Esteemed Filipino archaeologist Victor J. Paz, PhD has gone to rest with his forefathers and foremothers. A professor at the UP Diliman (UPD) School of Archaeology (SA), Paz passed away on Sept. 7.
He served as director of the UP Archaeological Studies Program (ASP), now SA, from 2002 to 2012. Paz was the founding editor of Hukay: Journal for Archaeological Research in Asia and the Pacific, an SA refereed journal.
It was under his leadership that the ASP hosted the 18th Indo-Pacific Prehistory Association Congress which gathered over 300 archaeologists from all over the world. Hosted in coordination with the National Museum of the Philippines, the congress was held in UPD from 20 to 26 March 2006.
At the time of his death, Paz was chair of the University Hotel Board of Overseers.
A post in the SA Facebook page described Paz as a “major force in championing Philippine archaeology and cultural heritage. He was a pillar, having roles in the founding of and development of the UPSA, the WG Solheim II Foundation, Inc., and a stern supporter of the Kapisanan ng mga Arkeologist sa Pilipinas Inc., while also serving on numerous executive boards, organizational committees, consultancy panels both locally and internationally.”
Paz earned his PhD in archaeology from the University of Cambridge, United Kingdom.
His remains were cremated on Sept. 11.