Architecture in pages

After years of ground-breaking sketches for various establishments, the architectural genius Palafox Associates headed by architect Felino “Jun” Palafox Jr., recently unveiled a coffee table book titled “Architecture, Planning & Design: Palafox Associates The First Twenty Years.” The book, conceptualized by Jun’s lovely daughter Karima Palafox, contains 20 years of amazing floor plan sketches, images of commercial centers, expansive landscapes and skyscrapers all from the brilliant team of architects with contributions from Washington Sycip, Ramon Zarragoza, Richard Woolding and Gina Lopez. The evening ended with a pleasant birthday surprise for Jun Palafox from his wife Wilma together with their children Karima, Katrina and Philip Kahlil. Among those who were present in the gathering were Finnish ambassador Heikki Hannikainen, Ambassador Bienvenido Tantoco Sr. and Justice Conchita Morales. Here’s to more fruitful years! Cheers!

This one’s for real

The Philippine Real Estate Festival (PREF) was recently held at the World Trade Center. Led by president and chief executive officer Rosemarie Basa and technical committee chairman Grace Palma Tiongco who is also the First Credit Consultants Corporation president, the event was graced by the presence of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and Vice President Noli de Castro. PAG-IBIG Fund housing certificates were given to transport workers by President Arroyo while checks amounting to P100,000 were each donated to the Friends for Cultural Concerns of the Philippines and the Society for Cultural Enrichment. Among the speakers on the forum were Ayala Land president Antonino Aquino, Finance undersecretary Gil Beltran and Chamber of Real Estate and Builders’ Association Inc. (CREBA) president doctor Jaime Cura. Cheers!