Francisco Nemenzo Jr. Explained

Francisco Nemenzo Jr.
Office:18th President of the University of the Philippines
Term Start:1999
Term End:2005
Predecessor:Emil Q. Javier
Successor:Emerlinda R. Roman
Order2:3rd Chancellor of the
University of the Philippines Visayas
Term Start2:August 29, 1989
Term End2:August 31, 1992
Predecessor2:Rogelio Juliano
Successor2:Flor J. Lacanilao
1Namedata2:José Abueva
Office3:Faculty Regent of the
University of the Philippines
Term Start3:1988
Term End3:1989
1Namedata3:José Abueva
Office4:Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences
University of the Philippines Diliman
Term Start4:1976
Term End4:1981
1Namedata4:Onofre Corpuz
Emanuel V. Soriano
Edgardo Angara
Nationality:Filipino
Alma Mater:University of the Philippines Diliman (B.P.A. & M.P.A.)
University of Manchester (Ph.D.)
Spouse:Ana Maria "Princess" Ronquillo
Children:Fidel
Leonid
Lian

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.

A prominent Marxist figure in the Philippine academe, he is a professor emeritus of political science at UP Diliman and continues to teach courses in political philosophy and Philippine government.[1]

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". His son, Fidel, is a mathematician and the 11th chancellor of UP Diliman.[2]

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.

Nemenzo is married to Ana Maria "Princess" Ronquillo, a feminist and anti-poverty activist.[3] [4] [5] They have three children: mathematician Fidel named after Fidel Castro, physician Leonid, and preschool teacher Lian.

Nemenzo's nickname is "Dodong".

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.[6] During his undergraduate years, he joined the Pan Xenia Fraternity.[7] He then obtained a Ph.D. in political history from the University of Manchester in 1965.

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.[8] 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

References

Bibliography

Notes

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Department of Political Science at the University of the Philippines Diliman–Faculty, Professors Emeriti. 2011 . 2013-01-03 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130426061249/http://polisci.upd.edu.ph/people/faculty/emeritus.html . 2013-04-26 . dead .
  2. News: Gavilan . Jodesz . Pro-student, pro-people: Who is incoming UP Diliman chancellor Fidel Nemenzo? . January 19, 2021 . Rappler . February 3, 2020 . https://archive.today/20210119051829/https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/iq/things-to-know-up-diliman-chancellor-fidel-nemenzo . January 19, 2021 . live .
  3. News: Teaching little kids to be part of the bigger community . January 20, 2021 . The Philippine Star . October 23, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210120072700/https://www.philstar.com/lifestyle/health-and-family/2012/10/23/859756/teaching-little-kids-be-part-bigger-community . January 20, 2021.
  4. News: Tan, Michael L. . Michael Tan . Graduation gifts . January 20, 2021 . Philippine Daily Inquirer . Pinoy Kasi. April 30, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140404200346/http://opinion.inquirer.net/51749/graduation-gifts . April 4, 2014.
  5. News: Natividad . Dulce . Women's month: Keeping up with Princess Nemenzo . January 20, 2021 . Rappler . March 9, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210128073313/https://r3.rappler.com/move-ph/52545-princess-nemenzo-women . January 28, 2021.
  6. Web site: SWS Fellows in the News . 2013-01-03 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120204104739/http://www.sws.org.ph/fel-news9998.htm . 2012-02-04 .
  7. Web site: The Pan Xenia Fraternity in the 1990's . uppanxenia.net . Pan Xenia Fraternity . September 29, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200710204141/http://uppanxenia.net/90s.htm . July 10, 2020 . live.
  8. Web site: On the UP presidency. www.thenewstoday.info.