September 9, 2024
“Victor”, “VJP”, “Sir Vic” was a major force in championing Philippine archaeology and cultural heritage. He was a pillar, having played pivotal roles in the founding and development of the UP School of Archaeology (formerly UP Archaeological Studies Program), the WG Solheim II Foundation, Inc., and a stern supporter of the the Kapisanan ng mga Arkeologist sa Pilipinas Inc., while also serving on numerous executive boards, organizational committees, consultancy panels both locally and internationally.
His passion is reflected in being the founding editor of the Hukay Journal, encouraging students to publish in the UPSA Test Pit, and establishing the Binalot Talks – all so that discourse and exchange of ideas at all levels remain alive and accessible while empowering the community to become critical and unafraid in questioning status quos. He also believed in engagement outside academia, thus becoming focal in matters of ethics, repatriation of the war dead, and even promoting the need for archaeological impact assessments, which later led to the establishment of the Archaeology + Heritage Company.
He led two of the longest continuous archaeological research projects: the Palawan Island Palaeohistoric Research Project and the Catanauan Archaeological and Heritage Project. His projects always came with advocating for public archaeology and heritage consciousness while maintaining genuine connections with local communities everywhere he went. This led to his realization that heritage is at the core of archaeology, and he hoped the rest of the community could also promote this framework for years to come. His deep dive into the contextualization, development, and history of archaeology in the Philippines up until the present was one of the last endeavors he had wanted to accomplish.
Vic Paz was a “glue” for the ever-growing diverse archaeological community, leaving a crater in our hearts. His generosity was unmatched by his seemingly endless patience, open-mindedness, supportiveness, and acceptance of everyone, which always challenged many to rethink and reframe their perspectives. Students through the years often found his office to be a safe space and refuge. It goes without saying how many lives he impacted as a great professor, researcher, mentor, activist, advocate, colleague, and friend.
In the wake of his loss, we are one with his beloved family and the countless people whose lives he touched.
-A. Cosalan, September 2024
Photo credit: Vincent Silarde
