Dangal ng Bayan (DnB) or the Outstanding Public Officials and Employees Award is conferred to an individual for performance of an extraordinary act or public service and consistent demonstration of exemplary ethical behavior on the basis of his/her observance of the eight norms of behavior provided under Republic Act No. 6713, otherwise known as the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.
Dr. Cutiongco-de la Paz is Vice Chancellor for Research, University of Philippines Manila, Executive Director, National Institutes of Health and Program Director for Health, Philippine Genome Center, University of the Philippines.
A UP Integrated School (UPIS) alumna, Dr. Cutiongco-de la Paz earned her BS Biology degree in UP Diliman in 1984. She finished her Doctor of Medicine degree from the UP College of Medicine in 1989, and completed her pediatric residency at the UP Philippine General Hospital in 1992. She received UP PGH awards as outstanding intern and most outstanding resident in pediatrics.
She received a research fellowship in molecular genetics at the International Center for Medical Research at the Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine as a Monbusho Scholar. She took her subspecialty training in Clinical Genetics at the Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Canada as a UP Medical Alumni Society of America Scholar. She was board-certified
In 2002, Dr. Cutiongco-de la Paz received a TOYM award for Genetic Medicine. She also received an Outstanding Young Scientist (OYS) Award from The National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST).
She was also TOWNS Awardee for medicine in 2007, UP Manila’s Outstanding Researcher & Professorial Chair Holder for Excellence in Teaching & Research in Pediatrics & Genetics in 2011, and Dr. Jose Rizal Memorial Awardee for Research, given by the Philippine Medical Association, in 2012. Last year, she was named UPAA Distinguished Alumna for Health Research in Genomics.
Written by Dr. Jose Wendell Capili