Facade of the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City. Photo by Evangeline Valderrama
MANILA, Philippines — The University of the Philippines’ (UP) highest decision-making body on Monday named a new chancellor to lead its flagship campus for the next two years, a decision that was met with outrage by members of the UP community.
After four hours of deliberations, the board elected UP College of Law dean Edgardo Vistan II as the 12th UP Diliman chancellor, edging out Diliman’s incumbent chancellor Fidel Nemenzo and UP archaeology professor Victor Paz.
Nemenzo, who had previously lost his bid for the university presidency to labor lawyer Angelo Jimenez, had also been the favorite this time to win a fresh two-year mandate.
Frustrated by the decision, dozens of students stormed the Quezon Hall where the Board of Regents (BOR) met and painted “Shame on BOR!” on its doors. They also asked Shari Oliquino, assistant vice president for student affairs, to arrange a dialogue with the BOR on how the vote went down.
Before Monday’s vote, Nemenzo was seen as the front-runner, especially as the faculty, student, and staff regents, as well as Regent Raul Pagdanganan, promised to vote for Nemenzo. This would have required him to get just two more votes.
Mon Sy, spokesperson for CONTEND-UP, slammed the “undemocratic” BOR for once again not heeding the voice of its community.
A member of the Upsilon Sigma Phi fraternity and current executive director of the UP Bonifacio Global City campus, Vistan will be the first chancellor from the UP College of Law.
According to his vision paper when he ran for the chancellorship, Vistan promised to “nurture students” public service capability” and to promote a “consultative leadership.”