Text by Charmaine A. Lingdas
Photos by Sarah Hazel Moces S. Pulumbarit

The historic Bobby dela Paz Hall named in honor of the  ‘Doctor for the People’ was reopened on Oct. 20, 2025, as part of the celebration of the 43rd UP Manila Foundation Day and the 46th Anniversary of the Health Sciences Center Autonomy. 

Chancellor Michael Tee led the  ceremony  attended by members of the faculty, representatives of UP College of Medicine (UPCM) Class ’76 and ’78, students, and members of Dr. Dela Paz. 

Temporarily closed during the pandemic, the  Dela Paz hall underwent renovation and is now restored as a space for learning, collaboration, and growth, embodying the ideals of service, integrity, and compassion that defined Dr. Remberto “Bobby” Dela Paz’s life. 

As a UPCM student in the ‘70s, Dela Paz contributed articles to the newsletter UP Medics, joined the Progresibong Kilusang Medikal, and helped organize the Medical Students Society. He also volunteered in the college’s outreach program called Klinika ng Bayan. Later, he spent a six month rural medical work in Samar province where he witnessed extreme poverty and abuse of citizens during the martial law. After becoming a full-fledged doctor in 1978, he and his wife Sylvia, also a new physician, returned to Samar to set up a community-based health program for the poor. The Dela Paz couple prioritized the primary health care approach and went to remote villages to care for the sick and teach first aid and basic hygiene to community health workers. Despite their service, the couple was tagged as “subversives” and well-meaning friends asked them to leave the area for their safety. The couple moved to Catbalogan City and resumed their work. “I am a doctor and the only thing I should fear is not being a good one,” were Dela Paz’s famous words before he was assassinated in his clinic in 1982 at the age of 29.

The reopening of the Dela Paz hall served as a tribute to the distinguished alumnus whose life of service and sacrifice continues to inspire generations of scholars and health professionals. 

“I hope this will be an inspiration to the students to take the road less traveled—to serve the people, especially in the rural areas,” Dr. Sylvia de la Paz, his wife said during the program. “There is also service needed in the urban areas, particularly among the poor communities. There are many poor communities in both rural and urban settings, and it is important that we connect the health issues with all the other economic and political issues, because we cannot solve them through health alone.”

Former Department of Health Secretary, Dr. Manuel M. Dayrit,  who was a groupmate of Dr. Dela Paz, reminisced about their days in the anatomy class. He recalled how they endured floods, martial law, and the many challenges of medical school. He described Bobby as quirky and moody, a talented cook who found peace in fishing. He said Bobby worked with remarkable speed, skill, and heart, showing an early dedication to serving others that would later define his life’s work.

“On behalf of the class and all of his friends, I’d like to say that, Bobby, we love you for what you were. We salute you for your martyrdom. And we reopen this student center in memory of you,” Dr. Dayrit said. 

Meanwhile, Dr. Delen Dela Paz, sister-in-law of Dr. Bobby Dela Paz, shared the history of the building. “Noong estudyante kami, this was the MSU building—the Medical Student Union. So it was really used as a student activity center.” She added that it was Class ’92 who proposed to name the building after Dr. Dela Paz during the time of Chancellor Perla D. Santos-Ocampo, with the approval of UPCM Dean Marita Reyes in 1992.

“Pinangalanan itong Bobby Dela Paz Hall para nga maging simbolo ng student unity and courage. So dito rin natin pinapanindigan yung ating motto na ‘Serve the People.’ Malaki ang historical significance nito at sana nga salamat sa response ng estudyante ay patuloy na gagawin ng health students—not just the College of Medicine but all colleges.”

UPCM Dean Charlotte Chiong shared that she was relieved upon learning that the Dela Paz Hall would become a heritage building. “This will be here forever,” she said. “Dr. Bobby De La Paz would have turned 73 last September 11, and it’s a fitting tribute to his memory.”

“He offered himself in service to the poorest of the poor in Samar. To this day, we remain committed to his ideals. In fact, it is this commitment that inspired the Roadmap for Medicine, because we want people like Bobby De La Paz to be trained in the Philippines to serve the Filipino people. Fulfilling his dream to help our fellow Filipinos is perhaps the best tribute we can offer him,” Dean Chiong pointed out.

Meanwhile, University Student Council Chairperson Nuraini Binte Nordin enjoined the new generation of medicine students to emulate the good example of Dr. Dela Paz. She said, “I hope that the students I represent will take care of this space and continue to uphold the message and legacy of Dr. Bobby De La Paz.”

In his closing remarks, Chancellor Michael L. Tee reaffirmed UP Manila’s dedication to its public service mandate, saying, “Asahan ninyo na palaging gagawin ng UP Manila ang mga bagay na iniatang sa atin ng ating taumbayan. Hindi natin sasayangin ang kanilang tiwala na tayo ay magsisilbi lagi nang may husay at galing.”

University Student Council Chairperson Nuraini Binte Nordin expressed gratitude for the space dedicated to students and vowed to continue promoting the message and legacy of Dr. Bobby Dela Paz. 

The renovation of the Bobby Dela Paz Hall was led by vice chancellor for Planning and Development, Dr. Jose V. Tecson III and Rosalie Flores-Bernardo, chief architect of UPM.#

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