RENOWNED interior designer Jose Ma. “Johnny” Hubilla died on Wednesday morning due to pneumonia. He was 79 years old.
His death was confirmed by his son, Franco Hubilla, on Facebook.
Hubilla graduated from the University in 1965 with a degree in interior design.
He began teaching at the Philippine School of Interior Design in 1960.
Hubilla was a member of the Interior Design Specialty Board of the Professional Regulation Commission from 1987 to 1989.
He served as vice president of the National Commission on Culture and the Arts’ Committee on Architecture and Allied Arts in 2001, chancellor of the College of Fellows of the Philippine Institute of Interior Designers in 2012, and chairman of the Board of Interior Design of the Professional Regulation Commission.
Hubilla was also a founding member and former president of the UST College of Fine Arts and Design Alumni Association and vice president of the UST Alumni Association, Inc. from 2009 to 2012.
He proposed the passage of Republic Act 8534 and House Bill 1267, which aimed at protecting licensed Filipino interior designers and their clients.
Hubilla was awarded the Outstanding Thomasian Alumni Award in 2014 and the Distinguished Thomasian Alumni Awardee in 2018.
Tributes from former students and colleagues of Hubilla poured on social media.
“This is a very sad day for all of us. Sir Johnny will be missed. Super nice person. Cant believe he is not here anymore to be with us in each Thomasian alumni activity we have,” Angie Tuazon, Thomasian Alumni Leaders Association chairwoman and Thomasian Global Trade Expo founder, said.
“A pioneer in the field of Interior Design! His legacy will always be remembered,” Arnel Miranda, an interior designer, said in a Facebook post.
Interment details have yet to be announced.
