MC Architect

06/09/2025

The intention of CPD (Continuing Professional Development) is good, but its implementation has become impractical. In many ways, it feels less like professional growth and more like a business burdening every professional.

Why impractical?

● Expensive – the costs of attending seminars and workshops are high.

● Low Credit Points – many programs offer minimal points despite the effort and expense.

● Time-Consuming – attending these activities often takes away from actual practice.

● Irrelevant or Outdated Content – some topics don’t add real value, while others are poorly delivered and just fillers for points.

● Remote Venues – traveling increases costs and inconvenience.

All these factors make professionals feel they’re wasting money rather than truly developing.

A Better Approach:
CPD should not be a tool to block the renewal of the Professional Identification Card (PIC). Instead, it should serve as a credential-based identity system, giving professionals the freedom to choose how much they want to grow.

Imagine if CPD attainment was reflected directly on the PIC:

Through ● Star Ratings, ● Letter Grades, ● Tier Levels, ● Numbered Stages, or ● Color Codes.

This way, a professional’s level of development is visible at a glance. A PIC showing 3 Stars or a Gold Level immediately signals that the holder is a highly skilled and committed professional, equipped with years of continuous learning.

Impact on Success:
Such a system motivates professionals to pursue growth for recognition and credibility—not out of compliance. It also raises their professional value, since higher attainment naturally justifies higher professional fees.

Those who dismiss seminars remain at the basic level, while those who invest in continuous learning stand out, achieve more, and get what they truly deserve.

31/08/2025

Take note! 🤪

30/08/2025

The phrase "A good architect works slowly," often attributed to Alvaro Siza, emphasizes a thoughtful, deliberate approach to design rather than rushed ex*****on.

A good architect works slowly by carefully considering context, site, materials, and the long-term implications of a design. This "slow architecture" prioritizes quality over quantity, fosters thoughtful creation, and results in responsible, meaningful, and efficient buildings that are deeply integrated into their environment.

29/08/2025

In psychology and creativity research, this is the stage where you deliberately (or sometimes subconsciously) step back from a problem, let your mind rest or wander, and allow new connections to form.

28/08/2025

Throwback Thursday!

2017. I rendered this using simulated cars just to capture motion blur, this is a raw render without photo enhancement.

27/08/2025

Smart Kitchen Cabinets.

27/08/2025

Hidden Sliding Doors.

27/08/2025

Coolest Walk-in Closet Door!

24/08/2025

Ok.

23/08/2025

22/08/2025

Vertical Pedestrian Urbanism: How to Keep Your Feet Dry (and Your Health Intact)

Ah, Taft Avenue during heavy rains. A place where commuters are either practicing for a future Olympic swimming event or applying for sainthood through sheer patience. Metro Manila floods are no longer just a “situation” they’re practically a seasonal festival, with rivers flowing where roads once stood, and jeepneys becoming amphibious vehicles without ever asking to.

Now, let’s be clear: flood control is the holy grail, the ultimate cure. But while we wait for the day when drainage actually drains, people are stuck wading through mysterious brown waters that carry with them not only floating debris but also a free sample of leptospirosis. Cold, fever, skin infections? All included in the commuter’s “Flood Season Package Deal.”

So what do we do while waiting for the grand drainage overhaul that may arrive somewhere between now and the next Halley’s Comet sighting?
As an Architect, I propose this: overhead interconnecting pedestrian walkways. Yes, let’s give our citizens a chance to walk above the chaos like VIPs in their own city. This isn’t just concrete and steel; this is urban life insurance, the architectural equivalent of saying: “Not today, leptospirosis!”

Architectural Features (Now with Humor Added)

1. Canopies Against the Elements

- Imagine sleek polycarbonate roofs shielding you from both torrential rains and UV rays. It’s like an umbrella you don’t have to hold, perfect for people juggling gadgets, groceries, and emotional baggage.

2. Accessibility for All

- Elevators and ramps for PWDs, seniors, and parents with strollers. Because nothing says inclusivity like making sure grandma doesn’t need to rappel her way down Taft.

3. Seamless Urban Integration

- Direct access to MRT stations, malls, and office towers. Think of it as the city’s version of a private VIP lounge except the membership fee is paid through your taxes (so technically, you already own it).

4. Green Infrastructure

- Planters and vertical gardens to absorb some carbon and distract you from traffic below. Bonus: you can Instagram your walk and pretend you’re in Singapore instead of splashing through Manila Bay Lite™.

5. Emergency Function

- During floods, these walkways double as lifelines. Need to send relief goods? Evacuate? Deliver milk tea? Elevated pedestrianism has you covered.

Vertical Pedestrian Urbanism: Because Floating Isn’t an Option

Let’s call it what it is: Vertical Pedestrian Urbanism. Fancy words for “keep people above the flood.” Instead of designing more boats, let’s design more bridges. Let’s not just rise to the occasion let’s literally rise above it.

Makati and Ortigas already figured this out. Why? Because nobody buys expensive coffee just to swim home with it. These elevated walkways keep people moving, money flowing, and baristas employed. If they can do it, so can Taft, España, and every other major flood-prone road in Metro Manila.

Dear Mayors, Let’s Build This

So, mayors of Metro Manila, while engineers are busy solving the drainage puzzle (hopefully before my future grandkids graduate), here’s your shortcut to urban survival:

- Build interconnected overhead walkways.
- Add greenery, solar roofs, and decent lighting.
- And please no random stairs that end in the middle of a giant puddle.

Do this, and you won’t just save lives, you’ll also save shoes, socks, and the collective dignity of commuters who currently arrive at the office smelling like a canal.

Let’s rise above the floods. Because walking through waist-deep water is not “character-building,” it’s just unsanitary

From the desk of the Principal Architect Alfredo A. Fernandez, PIA, Int’l. Associate AIA. Certified Forensic Print Specialist.