Some make a show of helping others, and yet some scatter light to those who need it most, without fanfare, without noise, but with more impact and effectiveness. Dr. William Honorato Eclar "Bill" Romero ‘76 belongs to the latter kind of upright, self-respecting men.

This year, the University of the Philippines Alumni Association confers upon Bill one of its highest distinctions: the UPAA Distinguished Alumnus Award in Human Capital Development. It is a recognition granted by the University of the Philippines to people who devote their lives to uplifting others through service, education, mentorship, and the work of building better lives and stronger communities.

After growing up amid scarcity, he is now at the forefront of helping others. A steadfast Iskolar ng Bayan and a tried and true Upsilonian, Bill’s journey, from the lecture halls of the University of the Philippines to the frontlines of American medicine, has been one of service grounded in compassion, marked by achievement, and uplifted by loyalty to his roots.

A specialist in bariatric medicine, medical nutrition, and cosmetic medicine, Bill is distinguished not only by his clinical mastery but by his profound regard for the human dignity of each patient. From 2011 to 2020, he was consecutively awarded the Vitals Compassionate Doctor Award and the Patient’s Choice Award—accolades bestowed by those whose lives he has touched, and whose trust he has unwaveringly kept.

Borders never bound his practice of medicine. From 2006 to 2017, Dr. Romero served in nearly every major leadership capacity within the University of the Philippines Medical Alumni Society in America (UPMASA): as Secretary, Vice-Chairman, Chairman of the Board of Governors, and eventually National President. Through his stewardship, the Society expanded its programs, mobilized resources, and renewed its mission—to connect the healing arts of the diaspora with the enduring needs of the homeland.

In 2020, he was awarded the Meritorious Service to UPMASA Award, crowning a decade of transformative leadership. And in 2015, he received the UP Alumni Association in America Distinguished Alumni Award for Leadership and Public Health, a testament to a calling that transcended profession and became purpose.

Bill’s formation as a Fellow began at the University of the Philippines, where he earned his BS in Zoology in 1977 and his Doctor of Medicine in 1981. In 2001, he completed his Master’s in Healthcare Management at the State University of New York at Stony Brook, further equipping himself to lead amid the shifting terrains of global health. His practice took him to the Philippine General Hospital at UP Manila and the Lincoln Hospital at the New York Medical College.

Bill also founded the Upsilon Medical Assistance Program (UMAP), a system that helps brothers with their medical needs. He not only created the framework but also personally pledged a substantial amount to seed the fund, ensuring that support would be available when it mattered most. According to Alan Austriaco 86, “I’d like to credit Brod Bill Romero ’76 as the architect of UMAP’s structure. The system he designed brought both transparency and efficiency to the way we support brothers in need.”

Building on the success of UMAP, Bill has extended his efforts to help the next generation of brothers through the Upsilon Student Assistance Program (USAP). This initiative provides financial aid to resident brothers facing economic hardship. In both programs, his contributions have gone beyond ideas. He helped build the structure, provided the initial capital, and left behind systems that continue to serve others long after the headlines have faded.

In 2024, his judgment and standing in the fraternity were once again recognized when he was appointed to serve on the Tanglaw Awards Committee of Upsilon Sigma Phi North America, a role reserved for brothers held in the highest regard.

What endures in his example is not the prestige of title, but the dignity of work, of turning light into healing, and healing into service. In the fullness of his life’s journey, we find fidelity to the imperatives of Brotherhood, Integrity, Excellence, Leadership, and Service.

By honoring Bill Romero this year, the University affirms what we in the Brotherhood have always known: that greatness is not a pursuit of the self, but the discipline of giving beyond the self.

"To our younger Brods: never hesitate to ask for help. You may not always be able to repay the kindness directly, but you can always pay it forward," Bill said.

"Like an apple tree, your true value lies in the fruit you bear and the shade you offer to others."
In triumph and toil, he remains true, tempered, and tried.

A tried and true fellow among men.