UP BOR selects new president; Students, communities vow to continue militancy, fight for welfare

By Rochel M. Floron IV

Last Dec. 9, 2022, in an unusual three-round voting, the University of the Philippines Board of Regents (UP BOR), the highest decision-making body of the whole UP system, selected a new president who will serve for six years.

During the nomination period, UP student councils, faculty, and communities within the university, even student publications, have come together to push for two massive campaigns: one in support of Dr. Fidel Nemenzo’s bid, while the other rejected the nomination of Dr. Fernando Sanchez.

The UP community, despite Nemenzo’s defeat, promises to uphold its militancy and to continue fighting for the welfare of students and other sectors and communities.

Who is the New UP President?

The UP BOR selected Atty. Angelo “Jijil” Jimenez who is a practicing private lawyer and has served twice in the UP BOR — as a student regent in 1992 and as a regent from 2016 to 2021. He finished both his undergraduate program and his law degree at UP Diliman (UPD).

Jimenez was also a student leader who served in the UPD University Student Council (UPD USC), first as a councilor and eventually as the chairperson. As a student journalist, meanwhile, he became an associate editor of the Philippine Collegian and the National Chairperson of the College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP).

“I felt like I just dropped a little apple of voice, hopes, and dreams of my alma mater and it feels like 11 men and women smiled at it,” Jimenez said in his first public engagement speech.

He added, “I like to let you know na ‘yung tatak bilang sa sektor ng mag-aaral ay nakarating dito sa Quezon Hall at babalikan at babalikan ko kayo. I will defend academic freedom; I will defend the independence of the institution according to the law. It’s one of my most ardent devotions to protect our freedoms.”

Yet, he is known for his stance against the establishment of the UP-Department of National Defense (UP-DND) accord despite persistent calls from the UP community for its institutionalization following the intrusions of police forces in UP campuses.

On top of that, he is also for the contractualization of some UP workers, except in teaching and research, since he thinks that today’s labor markets value flexibility over stagnation.

Jimenez is also against the mandatory Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC), full face-to-face learning, the UP College Admission Test (UPCAT), and the abolition of fraternities. Meanwhile, he is in favor of the commercialization of UP spaces as well as full free and unconditional education but with reservations.

He also agreed to stop and review the implementation of the Return Service Agreement (RSA) that UP Manila and its extension campuses have been fighting against since it was implemented in 2011. However, he still has yet to provide any plans for carrying out his stance regarding RSA.

‘Nemenzo Hanggang Dulo’

Despite the whole UP community rallying behind Nemenzo for his bid for the UP presidency, the UP BOR has once again voted in contrary to the demand of the university’s largest sectors who will bear the brunt of their decision.

“Mahaba at marami pang laban ang tatahakin para isulong ang mga pagtatanggol ng academic freedom, pagsulong ng demokratikong pamamahala, at pagsulong ng mga programang akademiko at pananaliksik na tunay na maglilingkod sa ating bayan,” UPD Chancellor Nemenzo said in his address shortly after the selection process.

Two days before the selection process for the next UP president, the emergency General Assembly of Student Councils (eGASC), headed by the Office of the Student Regent (OSR), adopted the GASC Resolution №2022–036 in support of Nemenzo’s nomination.

His policies and actions as UPD chancellor were cited as reasons for the support of the student assembly. These include his stance regarding the UP-DND accord, his integration of gender and development into the university, his close relationship with the communities inside the university, and how he responded to the necessities of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Pinanindigan ni Dr. Nemenzo ang kalayaang pang-akademiko at tiniyak ang seguridad ng mga nasasakupan nito sa ilalim ng kanyang panunungkulan bilang Chancellor ng UP Diliman sa pamamagitan ng paglikha ng Safety and Security Committee sa nasabing campus. Ipinakita niya ang kanyang sarili sa panahon ng mga mobilisasyon at demonstrasyon, lalo na sa panahon ng unilateral na pagbasura ng UP-DND Accord,” said UP Manila USC in a Facebook statement.

Furthermore, faculty members across the UP system also endorsed the nomination of Nemenzo saying, “It is our most informed and judicious view that, among the current aspirants for UP President, only UP Diliman Chancellor Fidel R. Nemenzo fulfills all of our criteria for an ideal and exemplary academic leader.”

Communities and vendors living within UPD also took a stand for the UPD chancellor, “Sa 30 years kong paninirahan dito, ngayon lang ako nakakita ng chancellor na kumakausap ng tao,” said Leuneides Diola of Magkaisa Arboretum.

Publications across the UP system also made their historic endorsement of a political candidate which is considered to be ‘taboo’ for publications.

“Sa kasaysayan, hindi nagbibigay ng endorso ang mga pampublikasyon ngunit kagabi nakita natin ang sunod sunod na post ng mga publikasyon para i-endorso si Fidel Nemenzo at kundenahin si Sanchez,” remarked Angelo Vince Marfil of UP Solidaridad, the systemwide alliance of student publications in UP system.

The Manila Collegian has made its first-ever political endorsement as well. In an editorial, the publication writes, “while being aware of Nemenzo’s gaps in some instances, he is known for his capacity to listen and act according to his progressive principles, especially during crises that challenge the university.”

“Facing the tyrannical crackdown of the Marcos-Duterte regime and the long-prevailing issues that have been troubling UP’s constituents, it is time to go beyond the nature of what a publication is and directly respond to the political exigencies of the time.”

“Nemenzo was the best fit for UP Presidency. Kahit na hindi sya perpekto, maraming unity points ang sangkaestudyantehan sa kanya. Nakakalungkot na hindi na naman pinakinggan ng reakyonaryong BOR ang kagustuhan ng iba’t ibang sektor ng UP ang pag-endorso nila kay Nemenzo,” said Eleazar Jose Barnuevo, Chairperson of the UP Los Baños College of Human Ecology Student Council (UPLB CHE SC).

At the present, last Jan. 13, in his most recent statement, Nemenzo said that he will vie for a second term as UPD chancellor, “I remain committed to serving the University and community that I love, and will welcome the opportunity and challenge to continue the work as chancellor of UP Diliman.”

No More Chances, Sanchez

In order to block the attempt of then-UP Los Baños (UPLB) Chancellor Sanchez for a third term, the communities in UPLB launched the ‘No To Third Term, Sanchez’ campaign citing his “anti-constituent policies” and the “absence of compassion” during his two-term chancellorship.

As Sanchez started to seek the UP presidency, the eGASC adopted a resolution condemning his nomination and making ‘No More Chances, Sanchez’ (NMCS) a system-wide campaign for student councils across the UP system.

With the UP BOR selecting Atty. Jimenez, some members of the UP community cast their doubts if Sanchez not winning can really be considered as a victory given the failed bid of Nemenzo.

Mark Roma of the NMCS coalition considers it a ‘half win’ because, despite Nemenzo’s defeat and the success of blocking Sanchez, a large percentage of the UP community was organized and mobilized to demand and assert their rights.

“Para sa akin, maituturing na tagumpay na maharangan ang nagbabadyang pagkapanalo ng tila pinaka-anti estudyante sa lahat ng nominado na si Sanchez dahil danas ng UPLB ang kaniyang kapabayaan. Hindi dapat pinagbabangga ang mga kampanya. Nagkaroon ng minimum demand na No More Chances Sanchez at maximum demand na endorse Nemenzo sa UPLB,” said Christianne Lei Golena, Chairperson of the UPLB College of Agriculture and Food Science (CAFS).

The coalition, meanwhile, vows to continue watching every move that Sanchez will do in the next coming months more so should he vie for chancellorship, deanship, or any position in the university.

Moving Forward

Student councils, publications, and other sectors of the communities across the UP system have pledged to keep their militant spirit by asserting the rights and welfare of the university and the Filipinos.

“Hindi magbabago ang role ng OSR in its years of existence. Regardless kung sino man ang presidente na naselect, ganun pa rin ang gagawin natin. Mas magiging kritikal tayo sa pagpapatakbo ng university and magiging actions niya going forward,” remarked UP Student Regent Siegfred Severino when asked about the role of his office.

Andrew Ronquillo, Kasama sa UP (KSUP) Chairperson, adds, “we need to assert, hindi po titigil ang KSUP at OSR at mas lalong di titigil ang mga estudyante para magcommit si Jijil sa mga pangako niya.”

The UP Office of the Student Regent (UP OSR) will also push for the following systemwide student demands: the right to quality education, a greater and equitable budget for education, upholding democratic rights, and defending academic freedom.

In ways moving forward, Barnuevo asserts that the whole UP community must unite and demand commitments to the UP President-Elect Jimenez so that issues would not remain unresolved when the latter formally assumes the position.

“Patuloy na magmamatyag at babatikusin ng konseho ang anumang pagyurak sa mga karapatan ng mga estudyante at mga questionable na galaw ni Jimenez, patuloy rin na magbubuo ng unities at kakabigin si Jimenez ng buong UP community para tugunan ang mga demand nito,” said UPLB CHE SC chairperson.

UP Open University Professor “Ka Lito” Manalili calls for the UP community to relive the spirit of militancy in the university, “Ang kasaysayan ng Unibersidad ng Pilipinas ay pakikibaka. Kailangan natin panatilihin ang pagiging unibersidad ng sambayanan.”