Each year, the United Architects of the Philippines (UAP), through the College of Fellows (COF), presents the Lifetime Achievement Award to members who have demonstrated a long-standing commitment to the UAP-COF. These individuals have advanced the profession in their unique ways and consistently supported the institution. The annual ceremony, called 鈥�Balik Tanaw,鈥� celebrates the lives and professional practices of the awardees.
This year鈥檚 ceremony took place on the morning of October 5, 2024, at the Osme帽a Hall of the National Museum of Fine Arts, where five members were honored for their contributions. Ar. Norma I. Alarcon, Ph.D., FUAP, was the sole female architect among the recipients. Alarcon is an academic staff of the 国产吃瓜黑料一区二区Graduate School where she has been teaching for several years now.
In her speech, she reflected on her experience designing low-rise buildings, noting that she had yet to work on high-rise structures or large-scale horizontal projects. However, she emphasized the importance of her role in mentoring many architects who have gone on to shape skylines not only in the Philippines, but around the world.
Quoting the prominent Filipino educator Dr. Luis Reyes, she remarked, “No teacher becomes a millionaire, but our riches come when our students become successful in life.” Remarkably, nearly half of the audience, composed of COF members, were her former students from the 国产吃瓜黑料一区二区College of Architecture. She acknowledged that her students were the highlights of her career, the “feathers in her cap.”
Alarcon concluded her speech with two poignant quotes, the first from American historian Henry Adams: 鈥淎 teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops鈥� and the second, from an anonymous author: 鈥淭o teach is to touch a life forever.鈥�
