Francisco Nemenzo

Francisco Alfafara Nemenzo Jr. (9 February 1935 – 19 December 2024) was a Filipino political scientist, educator, and activist who served as the 18th president of the University of the Philippines (UP) from 1999 to 2005. He had previously served as chancellor of UP Visayas, UP Faculty Regent, and dean of the College of Arts & Sciences of UP Diliman.

Francisco Nemenzo Jr.
Nemenzo in 2013
18th President of the University of the Philippines
In office 1999–2005
Preceded by	Emil Q. Javier
Succeeded by	Emerlinda R. Roman
3rd Chancellor of the University of the Philippines Visayas
In office August 29, 1989 – August 31, 1992
University President	José Abueva
Preceded by	Rogelio Juliano
Succeeded by	Flor J. Lacanilao
Faculty Regent of the University of the Philippines
In office 1988–1989
University President	José Abueva
Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences University of the Philippines Diliman
In office 1976–1981
University President	Onofre Corpuz Emanuel V. Soriano Edgardo Angara
Personal details
Born	(1935-02-09)9 February 1935 Cebu City, Cebu, Philippine Islands
Died	19 December 2024(2024-12-19) (aged 89) Quezon City, Philippines
Nationality	Filipino
Spouse	Ana Maria "Princess" Ronquillo
Children	Fidel Leonid Lian
Alma mater	University of the Philippines Diliman (B.P.A. & M.P.A.) University of Manchester (Ph.D.)
Occupation	University administrator professor political scientist

A prominent Marxist figure in the Philippine academe,^[a] he was a professor emeritus of political science at UP Diliman and taught courses in political philosophy and Philippine government.^[6]

Nemenzo was from a family of scholars, academics, and educators. His father, Francisco Sr., was a marine zoologist known as the "father of Philippine coral taxonomy".^[1] His son, Fidel, is a mathematician and the 11th chancellor of UP Diliman.^[7]

Career

Administrative experience

Prior to becoming UP President, Nemenzo served as chancellor of the University of the Philippines Visayas and as a member of the Board of Regents, the highest policy-making body of the University, representing the faculty.^{[citation needed]} He was also dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, which was split into three academic units: College of Science (CS), College of Social Sciences & Philosophy (CSSP), and the College of Arts & Letters (CAL).^{[citation needed]}

University presidency

Nemenzo was elected UP president against prominent competitors such as former senator Leticia Ramos-Shahani, former minister of economic planning Gerardo Sicat, and public administration pioneer and sociologist Ledivina V. Cariño.^[8] He succeeded Emil Q. Javier. An appointee of President Joseph Estrada, Nemenzo was criticized in the university for not supporting the Second EDSA Revolution that overthrew Estrada in 2001.^[9]

His term was notable for the institutionalization of the Revised General Education Program (RGEP), comparable to the general education program of Harvard University and other American educational institutions, seeking to provide a holistic development of students through a free choice system of selecting courses in three divisions (Arts & Humanities, Social Science & Philosophy, and Mathematics, Science & Technology) to fit each student's intellectual pursuits. However, a comprehensive review of the program was initiated, linking the introduction of the RGEP to the grade inflation phenomenon.^{[citation needed]} It led to a synthesis of the old general education program and the RGEP which has been adopted by the University since 2012.

In 2005, he stepped down as the University's highest official and was replaced by Emerlinda Roman of the College of Business Administration.^{[citation needed]}

Personal life

Family

Nemenzo's father, Francisco Sr., was a marine zoologist referred to as the "father of Philippine coral taxonomy" and has served as dean of UP Diliman's College of Arts and Sciences. His mother, Catalina Alfafara, served as senior librarian at the UP Diliman library.^[1]

Nemenzo was married to Ana Maria "Princess" Ronquillo, a feminist and anti-poverty activist.^[10][11][12] They have three children: mathematician Fidel named after Fidel Castro, physician Leonid, and preschool teacher Lian.^[5][10]

Nemenzo's nickname was "Dodong".^[1][11]

Education

Nemenzo earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in public administration from the National College of Public Administration and Governance at the University of the Philippines Diliman in 1957 and 1959 respectively.^[13] During his undergraduate years, he joined the Pan Xenia Fraternity.^[14] He then obtained a Ph.D. in political history from the University of Manchester in 1965.^[13]

Death

Francisco Nemenzo Jr. died in Quezon City on 19 December 2024, at the age of 89.^[15]

Selected publications

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• May, R.J.; Nemenzo, Francisco, eds. (1985). The Philippines after Marcos. London: Croom Helm. ISBN 0709935617.
• Nemenzo, Francisco (2000). U.P. Into the 21st Century and other essays. Quezon City, Philippines: University of the Philippines Press. ISBN 971-542-248-9.
• Nemenzo, Francisco Jr. (1984). "Rectification process in the Philippine communist movement". In Lim, Joo-Jock; Shanmugaratnam, Vani (eds.). Armed communist movements in Southeast Asia. Hampshire: Gower. ISBN 0566006987.
• Nemenzo, Francisco Jr. (1992). "Questioning Marx, Critiquing Marxism Reflections on the Ideological Crisis on the Left". Kasarinlan: Philippine Journal of Third World Studies. 8 (2). Third World Studies Center, College of Social Sciences and Philosophy, University of the Philippines Diliman: 5–25.
• Nemenzo, Francisco Jr. (1988). "From autocracy to elite democracy". In Javate-de Dios, Aurora; Daroy, Petronilo Bn.; Kalaw-Tirol, Lorna (eds.). Dictatorship and Revolution: Roots of People's Power. Metro Manila: Conspectus. ASIN B0000EEE8J.
• Nemenzo, Francisco (1984). "The Millenarian-Populist Aspects of Filipino Marxism". Marxism in the Philippines: Marx Centennial Lectures. Quezon City, Philippines: Third World Studies Center, University of the Philippines. pp. 1–40. ASIN B0000EE2YU.