Ex-UP president Nemenzo, 89

MANILA, Philippines — Martial law activist, political scientist and former University of the Philippines (UP) president Francisco Nemenzo passed away yesterday. He was 89.

In a Facebook post, Nemenzo’s daughter Lian Nemenzo-Hernandez said a memorial service would be held “for family, friends and colleagues at a date and venue to be announced later.”

Nemenzo is survived by his wife of 65 years Ana Maria as well as their children and their spouses.

Nemenzo served as the 18th president of UP from 1999 to 2005.

In a tribute posted on its website, the UP System credited Nemenzo for introducing several innovations, especially in terms of modernizing the university’s facilities and recalibrating the education curriculum.

He was also behind the institutionalization of the use of “sablay” in graduation ceremonies in 2003, replacing the traditional toga to reflect UP’s unique identity and nationalism.

Born in Cebu City on Feb. 9, 1935, Nemenzo spent his entire academic career in UP, earning both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Public Administration before obtaining a PhD in Political Science from the University of Manchester.