseda, CA, Emer Maulion discussed with the members what transpired during the Manila meeting. On January 29, Emer Maulion, Teofilo Cotangco, and Eric Biscocho drove to Pleasant Hill CA and attended the UAPCAL 116 monthly meeting, and requested documents required to complete the chapter application. They were warmly received and accommodated by the officers and members of Northern California UAP116 enabling the three to accomplish what was needed.
A general monthly meeting for the Southern California chapter was held on February 22, 2011, at Eliseo Farol’s Residence in Torrance, CA. Imelda Bautista, Eric Biscocho, Teofilo Cotangco, Gemilda Cotangco, Benedicto De Guzman, Eliseo Farol, Joven Joaquin Jr., David Labrado, Rogelio Layman, Emerito Maulion, Euler Manansala, Florentino Mendoza, Ray Ojeda, Prudencio Pamatmat, Leilani Pekson‐Panyawai, Norberto Saavedra, Jesus Reyna, Samuel Saludo, Noel Segovia, and Horacio Zablan attended the said meeting. During this meeting, attendees brought up the issue regarding the election of new chapter officers. The majority of attendees recommended having a referendum on whether to retain the interim officers or elect a new group of officers upon approval of the new chapter from UAP National. A consensus was reached to keep the Interim Officers and have them serve for the remainder of the current fiscal year 2010‐2011 and to retain them for the next fiscal year 2011‐2012 commencing July 1, 2011. The Chapter Officers eventually appointed members to fill up vacancies for directorship in committees needed for the chapter.
The final list of Charter Officers submitted to UAP National are as follows:
Emertio D. Maulion, President;
Leilani Pekson‐Panyawai, VP for Programs and Development;
Teofilo R. Cotangco, VP for Operations;
Joven G. Joaquin Jr., Secretary;
Ray E. Ojeda, Treasurer;
Milton S. Ogdoc, Auditor;
Enrico P. Cinco, Director for Chapter Events;
William David B. Labrado, Director for Internal and External Affairs;
Rodolfo A. Loveria Jr., Director for Professional Practice;
Ramon R. Nadres, Director for Membership;
Norberto A. Saavedra, Director for Education
Ma. Gemilda M. Cotangco was the Interim Comelec Chairperson.
UAP SoCal Chartering and Induction
The formation of the United Architects of the Philippines Southern California Chapter was formally granted by the United Architects of the Philippines National Board of Directors on April 26, 2011. Its chartering and first-ever induction of officers and members was held on October 16, 2011, at the Almansor Court in Alhambra, California.
The Chartering Certificate
Copyright © 2020 UAP Southern California Chapter. All Rights Reserved.