The Catholic Church in the Philippines looks forward to 2021 because it marks the 500th year of Christianity in the Philippines.聽 Various activities such as conferences are being held by different sectors and organizations as part of the pre-quincentennial celebrations. 聽
The UST College of Architecture (USTCA) and the UST College of Architecture Alumni Association (USTCAAA), organized the 2nd Liturgical Architecture Conference in line with the celebration of the 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines. It was attended by architects, engineers, liturgical designers, students, priests, seminarians, and entrepreneurs.
The online conference served as a venue for exchanging professional practice, concepts, and suggestions about the planning principles on designing Sacred Spaces, the Guild of Liturgical Designers (GOLD) and United Architects of the Philippines-Committee on Liturgical Architecture and Sacred Spaces (UAP-CLASS).
The speakers consisted of Filipino and international experts on Liturgical Architecture, and Sacred Space Design. On the first day, 聽His Excellency Most. Rev. Victor B. Bendico, DD, Chairman of the Episcopal Commission for Liturgy Catholic Bishop鈥檚 Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), 聽shared in his keynote speech titled 鈥楢daptations in Liturgical Celebrations in View of Safety,鈥� the impact and changes brought about by the pandemic on administering sacraments and on designing sacred spaces.
聽The other speakers were: Engr. Robert Cruz who shared 鈥淧rinciples and Best Practices in Sacred Space Design: The Experience of Vitre Artus鈥�; Ar. Bel茅n Vegas J谩udenes who elaborated on the 鈥淭ranscendence and Significance of Liturgical Design: The Genesis of Talleres de Arte Granda and the Spirituality of its Founder鈥�; and Dr. Tricia Mein Bruce who talked about 鈥淥utside of 鈥機hurch鈥�: Transitions in U.S. Houses of Worship Amid Social Change.鈥�
The second day was allotted for five presentations. Ar. Roy De Guzman covered the 鈥淗istorical Evolution of the Philippine Liturgical Architecture and how are the Churches designed in the Philippines?鈥� while Ar. Jae S. Narciso and Ar. Cielo C. Perez discussed 鈥淭he New Normal of Sacred Space Design (in view of safety in the time of pandemics and ways forward).鈥� Rev. Fr. Arnel F. Recinto and Mr. Fernando Sajona elaborated on 鈥淭he Role of the Parish Pastoral Councils in Initiating and Sustaining Initiatives in relation to building Churches鈥�; Ar. Gervasio 鈥楯oey鈥� Y. Amistoso spoke about the 鈥淒ynamics of Church Design and Building process: The Role of the Liturgical Designers and Community Participation鈥�;聽 and Ar. EnP. Pedro 鈥楽onny鈥� P. Rodriguez discussed 鈥淐SR on Sacred Space Projects: Couples for Christ Global 鈥淏uild my Church鈥� Program.鈥� The conference, a successful partnership between the academe and the professionals, aimed to enlighten and educate its participants about the basic principles and guidelines of Liturgical Architecture and Sacred Space Design, and ultimately, 聽to help elevate the level of appreciation of these spaces for their dignity and solemnity
