UP community honors Dodong Nemenzo

| Written by Clariza Concordia

Dr. Francisco “Dodong” Nemenzo, who served as 18th President of the Ƶ (UP), was honored by his family, friends, and colleagues in a memorial service held at the GT-Toyota Asian Center Auditorium in UP Diliman on Dec. 27, 2024. Photo by Jonathan Madrid, UP MPRO.

 

A champion of academic freedom, and a visionary who dedicated his life to education and social justice. This was how Dr. Francisco “Dodong” Nemenzo, 18th UP President (1999-2005), was remembered by the University community in a program on Dec. 27 to honor his life and legacy. He passed away on Dec. 19, 2024 at 89 years old.

Colleagues and former members of the UP System Executive Committee paid tribute to Nemenzo, highlighting his contributions to the University. Among his officials present were: Professor Emeritus Maria Serena “Maris” Diokno, former Vice President for Academic Affairs; and Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Marvic M.V.F. Leonen, former University General Counsel and Vice President for Legal Affairs. Diokno and Leonen shared personal anecdotes about their years of serving the University with Nemenzo.

Nemenzo’s successors, Professor Emeritus Emerlinda Ramos-Roman (2005–2011), Alfredo Pascual (2011-2017), and current UP President Angelo Jimenez (2023-present), also shared how the late UP president inspired their leadership. Roman mentioned that Nemenzo was instrumental in her appointment as the 19th UP president.

Beyond being a committed academic leader, Nemenzo was remembered as a mentor and, most especially, a friend. Maricris Valte, a former student of Nemenzo, said that the latter, as an educator, was “a strong proponent of fairness and compassion.” Professor Emeritus Randolf “Randy” David referred to Nemenzo as his “guide, confidant, and partner in crime in academic and political adventures and misadventures” for over five decades.

The memorial service was held from Dec. 27 to 30, 2024 at the GT-Toyota Asian Center Auditorium in UP Diliman.

 

A supporter of academic excellence, an advocate of academic freedom

 

“His advantage was that he knew exactly what needed to be done, and he set out to directly address issues and problems,” Roman said of Nemenzo.

Nemenzo’s main goal, according to Roman, was academic excellence. During his term, Nemenzo pioneered initiatives elevating the intellectual pursuits of the UP community. These included revitalizing UP’s General Education Program. He also spearheaded the modernization of the University’s programs, processes, and facilities, to ensure that UP was prepared for the 21st century.
Nemenzo also supported faculty members. He laid the groundwork for faculty tenure and promotion policies. He introduced cash incentives for research publications and awarded research grants to faculty members, policies that succeeding administrations would continue.

“Dodong prioritized academic programs and laid the foundation for the educational, research, and technological infrastructure to support UP’s academic mission, apart from serving the nation as being an academically excellent institution,” said Dr. Ma. Cynthia Rose Bautista, Dean of the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy during Nemenzo’s presidency.

Aside from pursuing academic excellence, Nemenzo advocated academic freedom. “He understood that the University’s strength lies in fostering an environment where ideas can flourish without fear of repression,” said Pascual as he honored the late UP president.

 

“My father, Dodong Nemenzo, and the ideals he held and fought for so fiercely will live in the work all of you do,” says Dr. Fidel Nemenzo as he expresses his gratitude to friends, colleagues, and comrades of his father. On Dec. 27, 2024, a tribute was held to remember the life and legacy of Dr. Francisco “Dodong” Nemenzo, 18th President of the Ƶ. Photo by Jonathan Madrid, UP MPRO.

 

A supporter of radical transformation

 

Nemenzo was not just an educator and an academic leader. He was a man of conviction who practiced his ideology within the halls of the University, in the broader community, and in the parliament of the streets.

In his message, David shared that as Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences in UP Diliman, Nemenzo introduced and supported various academic programs and institutions advancing critical scholarship. This included the Third World Studies Center (TWSC), a research institute “committed to analyze and develop alternative perspectives on Philippine, regional and global issues.”

Nemenzo’s dedication to social justice and reform went beyond the academe. He reinforced UP’s mandate as a public service university. “He believed that the University must serve as a catalyst for social change, addressing the present issues of our time,” said Pascual. “Dodong encouraged us to look beyond the walls of our campuses and engage with the communities we serve,” David continued. Under Nemenzo’s leadership, he strengthened UP’s outreach programs and partnerships with different sectors of society.

Beyond his involvement in the academic sphere, Nemenzo was a renowned figure in the political arena. A revolutionary, he was imprisoned during the martial law period under then President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. He also once led a protest for the ouster of President Gloria Arroyo in 2006.

These narratives provided a glimpse of who Nemenzo was as an academic, a colleague, and a critical thinker. His life, as told by David, “has been a testament to courage, conviction, and the unwavering commitment to making the world a better place.”
“We will continue to be inspired by your memories, and you will continue to live in each of us as we continue to live the values that we share with you,” Leonen concluded.

 

Members of the progressive music ensemble, Patatag, reunited to perform at the memorial service for Dr. Francisco “Dodong” Nemenzo. Before singing their piece, a representative recalled how the Nemenzo family opened their home for the group’s rehearsals during their early years. Photo by Jonathan Madrid, UP MPRO.