UP President Danilo Concepcion’s term is nearing its end. Under his leadership, UP has seen massive infrastructure projects, curricular overhaul, and the changing role of UP under a country beset by the pandemic and crises.
As Concepcion’s term begins its dawn, the national university is once again searching for its next leader, from 2023 to 2029. Six nominees have forwarded themselves for the top job. They are Catanduanes State University President Patrick Alain T. Azanza, lawyer and former 1-Ang Edukasyon Rep. Salvador B. Belaro Jr., lawyer and former UP Regent Angelo A. Jimenez, UP Diliman Chancellor Fidel R. Nemenzo, civil engineering professor Benito M. Pacheco, and former UP Los Baños Chancellor Fernando C. Sanchez Jr.
This month, the Collegian editorial board interviewed all the six nominees vying to be UP’s 22nd university president. The nominees’ interviews have been condensed and edited for clarity.
Patrick Alain T. Azanza
Catanduanes State University President Patrick Alain T. Azanza underscores the importance of orienting the university as a data-driven institution that will pave the way for an objective, fair, and scientific administration. He believes that a democratic governance centered on transparency, integrity, and accountability is crucial in achieving this.
Salvador B. Belaro Jr.
Lawyer Salvador B. Belaro Jr. envisions UP to be a Filipino Global University, wherein it respects the factually-recorded past, it honors legacy of people who lived in the past, and it ensures that every Filipino would have a just share and empowered place in the university to support Filipino families, especially those who are marginalized.
Angelo A. Jimenez
Former Regent Angelo Jimenez envisions UP to become a global university that asks the big questions of our time and strives to solve the problems of the nation and of the world. Following this vision, he envisions UP to focus on three main aspects–research, extension service, and digital transformation.
Fidel R. Nemenzo
UP Diliman Chancellor Fidel R. Nemenzo wants a UP System that is responsive to the nation’s problems. He envisions a university that could develop solutions to issues like food insecurity, low productivity, and inequality–a nod to UP’s role of being a national university.
Benito M. Pacheco
UP Diliman professor Benito M. Pacheco imagines the UP System as an academic institution that promotes humanity. He believes that UP, being the national university, should first and foremost prioritize public service and outreach, humanist innovation, and honing educators and future leaders keen on serving the country.
Fernando C. Sanchez Jr.
Fernando Sanchez Jr. envisions a university that prioritizes inclusivity–one that provides fair opportunities for all UP employees. All of UP’s problems, according to him, stems from lack of financial resources, culture of precedence, and culture of exclusion. He says he plans on sparking change in his term to make UP the best national university it can be. ●
The interviews were conducted by the Collegian editorial board. Additional contributions by Ysabel Vidor, Arthur David San Juan, Kyle Adeva, Gian Angnged, Elan Samuel Lunas, Frenzel Julianne Cleofe, Johnson Santos, Andrea Medina, Luisa Elago, JM Silerio, and Maria Laya.
