Dr. Maria Paz Dimaano Panganiban

On March 2, 1936- three years before World War II commenced, Paz was born in a small town called Bagong Pook in the province of Batangas, Philippines. As the youngest of five, she was deeply cared for, protected, and lovingly spoiled by her three older brothers: Bruno, Anacleto, Esteban, and her sister Theresa. A story that was passed on was that as a child, Paz always had a small appetite and to keep her from being sick, she was given her very own goat so she can always have fresh milk. Paz always mentioned that to help her gain weight and become stronger, her meals consisted of mashed bananas with rice, and a raw egg to drink. Paz grew up in a very strict household. Her father Ciriaco was a remarkable man known for his intelligence and disciplinarian ways that were well ingrained to his children. Paz also had a close relationship with her mother Maxima, whom she lovingly called “Inay”. When the war broke, Paz was often carried by her brothers as they ran from Japanese soldiers and would sometimes hide in underground bunkers in the forest. She remained in Batangas during her younger years and as she grew older, her calling to help people had become clear.

Paz blossomed into an intelligent lady, with a naturally sophisticated beauty, and an undeniable grit for studying. She attended the University of Santo Tomas, known for their excellence in the field of medicine. She graduated in 1962 as a Doctor of Medicine and further specialized in obstetrics and gynecology. Paz loved listening to music, and her favorite song was Smile by Nat King Cole. Her favorite movie was An Affair to Remember.

In 1964, she met the love of her life, Jesus Panganiban. She always called him Jess. Their love was initially met with disapproval, as Paz’s father wanted to build a hospital for her in Batangas. Despite this, they decided to fight for their love and build a future together. On October 12, 1964, they married and a year later, they were blessed with their first child Rowena. In 1970, their second child Windolyn was born. 1973 was life-changing for Paz and her family as she became a military doctor in Nigeria. There, they had their youngest child Michael in 1975. As their children often said, living in Nigeria were some of the best times in their lives. Paz learned how to cook various dishes, including her famous jollof rice, a Nigerian specialty. She also enjoyed learning how to bake. It was a picture-perfect life that was simple and happy. There, she met other Filipinos who would become their life-long family friends, thanks to frequent mahjong nights.

Jess and Paz, along with their children and Theresa traveled the world in the 1970s. She had a collection of sepia pictures taken with an old, heavier version of a Canon camera and were kept in her most treasured photo albums. She enjoyed taking pictures from their trips to the Eiffel tower, to the Swiss Alps, all the way to Disneyland and the newly opened Sea World in the United States. She loved to travel in fashion, wearing long, custom-made coats. Her hair was kept short, voluminously teased, and set with spray. Her face smelled of a beauty classic- Kokuryu Summer Cake Foundation. She loved her Ever Bilena liquid eyeliner that accentuated her beautiful, deep-set eyes. Her lips, always abruptly but precisely filled with any red tint lipstick. She did not like getting manicures, and always kept her beautiful ambidextrous hands neat with short nails. She always kept her floral, Armando Caruso handkerchiefs in her shoulder bag.

Paz and her family moved back to the Philippines in 1980 and eventually, all her three children graduated to become physicians following her footsteps. As Paz continued her practice in Manila, she also ventured in investing on properties with Jess. She enjoyed keeping her mind active and busy. On her spare time, she enjoyed doing 1000–3000-piece puzzles, and crocheting blankets. She always made her famous fruit cake and meat pie for the holidays. They were perfectly imperfect, and a taste no one else could replicate. She loved writing, and after they bought their very first family computer, she started typing her memoir. She also never forgot her hometown in Batangas and helped so many people free of charge. She delivered the babies of most relatives, and also became the everyone’s go-to doctor. On Fridays, she would go to Quiapo Church where she prayed to The Black Nazarene, and participated with devotees who prayed the rosary while kneeling from the church entrance, making their way to the altar.

In 1988, their first granddaughter Alexandra was born. Paz helped raise her, as well as her other grandchildren Nicholas, born in 1994, and Gabriel, born in 1996. All three grandchildren were Rowena’s, and she helped take care of them. She helped tutor them, particularly in Math. She sang songs to them to put them to sleep. She made sure they always had good food to eat. She always gave Cadbury chocolates for Christmas where the family would see who can save it the longest. Michael usually always wins and would open it around May. When Rowena and her children moved to Las Vegas, Nevada in 2003, Paz retired and would visit frequently with Jess. In 2008, their granddaughter through Michael and his wife Lynn was born in Las Vegas. Her name is Anastasia. Paz and Jess officially migrated to the United States in 2013 where they spent their twilight years. They were able to spend time with their grandchildren and built more memories together. Jess passed on April 17, 2024. On September 10, 2024, Paz, as her name meant, peacefully returned back to God. They are survived by their children Rowena, Windolyn, Michael and his wife Lynn, their grandchildren Alexandra and her husband Jeff, Nicholas, Gabriel, and Anastasia. Paz lived a full eighty-eight years, six months and eight days. October 12, 2024 would have been their 60th wedding anniversary on earth, but they will be spending it in heaven. Amongst all her successes, she imparted what was truly the most important, which is love for family and togetherness. Paz and Jess left this earth to be with God but made sure to instill in us…“palaging manalangin sa Diyos”.