Bennett: First City Architect of Baguio

Friday, January 27, 2012

THE landscape and the implementation of the plan of the Burnham Park beautification in 1968 was among the greater contributions of Architect Joseph Alabanza to the City of Baguio. This modernization of the park was implemented through volunteers of the city and remains as the evidence to Architect Alabanza’s contributions to the building of the City.

Apart from having been appointed as the first Superintendent of Parks and Playgrounds of Baguio in the 1956 by former Baguio City mayor Luis Lardizabal, he was the first city architect of the Philippines designated to the positions of Planning Director, City Architect and Parks Superintendent. This position he held until October 1974.

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He was the acting Department Head, Associate Professor, Senior Program Master of the Habitat and Environmental Planning Program at Saint Louis University from1956 to 2008, which was the first College of Architecture north of Manila.

From October 16, 1974 to May 6, 1994, Architect Alabanza became the Region I Regional Executive Director: of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) and the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) from July 1989 to May 6, 1994. He retired from NEDA on May 7, 1994.

He became Assistant Secretary in the Office of the President and Presidential Assistant for Urban/Regional Development and Cordillera Affairs from June 29 1993 to June 1998 under former President Fidel V. Ramos.

From April 2001 to February 2003, Architect Alabanza was the Vice President for John Hay Operations of the John Hay Poro Point Development Corporation at Camp John Hay, Baguio City and was Member of the Board of Directors from December 1993 to March 2001.

He was appointed as member of the Baguio Centennial Commission. City Government of Baguio on April 2006 and became chairman of the committees: Designs Committee, Beyond 2009 Committee (Strategic Development Planning for Baguio and the BLIST), and the Sprucing-Up Baguio Committee.

He was awarded as an Outstanding Citizen of Baguio in 1997. He was the president and founder of the Cordillera Association of Regional Executives (CARE) Baguio City from 1988-1992 and President/Founder of the Association of Regional Executives (AREX), Region I, San Fernando, La Union from 1983–1985.

He was married Nelly Enriquez-Alabanza, Ed. D with whom he had three children. Leonard E. Alabanza is a Team Leader for Computer Programming at AT&T, New Jersey; Ernst and Young Consultants, New York; and High Point Solutions Consultants, New Jersey. Mary Anne E. Alabanza-Akers is the Dean of the College of Architecture and Urban Planning at Morgan State University, Baltimore, Maryland. Dennis E. Alabanza is with the Legal Staff of MERALCO, Metro Manila.

His parents were Leon A. Alabanza of Vigan, Ilocos Sur and Emerenciana T. Mendoza of Luna, La Union.