History of UAP

In The Beginning
The magic that attends all beginnings, the pains that accompany all births - these are privileged
memories that belong to our founding fathers.

They were there when an emergent UAP burst into the light in 1975, a news-born whose proud
genealogy could be traced back to the Spanish era, the descendant of many transmutations of
brilliants genes. Its parents were the best architects in this land who in their youthful energies
conceived, nurtured and labored to give it birth.

Lest we forget pure time, let us go back in time - to understand the proud origin of what we now
casually call the UAP.

The Prologue
During Spanish time there were no schools of Architecture in the Philippines. The closest a Filipino
could aspire to the title of an Architect or practice Architecture was to be a Maestro de Obra.   The
first school of Maestro de Obra  was founded by the Spanish government: the Escuela Practica y
Professional de Artes Oficios de Manila. There were two classes: first, was with academic
title Maestro de Obras-Academico; and second, those who acquired their expertise through
practical experience licensed by the Ayuntamiento de Manila called Maestro de Obras-Practico. The
first Filipino graduates were Julio Hernandez (1891), Isidro Medina (1894), Arcadio Arellano (1894)
and Juan Carreon (1896).

However, the First Filipino Architect was Felix Roxas y Arroyo who was schooled in London and
began his architectural practice in 1858.  In 1877 – 1880, he was employed by the Spanish
government, as the Municipal Architect of Manila.  His outstanding works were the Santo Domingo
Church and the Ayuntamiento de Manila in Intramuros, which, unfortunately, were both destroyed
during the Second World War. 

The 1st Organization
In 1902 the first organization of architects was formed with the surveyors: Academia de
Arquitectura y Agremensura de Filipinas. (AAAF). This was headed by Guillermo Gardiner (Maestro
de Obras and Surveyor) as President; Arcadio Arellano (Maestro de Obras and Surveyor) as vice
President, Jose Perez Siguereza, (Surveyor) Secretary, Tomas Arguelles (Maestro de Obras –
Surveyor) and Jose Paras (Maestro de Obras – Surveyor) as Directors.