AIA Southeast Asia Symposium - Philippines: Aseana City – Urban Mobility & Community-Centered Design; Parqal – Mixed-Use Diversity & Sustainability
Join us in person or online for this hybrid event as part of the SEA25 Symposium ‘Nature + Technology and the Future’!
When: Friday 12 September 2025 @ 08:00 (Eastern US Time)/ 20:00 (Singapore time)
Where: Hybrid - Online/Singapore & Philippines
Singapore Venue: The Quadrant at Cecil, 19 Cecil Street #05-01, Singapore 049704
Philippines Venue: Comuna, 3/F, 238 P Ocampo Ext.St., San Antonio, Makati City
CES: 1.0 LU/HSW for AIA Members
Speakers
David Zaballero, RIBA, ARCUK; Design Lead, Arquitectonica
Delfin “Buds” Wenceslao, CEO of D.M. Wenceslao & Associates
Moderators
Cathy Saldaña, Intl Assoc AIA, FUAP, Vice President, AIA Southeast Asia; Principal/ CEO of PDP Architects and Projects Design Plus Architecture Management Corp.
Mark Trance, AIA, NCARB, DCP. Founder and Principal Architect, IFA Architectural Design Studio
Description
“At Aseana City, we believe that a progressive city that cares for its people puts them at the center of its design,” says Buds Wenceslao, Chief Executive Officer of DMWAI. “By designing and building a walkable city, we’re not just creating convenience—we also want people to have a more active, healthier, and more connected life.”
This vision comes to life through wide, shaded walkways, dedicated bike lanes, open parks, and inviting recreational spaces that encourage residents and visitors to stay active throughout the day—whether walking to a nearby café, jogging before work, or enjoying a leisurely stroll. By investing in green open spaces, integrated transport hubs, and people-first infrastructure, DMWAI is shaping a more livable, low-carbon urban environment that reduces car dependency, lowers emissions, and makes sustainable choices effortless.
A flagship of this vision is Parqal, a five-hectare mixed-use development whose very name—derived from park and kalye (street)—captures its dual role as both a leisure hub and connective space. Designed with walkability, accessibility, and community wellness at its core, Parqal offers multiple entry and exit points, creating a porous and fluid environment that blends seamlessly with Aseana City’s masterplan. Its defining feature is a striking “floating canopy” of ETFE, a durable, lightweight, and light-permeable material that shelters 5,000 sqm of the city’s linear greenway spine.
With lifestyle, retail, dining, and wellness options set within a shaded, pedestrian-friendly framework, Parqal demonstrates how thoughtful urban planning can transform everyday movement into opportunities for health, connection, and community—embodying Aseana City’s mission to build a safer, healthier, and more sustainable future.
IN-PERSON REGISTRATION DEADLINE is September 8, 2025. RSVP early to guarantee your spot!
Speakers Bio
Buds Wenceslao is the Chief Executive Officer of D.M. Wenceslao & Associates, Inc. (DMWAI/PSE:DMW), one of the Philippines’ leading publicly listed real estate development and construction companies and the developer of Aseana City, a 204-hectare mixed-use district on Manila Bay.
With over 20 years of experience in financial analysis, development, leasing, and property management, he also serves as Managing Director of Aseana Holdings Inc. and Aseana Residential Holdings Co. Inc., and sits on the boards of several affiliated companies. A former Global Governing Trustee of the Urban Land Institute (ULI), Buds is an active member of MAP, PAREB, and the MIT Education Council – Philippines.
He holds a Management Economics degree from Ateneo de Manila University and an MSRED from MIT.
David Zaballero is the Director and Design Manager at Arquitectonica, and has overseen the design and construction of many of their projects in SE Asia, including mixed-use, retail, office, residential and hospitality, as well as arena, assembly and masterplan projects. He holds a BA (Hons) in Architecture from Manchester University, a Diploma (Hons) in Architecture from the Polytechnic of North London, and is a member of the Royal Institute of Architects.
Moderators Bio
Cathy Saldaña is the Principal | CEO of PDP Architects and Projects Design Plus Architecture Management Corporation, based in the CBD Makati City.
A graduate of the University of the Philippines College of Architecture and the Asian Institute of Management (with Honors), Cathy is currently one of the prominent female Architects in the Philippines. She is known for Hospitality Design, Retail Mixed Use, Residential and Commercial High Rises, Industrial Facilities and is one of the pioneers in the Philippines for Sustainable Island Developments.
She is a Trustee on the Board for the Urban Land Institute (ULI) Philippines, heads the Women’s Leadership Institute in Real Estate, a Board Trustee for PropTech, an International Associate of the American Institute of Architects and a Fellow of the United Architects of the Philippines. She was selected by the UAP to be the Philippine correspondent to the UIA WIA - Union of International Architects Women in Architecture Committee. She also sits as a Committee Board Member of East Asian Regional Organization for Planning and Human Settlements (EAROPH) and is a Chair for a Technical Working Group under the Professional Regulation Commission for Hospitality and Leisure Architecture. A certified Green Building Professional, she espouses Sustainability in all her projects. She speaks in both local and international conferences and is regularly featured on all media platforms.
Mark Trance is the Founder and Principal Architect at IFA Architectural Design Studio, located in Manila, Philippines. He holds architectural registration in both Texas, USA, and the Philippines, bringing 25 years of extensive experience across K-12 and higher education projects, mixed-use developments, urban planning, and mission-critical facilities throughout the United States, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.
Mark began his career with community-building initiatives and AIA school outreach programs, efforts that earned him the Young Professional Award from the AIA Fort Worth Chapter. He holds a Master of Architecture in Architectural Design from The Bartlett, University College London, and has worked in Singapore before returning to Manila, where he now leads a team of architects at IFA serving a global clientele.
His work focuses on sustainable, resilient, and innovative design, guided by a commitment to justice, human dignity, and positive impact. By integrating new technologies and digital computation, Mark continues to advance architecture as an accessible and transformative force in the built environment.
This symposium is brought to you with the generous support of our event partners: PDP Architecture, d’Doubles, HKS, and International Association of Business Communicators Indonesia.
