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 35th 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.

Filipino Architects Welcome Mexican Arquitectos Fernando and Isabel Mora

Fernando Mora, visited the Philippines with his wife Isabel Mora, who is also an architect, on April 25-26, 2009 for the formal hand-over rites of APEC Architect Secretariat responsibilities. During this visit, activities were arranged for maximum interaction between them and Filipino architects.

They were the special guests of the UAP during the 35th UAP National Convention Honor Dinner held on April 25, 2009, an important convention event during which members are elevated to the College of Fellows and Fellows are awarded the highest award that UAP can bestow on a Fellow, the Likha Gold Medal Award. Senator Aquilino Pimentel, the sponsor of the Amended Architects Law of 2002 was the Guest Speaker.

On April 26, 2009, they were the special guests of architects in the academe during the 49th Commencement Rites of the College of Architecture of the University of the Philippines. Before the rites, a breakfast meeting was held between Prof. Fernando Mora, himself also a member of the academe, and Dean Danilo Silvestre and the Executive Board of the College for the establishment of academic linkages between the Colleges of Architecture of the University of the Philippines and the Universidad de Guadalajara.