Past UAP president Yolanda Reyes wins Gusi Peace Prize Int’l.
MANILA, Philippines -A woman of exceptional initiative and commitment to the architecture profession, architect Yolanda David-Reyes is this year’s only Filipino to be awarded the Gusi Peace Prize International in Architecture and Academe.
Reyes joins 16 individuals around the world, including current and former heads of states, ministers, diplomats, scientists, authors, educators, journalists, advocates and professionals, to be honored with the Philippine-based award recognizing individuals and groups worldwide working toward the attainment of peace and respect for human life and dignity, and their contributions to science or arts.
Reyes is the first and only Filipino to serve in the International Union of Architects (UIA), an international non-government organization that represents over a million architects in 124 countries as Regional IV council member and director of Region IV Responsible Architecture.
She demonstrated her vision, leadership and unrelenting vigor and zeal by instituting various reforms within the organization. She projected the UAP and the Philippines in the international scene as the first lady-architect to be elected as chairperson of the Architects Regional Council of Asia or ARCASIA (2005-2006) composed of 18 member countries in Asia. The council gave her the most exalted recognition and distinguished admiration due to her indefatigable leadership in the organization that had been conventionally dominated by men.
Also an environmental planner, Reyes specializes in architectural design and facility planning. She finished her Bachelor of Science Degree in Architecture in 1975 and her Master of Science Degree in Architecture in 1986 at the University of Santo Tomas College of Architecture and Fine Arts and the UST Graduate School. She completed her doctorate academic units at the School of Urban and Regional Planning of the University of the Philippines.
Architect Reyes was the dean of the UST College of Architecture and Fine Arts for nine years. Under her leadership, the college achieved the status of “Center of Excellence†in the year 1999 granted by the Commission on Higher Education of the Philippines. Architect Reyes has given major contributions and services to her profession when she served as the first woman national president of the United Architects of the Philippines, the Integrated and Accredited Professional Organization of Architects.
In recognizing her noteworthy achievements, she was conferred the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Presidential Medal and an honorary membership in Las Vegas, USA. Further, she was awarded the most coveted distinction as Honorary Fellow of the American Institute of Architects in San Francisco, USA, the first woman architect from Southeast Asia to receive it.
Architect Reyes currently serves as member of the Professional Regulatory Board of Architecture of the Professional Regulation Commission and chairperson of the Philippine Commission on Higher Education, Technical Panel for Architecture, Planning, Interior Design and Fine Arts education.
Other awardees include President Rajkeswur Purryag (Mauritius), Dr. Emil Constantinescu (Romania), former President Arnold Ruutel (Estonia) former Prime Minister Imam Al-Saddig Al-Saddig Abdel Rahman Al-Mahdi (Sudan), Dr. Abdelmadjid Amrani (Algeria), Catherine Dupe Atoki (Nigeria), Prof. Agni Vlavianos Arvanitis (Greece), Francisco Plancarte (Mexico), Dr. Glen T. Martin (USA), Dr. Raoul A. Weiler (Belgium), Prof. Dr. Igor I Kondrashin (Russia), Dr. Aboubakar Abdoulah Senghore (Gambia), Ambassador Dr. Orhan Guvenen (Turkey), Mr. Malek Jandali (Syria), Prof. Frans Jacobus Viljoen (South Africa), and Prince Abdullah Karim Fahd (Saudi Arabia).
In recognizing the most brilliant examples of those working toward the attainment of peace and respect for human life and dignity, the Gusi Peace Prize brings out the best of human achievements, ideals and values.
Awarding is on Nov. 27 at the Philippine International Convention Center.
