23/09/2025
Recent headlines and articles — such as referring to a government official as an “architect of plunder” — reflect a long-standing trend of equating the word “architect” with the mastermind of wrongdoings. This is not only misleading but gravely unjust to a profession that has, for centuries, been dedicated to the highest ideals of public service, safety, progress, and nation building.
𝐔𝐀𝐏 𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐝 “𝐀𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭” 𝐢𝐧 𝐍𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐬 𝐛𝐲 𝐌𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚
OPEN LETTER TO THE PUBLIC
The United Architects of the Philippines (UAP), the duly accredited professional organization of architects representing more than 65,000 registered and licensed Filipino architects, strongly denounces the persistent misuse of the word “architect” by the media and public commentators when describing masterminds of plunder, corruption, crime, or other negative acts.
Recent headlines and articles — such as referring to a government official as an “architect of plunder” — reflect a long-standing trend of equating the word “architect” with the mastermind of wrongdoings. This is not only misleading but gravely unjust to a profession that has, for centuries, been dedicated to the highest ideals of public service, safety, progress, and nation building.
An Architect, as defined under Republic Act No. 9266 or The Architecture Act of 2004, is a person professionally and academically qualified, registered, and licensed under the law, with the authority to practice architecture and responsible for the planning, design, construction, enlargement, conservation, renovation, remodeling, or alteration of buildings and the environment for human habitation.
An Architect is therefore a duly recognized steward of the built environment — one who upholds the principles of safety, sustainability, functionality, creativity, and social responsibility in shaping communities and advancing the quality of life of the Filipino people.
Words matter. When the media uses “architect” as a synonym for “mastermind of crime,” it corrodes public perception of the profession, trivializes years of education, licensure, and ethical responsibility, and undermines the trust that architects have worked hard to earn from the Filipino people.
We therefore urge all members of the press — in print, broadcast, and social media — to exercise discernment and precision in language. There are more accurate words available: “mastermind,” “perpetrator,” or “brains behind corruption.” To misuse “architect” is an affront to an entire professional community.
The United Architects of the Philippines calls on government agencies, private institutions, and media outlets to respect and preserve the dignity of the profession by refraining from such misapplications of the term.
The Filipino people deserve truth in reporting, and truth begins with words used responsibly. Let us not diminish a profession dedicated to building, by mislabeling it with those who destroy.
On behalf of the 65,000 registered and licensed architects of the Philippines, we categorically oppose and condemn the continued misuse of the word “architect” in negative contexts.
