Francisco Nemenzo Jr.

Francisco Alfafara Nemenzo Jr. is 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 byEmil Q. Javier
Succeeded byEmerlinda R. Roman
3rd Chancellor of the
University of the Philippines Visayas
In office
August 29, 1989 – August 31, 1992
University PresidentJosé Abueva
Preceded byRogelio Juliano
Succeeded byFlor J. Lacanilao
Faculty Regent of the
University of the Philippines
In office
1988–1989
University PresidentJosé Abueva
Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences
University of the Philippines Diliman
In office
1976–1981
University PresidentOnofre Corpuz
Emanuel V. Soriano
Edgardo Angara
Personal details
NationalityFilipino
SpouseAna Maria "Princess" Ronquillo
ChildrenFidel
Leonid
Lian
Alma materUniversity 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,[lower-alpha 1] he is a professor emeritus of political science at UP Diliman and continues to teach courses in political philosophy and Philippine government.[6]

Nemenzo is 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 incumbent chancellor of UP Diliman.[7]

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 is married to Ana Maria "Princess" Ronquillo, a feminist and anti-poverty activist.[8][9][10] They have three children: mathematician Fidel named after Fidel Castro, physician Leonid, and preschool teacher Lian.[5][8]

Nemenzo's nickname is "Dodong".[1][9]

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.[11] During his undergraduate years, he joined the Pan Xenia Fraternity.[12] He then obtained a Ph.D. in political history from the University of Manchester in 1965.[11]

Career

Administrative experience

Prior to his stint as 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. 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).

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.[13] He succeeded Emil Q. Javier.

His term is 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. It led to a synthesis of the old general education program and the RGEP which has been adopted the University since 2012.

In 2005, he stepped down as the University's highest official and replaced by Emerlinda Roman of the College of Business Administration.

Selected publications
  • 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. Third World Studies Center, College of Social Sciences and Philosophy, University of the Philippines Diliman. 8 (2): 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.

References
  1. "Scientist Profile: Francisco Nemenzo". Specialized Philippine Enterprise Reference of Experts and Scientists (SPHERES). Department of Science and Technology (DOST). Archived from the original on January 19, 2021. Retrieved January 19, 2021.
  2. Jose 2009, pp. 128, 130
  3. Scalice 2017, p. 8
  4. Richardson, Jim (1993). "Review of Francisco Nemenzo, 'The Millenarian-Populist Aspects of Filipino Marxism'". Journal of Contemporary Asia. 23 (3): 382–395. doi:10.1080/00472339380000211.
  5. Ces Oreña-Drilon (February 29, 2020). "The M-16 bullet that changed Fidel Nemenzo's life". ABS-CBN News Channel. ABS-CBN. Archived from the original on October 10, 2020. Retrieved January 19, 2021. [Fidel Nemenzo's] father, the respected political scientist and unabashed Marxist...
  6. "Department of Political Science at the University of the Philippines Diliman–Faculty, Professors Emeriti". 2011. Archived from the original on 2013-04-26. Retrieved 2013-01-03.
  7. Gavilan, Jodesz (February 3, 2020). "Pro-student, pro-people: Who is incoming UP Diliman chancellor Fidel Nemenzo?". Rappler. Archived from the original on January 19, 2021. Retrieved January 19, 2021.
  8. "Teaching little kids to be part of the bigger community". The Philippine Star. October 23, 2012. Archived from the original on January 20, 2021. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  9. Tan, Michael L. (April 30, 2013). "Graduation gifts". Pinoy Kasi. Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on April 4, 2014. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  10. Natividad, Dulce (March 9, 2014). "Women's month: Keeping up with Princess Nemenzo". Rappler. Archived from the original on January 28, 2021. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  11. "SWS Fellows in the News". Archived from the original on 2012-02-04. Retrieved 2013-01-03.
  12. "The Pan Xenia Fraternity in the 1990's". uppanxenia.net. Pan Xenia Fraternity. Archived from the original on July 10, 2020. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
  13. "On the UP presidency". www.thenewstoday.info.

Bibliography

Notes
  1. Sources describing Nemenzo as "marxist":[1][2][3][4][5]
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