The third edition of the Philippine Architecture and Allied Arts Festival (PAAAF) returned to Puerto Princesa City in Palawan, supporting dialogue on architecture and its connected creative disciplines. Organized by Palawan State University’s College of Architecture and Design (CAD), the event was directed by its dean and festival leader, Ar. Jefferson Bulan, M.Arch.
The annual national festival serves as a platform for promoting public awareness, education, and collaboration across architecture and its allied fields. It was founded in 2024 by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, the Philippine government’s lead agency for culture and the arts.
Celebrating Cultural Identity Through Architecture and the Allied Arts
The festival’s central theme, ‘Bayan, Biyahe, Buhay: Architecture and Allied Arts for Tourism-Driven Growth,’ sought to expand the typical view of tourism by treating the built environment and design as essential components of economic growth and visitor satisfaction. The theme combines three Filipino terms reflecting a people-focused approach: Bayan, representing the community and its collective identity; Biyahe, denoting travel, exploration, and visitor experiences; and Buhay, which returns the focus to daily life rituals.
These concepts support a wider understanding of tourism that looks at visitor experiences and the lasting effect of development on local areas. Architects and creative experts are key in shaping destinations, ensuring that created spaces reflect local character while addressing the needs of residents.
A public display at SM City Puerto Princesa, held from September 29 to October 4, brought allied arts to a larger audience. Featuring works on architecture, heritage, sustainability, and creativity, the exhibit showed how the constructed environment influences daily life.
Advancing Research, Innovation, and Collaboration in Architecture and Allied Fields
The inaugural International Research Conference on Architecture, Allied Arts, and Creative Works (IRCAAC) 2026 was held on October 3 at the PalawanSU Hostel. It provided a venue for researchers and academics to present their work across design, technology, innovation, and practical challenges in related disciplines.
The conference, achieved through research and academic exchange, reinforced the need for informed decision-making and cooperation in meaningful development. Experimental ideas and scholarly inquiry can guide design choices, while academic results can be turned into practical solutions by experienced professionals.
As the festival emphasized the importance of architecture and the allied arts in shaping tourism beyond the development of attractions and destinations, it also highlighted the need to consider the people who live in these spaces. By placing community considerations at the forefront of design, architects and creative professionals can help shape destinations where tourism-driven growth goes hand in hand with the preservation of heritage and the well-being of local communities.
Festival activities, including organized talks, displays, professional dialogues, and cultural tours in Puerto Princesa, let delegates engage with the city’s reality and see how its built and natural surroundings shape its character.
Supported by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts through its National Committee on Architecture and the Allied Arts, the festival provides a platform for exhibitions, discussions, research, and professional exchange.
