Wood Expo 2016 Speakers

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is the department responsible for the conservation, management, development, and proper use of the country’s environment and natural resources to ensure that benefits derived there from shall be shared equitably for the welfare of the present and future generations of Filipinos. The DENR will present its policies and directions for forestry and wood industry under the Duterte Administration.

Mr. Colin Chornohus is the International Sales Manager for Structurlam Products based in Vancouver, BC, Canada. He holds a Civil Engineering Technology Diploma and is a registered Applied Science Technologist with over 25 years of specialized industry experience in the field of engineered wood products.

His presentation entitled “Mass Timber & Beyond” will focus on glued laminated timber (otherwise known as Glulam) & CLT projects from a manufacturer’s perspective with emphasis on the UBC Brock Commons 18 storey building in Vancouver- the world’s tallest mass timber building.

Forester Tommy Valdez is the National Council President of the Society of Filipino Foresters, the sole forestry professional organization in the country. He is also the Vice President for Corporate Social Responsibility & Security of the San Roque Power Corporation (SRPC) in San Manuel, Pangasinan. He also worked with the DENR for more than 10 years. He has a Master of Philosophy in Resource and Environmental Planning from Massey University in New Zealand and Bachelor of Science Degree in Forestry from the University of the Philippines at Los Baños, College, Laguna, Philippines. He is a licensed forester and Environmental Planner.

His presentation entitled “Why the World Needs Wood” will provide information about wood being a highly carbon positive material. His presentation will also showcase the concept of sustainable forest management (SFM), both as policy and practice, and how it can contribute to the country’s economy, safe environment and building sustainable communities. It will also make participants understand how producing more wood can benefit and build the country and that the simple act of growing trees can contribute in mitigating carbon emissions, conserve the environment, solve poverty and save mankind. He leaves a question: are we up to the challenge?

Michael Buckley is an acknowledged expert on the uses and market applications of wood products. He has a Masters Research Degree in American and European Hardwoods and is a Fellow of the Institute of Wood Science. He is an environmental advisor to the Singapore Furniture Industries Council and attends and reviews many wood industry events in China and Southeast Asia. He is widely published and is one of a number of industry consultants concerned with forest legality, sustainability and certification issues. He is a regular presenter and moderator at international seminars and conferences. He is a former member of the UN/ECE Timber Committee in Geneva and was formerly active with the SE Asia Lumber Association (SEALPA).

His presentation entitled “PEFCs in ASEAN: Status, Challenges and Directions” will focus on the status, challenges and directions of certification in ASEAN countries and how certification promotes the sustainable use of forest and forest products.

Architect James Jao is the National President of the Philippine Institute of Interior Design. He has a degree in Architecture from the University of Santo Tomas and a post-graduate degree in City Design and Social Science from the London School of Economics in the United Kingdom. He has pioneered eco-architecture and sustainable development in the Philippines and his inspired visions were developed into actual full-scale projects.

His presentation entitled “IDEA+WOOD: Asian to Global Perspective” will discuss the role of the wood economy in the formation of a city through its infrastructure & architecture, interior design & furniture. His talk will discuss inspired works from London, Japan, Australia, Brazil, among others.

Architect Maria Lourdes ‘Joy’ Martinez Onozawa is a Certified Green Design Professional Architect, Environnent Planner, and Real Estate Professional by registration. She has 33 years of Integrative Architectural experience focused on community empowerment through local resource management of skills, tradition and natural assets, then applied in ecologically connected physical development. She graduated Bachelor of Science in Architecture, cum laude, from the University of San Carlos, a Masters in Urban and Regional Planning from UP Diliman, Management for Executives from the Asian Institute of Management, a diploma from the UNESCO Asian Academy for Heritage Management focusing on Integrated Conservation, and completed a course on History of Structures, Architecture and Sustainability, the Integration of the Natural and Built Environment, from the Harvard University Graduate School of Design. She currently sits as the Chairman of the Integrated Planning and Spatial Development Committee of the Metro Cebu Development .

Coordinating Board, a member of the Cebu City Zoning Board, a committee member of the Infrastructure Committee of the Regional Development Council and a Commissioner of the Tourism Board of Cebu.

Her presentation entitled “Making Bamboo Work for Your Sustainable Designs and Structures” will focus on bamboo and its role and uses for construction.

Architect Angelo Miguel “Gelo” Mañosa is the CEO of the Mañosa & Co., Inc. (MCI). He is also a founding member of the Philippine Green Building Council where he is pushing the Philippine Berde rating system, which assesses buildings for their adherence to sustainable design. He has a degree in Architecture from the University of Sto. Tomas, a post-graduate degree in Design Computing and a Certificate in Environmental Architecture from the University of Sydney.

His presentation entitled “Incorporating Wood in Local Architecture (The Philippine Way)” will discuss how he redefines sustainable architecture for the country through development of state of the art global architecture that demonstrates the principles of climate-conscious architecture.

Architect Felino “Jun” Palafox, Jr. is the President of the Palafox Architecture Group, Inc. and the principal Architect-Urban Planner of the Palafox Associates. He has 43 years of experience in architecture and 42 years in planning. He was educated in Christ the King Seminary, University of Santo Tomas, University of the Philippines, and Harvard University. For continuing education, he took up an Advanced Management Development Program for Real Estate and attended seven other special courses in Harvard, including Architecture and Sustainability: Integrating Built and Natural Environment, Master Planning and Sustainability, Urban Retail Planning Principles for American Towns, Cities, and Commercial Center, among others. He has lectured in Harvard University, MIT, and in 18 other countries in Asia, Europe, and North America. He is the Country Representative for the Council for Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) and on July 1, 2013, CTBUH headquartered in Chicago elected him as one of its two new Fellows worldwide. He has been elected recently as Chairman of the National Real Estate Association (NREA). He is a past president of the International Real Estate Federation (FIABCI Philippines), the Philippine Institute of Environmental Planners (PIEP), and the first architect-urban planner president of the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP). He is also a Fellow of the United Architects of the Philippines (UAP).

His presentation entitled “Green Architecture for Sustainable Cities” will show how to make green, smart, livable, sustainable and resilient cities through green architecture.