Architects, as construction professionals, are widely known as experts in designing new buildings, restoring old ones and renovating existing structures. With their technical knowledge and outstanding drawing skills, plus considerations for safety, functionality, sustainability and aesthetics, they are able to articulate intangible ideas to actual habitable spaces.
However, last May 21 to June 2, architects belonging to different chapters of the United Architects of the Philippines (UAP) in the Davao Region assumed a different role. Leaving the comforts of their offices and confines of their project sites, they trooped to various public elementary and high schools to participate in this year’s National Schools Maintenance Week or popularly known as Brigada Eskwela.
Instead of pencils or steel tapes, the architects wielded paint brushes, paint rollers and broomsticks to help clean school surroundings and spruce up classrooms. Moved by the bayanihan spirit, they joined teachers, parents, community members and other volunteers in preparing the schools for the scheduled opening of classes in public schools nationwide on June 4.
Each of the UAP chapter taking part in this annual national event signed up in various public schools within and outside of Davao City to volunteer in the school preparation and improvement initiative of the Department of Education.
UAP Davao Chapter, together with UAP Davao Alpha Chapter, showed up in Maa National High School and Cabantian Elementary School while UAP Kadayawan Dabaw Chapter went to F. Bangoy Elementary School SPED Center in Sasa. Members of UAP North Davao Chapter offered their services to Panabo National High School and Gredu Elementary School in Panabo City and Dujali Central Elementary School in Braulio E. Dujali, Davao del Norte. For UAP Mount Apo Chapter Chapter, it had Daniel R. Aguinaldo High School in Matina as its beneficiary school.
The United Architects of the Philippines is the accredited professional organization of architects in the country. It has a membership of around 18,000 distributed in almost 160 chapters not only nationwide but in other countries as well. In the Davao Region, the UAP has eight chapters. Aside from those mentioned above, other chapters in the region include Datu Bago, Balladaw Dabaw and Sinlayan Dabaw.