Wherever I am, the world comes after me.
It offers me its busyness. It does not believe that I do not want it.
Now I understand why the old poets of China went so far
and high into the mountains, then crept into the pale mist.
"The Old Poets of China" by Mary Oliver

Felino “Jun” Palafox To Lecture on Architecture and Disaster Preparation

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Category: News @ UP Asian Center


(From the Japan Foundation, Manila): As part of the celebration of the Philippines-Japan Friendship Month, the traveling exhibition “How Did Architects Respond Immediately After 3/11?” brings together participants from various regions of Japan as well as the Philippines.

For its lecture component, the Japan Foundation, Manila has invited renowned Filipino architect and urban planner Felino “Jun” Palafox, Jr. to present a talk entitled “Re-plan, Remake, Rebuild Back Better, Safer, Smarter, and Sustainable Buildings, Communities, and Cities” on June 21 (Saturday) at 3:00 p.m., at the UP Asian Center Museum.

Renowned as the founder, principal architect-urban planner, and managing partner of Palafox Associates, Arch. Palafox is a giant in the field, feted by “Forbes Asia Magazine” as one of the 48 Heroes of Philanthropy in Asia -- one of only four from the Philippines. He is also the recipient of several local and international awards, including a fellowship at the United Architects of the Philippines (UAP). Internationally, he is the Country Representative of the Chicago-based Council for Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat and was elevated as a Fellow in 2013.

Under his leadership, the Palafox firm has risen to great heights and has, over the past 24 years, received more than 200 awards and recognitions, notably as the first Filipino architectural firm included in the Top 500 Architectural Firms in the World of the London-based “World Architecture Magazine” in 1999; it was also the only Southeast Asian architectural firm included on the list. In 2012, Palafox Associates ranked 89th on the list of the world’s largest practices and Top 8 in Leisure projects.

With 42 years of experience in architecture and 40 years in planning, Arch. Palafox has also lectured to celebrated praise in Harvard University, MIT, and in 16 other countries over the world. He is currently the President of the Philippine Institute of Environmental Planners and an international member of the American Institute of Architects, Urban Land Institute, American Planning Association, and the International Council of Shopping Centers.

Arch. Palafox’s lecture magnifies the spirit and theme of the traveling exhibit, which displays how designers, builders, engineers, and other practitioners in the architectural discipline are trying to answer how they can build beyond the tragedy of The Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011. 

“How Did Architects Respond Immediately After 3/11?” is not only a brilliant presentation of architectural and engineering ideation through planned prescience, it is a testament to the compassionate, humanitarian response in the wake of a calamity that shocked and then galvanized the world.

“How Did Architects Respond Immediately After 3/11?” will be on view from June 9 to July 14, at the Japan and China Halls of the GT-Toyota Hall of Wisdom, located at the Asian Center, Magsaysay cor. Katipunan Avenues in the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City, with viewing hours from Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For inquiries and reservations, please contact The Japan Foundation, Manila (JFM) at telephone numbers 811 6155 to 58 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or the UP Asian Center at telephone numbers 920 3535, 981 8500 loc. 3580 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The Asian Center Museum is located at the Hall of Wisdom, GT-Toyota Asian Cultural Center, University of the Philippines, Magsaysay cor. Katipunan Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City.