Towards the end of 2008, the APEC Architect Monitoring Committees of Mexico and the Philippines had searched for a common span of time convenient to both Monitoring Committees during which Mexico could hand-over the responsibility of Central Council Secretariat to the Philippines. No such common time could be found despite the invitation of the Philippines that the official rites be hosted by the United Architects of the Philippines in December 2008 and the reciprocal invitation of the Federacion de Colegios de Arquitectos de la Republica Mexicana for it to be hosted in Mexico in January 2009. Even so, the Secretariat in Mexico transferred documents to the Philippines electronically.

 

On April 25, 2009, however, the face-to-face transfer rites transpired when Secretary General for 2007-2008 Fernando Mora Mora came to the Philippines during the 35^th National Convention of the United Architects of the Philippines. It was fortuituous that the APEC Architect Monitoring Committee of Chinese Taipei was also in the Philippines at that time to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the APEC Architect Monitoring Committee of the Philippines. Thus, on that occasion of transfer of Secretariat responsibilities, three Monitoring Committees that had served and will serve as the Central Council Secretariat were together – the Monitoring Committees of Chinese Taipei that served in 2005-2006, of Mexico that served in 2007-2008 and the Philippines that will serve in 2009-2010.

 

The Secretariat Transfer Document was signed by Secretary Generals Fernando Mora of Mexico and Prosperidad Luis of the Philippines. A handsome valise with security lock that contained hard copies of documents was also handed over by Arq. Mora. It was suggested that the formal face-to-face transfer rite, to include the hand-over of the valise become a tradition for Secretariat hand-overs.     

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