MANILA, Philippines — The Ospital ng Sampaloc in Manila has been renamed to Mayor Ramon Bagatsing General Hospital.
It was renamed by virtue of City Ordinance 9154 after Manila's longest-serving and trailblazing former mayor.
In a post that was in Filipino and English on Facebook on Tuesday, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno said the hospital would be known by its new name "in recognition of his (Bagatsing's) important contribution to the city of Manila and the country."
"This is our humble way to show respect to those who came before us—knowing how to look back, knowing how to recognize, and knowing to express gratitude," Domagoso said.
He shared a nugget of history about Bagatsing, saying he fought during World War II.
"Sampaloc kid. Bombay," Domagoso said of Bagatsing who was of Filipino and Indian descent.
On Aug. 19, 2026, Bagatsing's 110th birth anniversary, a book authored by the late National Artist for Literature Nick Joaquin entitled "Bombay: A True-Blue Filipino" was launched.
The Manilla mayor further said about Bagatsing, "He survived the Bataan Death March."
"At Plaza Miranda, he was critically wounded when the grenade exploded near him, which caused the loss of a big portion of one of his legs. But he did not quit—he continued to live and serve," Moreno said, alluding to the 1971 bombing that nearly wiped out the opposition during a rally against the late president Ferdinand Marcos, father of the incumben.
"So as modern-day leaders, it is only right for us to recognize his sacrifice and contribution to the history of Manila and of the Philippines," Moreno said.
Moreno led the ceremony, together with Manila Vice Mayor Chi Atienza and Bagatsing family members, the Manila Public Information Office said on Facebook.
"Mayor Ramon D. Bagatsing, who served as mayor of Manila from 1972 to 1986, was known for his integrity, compassion and dedication to public service," it said.
In a 2020 post on Facebook, it said that he "voluntarily stepped down for a leadership transition after the" 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution.
"Among his legacies is the development and establishment of the College of Medicine in the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila," it said on Tuesday.
"To the Bagatsing family,... on behalf of the people of Manila, thank you to your father," Moreno said.
