Leaving a legacy for future generations

MANILA, Philippines - The role of designing buildings and infrastructure as well as planning neighborhoods, towns, and cities lies in the imaginative and skillful architect and urban planner who shapes them based on use and considering the environment and resources around it. 

Such has been the role of Palafox Associates for the past 28 years. Founded in 1989 by its principal architect-urban planner Felino “Jun” Palafox Jr., the architectural and urban planning firm has since grown into one of the most recognized and relied upon in the country today and abroad. Its portfolio contains more than a thousand projects that span 39 countries.

Palafox Associates also continues in its commitment to excellence, by exceeding its own targets and standards and maintaining its leadership in the architectural and urban planning industry. Palafox Associates organized its architectural studios into a new company, Palafox Architecture Group, to continue the tradition of quality projects, design innovation, business best practices, and social responsibility already cemented by Palafox Associates.

Palafox Associates was top-of-mind among local government units when it comes to masterplanning what their future towns, cities and provinces would look like.

 Among the recent accomplishments is the firm’s selection as the architects, urban planners, engineers and project managers for Tzu Chi Foundation’s projects in Kathmandu, Nepal in the aftermath of the 7.8-magnitude earthquake in the country. The project involves constructing nine buildings, including a university, hospital and three schools that will be built to last 1,000 years or the next 40 generations.

“We made the Tzu Chi master aware that our professional liability is only 25 years (and yet) they believed in us,” says architect Palafox. “In their search for architectural firms all over the world, Palafox Associates has both the skills and the heart.” 

Palafox has also successfully bidded for the development of a new master plan for the Clark Special Economic Zone under the administration of its chairman Jose “Ping” De Jesus. The firm plans to update the master plan of the free port zone, making it well suited to its growth as an aerotropolis, logistics hub, rail terminus, manufacturing zone and tourism corridor.

This successful bid coincides with Palafox Associates’ selection as urban planners for the Pampanga Megalopolis. The firm envisions the development of Pampanga as a strong urban growth center that will be a counter-magnet to Manila Megalopolis. The plan and design seeks to make Pampanga an accessible, pedestrian-friendly, and disaster-resilient megalopolis composed of a thriving aerotropolis (airport-driven city), agropolis (farm and the city), ecopolis (eco-tourism), and aquapolis (water-driven city).

“Pampanga is three times the size of Singapore, which has only five million people and 45-percent urban forest,” adds Palafox. “We can also fit in it two Hong Kongs, with its vertical urbanism and 71-percent open space. If [the provincial government] follows our plan, the province can become the strongest magnet of urban growth center outside of Metro Manila and for a future planned population of up to 15 million.”

For the love of country

Palafox supports President Duterte’s administration in its effort to connect the whole Philippines through infrastructure.

Last year, Senator Manny Pacquiao, chairperson of the Public Works Committee invited architect Palafox to give a presentation on global best practices in architecture, urban planning and infrastructure planning, including global trends and lessons from mistakes made. Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade also invited architect Palafox to give his recommendations in addressing the traffic congestion in the capital. He put forward 100 recommendations to improve transportation and traffic management not just in Metro Manila but the whole Philippines.

Among other Cabinet officials who sought the advice of Palafox are Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco Jr., Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, and Budget and Management Secretary Benjamin Diokno.

Such is the respect and admiration that architect Palafox receives from the government that there were even offers for him to be part of the Cabinet.

“Given the many clients I have, both local and international, I told the Duterte administration I am not available,” Palafox adds. “But I will still be open to architectural activism for democratic architecture, interfaith architecture, patriotic architecture, and architecture for humanity.”

Mentoring future generations

“I’m now in the mode for mentoring future generations and leaving legacy and visionary projects that will last for the next 1,000 years. If they’re doing it in Nepal, why can’t we do it in our country,” aska Palafox. “Even the architectural activism I am doing is for future generations, so that they may be encouraged to do same.”

Which is why he also embarked in a series of forums such as “Postcards from the Future” to impart his knowledge acquired through years of labor and learning, and has even published several coffee table books concerning Palafox Associates’ projects around the world for architectural and urban planning professionals and students to refer to.

Architect Palafox latest book, The Philippines: Towards Resilient Cities and Communities, was launched last month.

“This is so relevant because our towns, cities and communities are so vulnerable to disasters,” says Palafox. “What we are trying to do here is address the hazards before they become disaster because it’s been proven that it’s cheaper than post-disaster rehabilitation. It encourages fellow architects, urban planners and engineers to advocate truth telling and whistleblowing against corrupt practices in building design and construction to prevent greater loss of life in times of disasters."