He is survived by his father Quintin, mother Ma. Luz, wife Carmella, only daughter Pamella, brother Ronald and sister Marilou.
Born on July 21, 1966 in Iloilo, Paul spent most of his student life in Manila, particularly at the University of the Philippines Diliman where he finished his high school and college education.
After graduating from the UP School of Economics in 1988, Paul proceeded to take up law. In 1993, Paul graduated from UP College of Law and passed the Bar exams that same year.
As a lawyer, Paul became a member of International Pro Bono Alliance which provided free legal services to migrant workers in distress. He was also an active member of the Volunteer Lawyers Against Discrimination.
Paul was a member of the Faculty of the De La Salle University College of Law.
“Another good—no, Great —guy gone too soon,” former Supreme Court spokesperson Theodore Te said of Paul’s passing on Twitter.
Te described Paul as “one heck of a lawyer—greatly skilled, fiercely committed, deeply passionate” for his clients, many of whom Paul helped pro bono.
Unknown to most people, Nonoy, as Paul was fondly called by his close relatives and friends, was also a trivia buff. Fellow trivia enthusiasts gave him the moniker “El Ponente” because it was Paul who always penned for his team the final answers to trivia questions during pub quizzes which he attended regularly if he was not busy with his court cases.
Trivia books author Bong Barrameda, one of Paul’s teammates, broke the news of Paul’s death to his trivia quiz circle Utak Atak: “Guys, our dear Ponente Atty. Paul has passed away… Such a sad, sad day.”
Friends, colleagues, relatives and fellow trivia aficionados paid their last respects to Paul at his wake at the Santuario de San Antonio Chapels on McKinley Road, Forbes Park, Makati City.
His remains will be cremated on Tuesday. There will also be a necrological Mass on Zoom.