Tonight, as we gather to celebrate the extraordinary life of our dear friend and colleague, Dodong Nemenzo, my heart is heavy, but also filled with gratitude for the privilege of having known him. Dodong’s life has been a testament to courage, conviction, and the unwavering commitment to making the world a better place. He was a man of uncommon intellect, boundless curiosity, and a heart that never stopped caring for others, particularly for the provincianos like him who came to UP to study, and the many victims of power who have been persecuted because of their beliefs.

Until his final weeks, when he began to drift in and out of semi-consciousness, Dodong’s determination to live remained unshaken. He was quietly hoping to make one final rebound so he could mark his 90^th birthday with the launch of his book of unpublished essays. Together with Princess and Fidel, he had meticulously selected the pieces that would make up the book. Jojo Abinales, who had come home from his teaching post in the University of Hawaii, took time to organize them into a coherent volume, and wrote the introduction. And I was honored to write the preface.

Unfortunately, Dodong’s health took a turn before he could see the actual printed copy of his book. Though we had witnessed many years before, his remarkable recovery from a similar prolonged and debilitating coma, this time was different. He seemed in pain as his body progressively weakened. He could barely make himself understood whenever he tried to say something. Yet, his spirit was unbroken, and his sense of humor was palpable, and we continued to hope that he might still make it to that milestone day in February next year.

I want to share with you a glimpse of Dodong’s essence as I tried to capture it in the preface that I wrote for his book—words that I know were read to him, shortly before his final days. I am very much aware that tonight we have a long list of speakers. And so I will keep this very short.

Dodong, as we all know, was a man driven by a profound belief in radical transformation. His empathy for acts of defiance and resistance to authority was almost instinctive, born from a deep connection to the struggles of those who dare to challenge authority and dogma. He admired courage and daring in all its forms, especially when it came from those who stood boldly against established norms. Rebels and mavericks, including those so-called nuisance candidates who dared to run for president —those who dared to imagine a different world—found in Dodong a kindred soul.

Despite his sharp intellect and revolutionary spirit, Dodong never sought to impose his will on others. Instead, he listened, understood, and engaged, with an openness that disarmed even his staunchest critics. He thrived in roles that seemed, at first glance, at odds with his nature. As dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, as chancellor of UP Visayas, and later as UP president, he balanced his ideals and contrarian streak with the responsibilities of administrative leadership, without ever compromising his integrity.

Dodong’s ability to embrace contradictions set him apart from other intellectuals of his generation. He delighted in the complexity of human relationships and ideas. It was this quality that allowed him to connect with all kinds of people, including those whom he might have seen as “class enemies.” His charming simplicity, openness, and humanity were his greatest strengths, shielding him from the seductions of power and privilege.

In 1976, just after his release from Marcos’ prison, Dodong’s election as dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at UP Diliman was both surprising and inspiring. Despite, or precisely because of, the authoritarian atmosphere that prevailed under Martial Law, he championed academic freedom, collegiality, and participatory democracy. As CAS dean, he introduced and supported programs that reflected his vision: the Extramural Studies Program, which brought the latest knowledge to educators in other institutions of higher learning across the country; the Folklore Studies Program, which celebrated the wisdom embedded in our indigenous oral traditions; and the Third World Studies Program, which provided a critical lens to examine the struggles and aspirations of post-colonial nations. Each of these initiatives bore his signature—a bold, innovative approach to education.

When he became UP President decades later, Dodong’s passion for intellectual renewal remained undiminished. He reimagined the university’s General Education Program, challenging the faculty to design courses that would inspire young minds and prepare them for a world of rapid change. He was one of the first professors to embrace digital technology, seeing in the desktop computer and the internet the promise of democratization on a world scale, rather than as the tools of domination and monopoly power they now threaten to become. His vision was to create spaces where ideas could flourish endlessly, and change lives.

Yet, for all his administrative achievements, Dodong felt most at home in the classroom. Teaching was his greatest joy. He preferred the vibrant energy of first-year undergraduates to the quiet precision of graduate seminars. Through his classes on Marx, Machiavelli, Lenin, and Luxemburg, he ignited a passion for critical thought and lifelong learning in his students. Many of those who attended his classes went on to become scholars, activists, and independent thinkers in their own right, carrying forward the lessons in critical contrarianism and intellectual creativity they imbibed from him.

On a personal note, I will always cherish the advice he gave me when I left for England in 1969 to pursue my studies at the same University of Manchester, where he had completed his PhD a decade earlier. He told me to look for a graduate supervisor who could be, as Dodong uniquely put it, a “brother, philosopher, and friend.” While I did not find anyone in England who could embody all those roles, I found their perfect personification in Dodong when I came home. Over the past five decades, he became my guide, my confidant, and lifelong partner-in-crime in countless academic and political adventures.

He once said, “Great professors do not fade away. They remain in the memory of grateful students.” Tonight, we remember Dodong not just as a professor and academic leader, but as a mentor, a colleague, and a true friend. His wisdom, humor, and humanity touched everyone he met. We are all his students, forever grateful for the lessons he imparted, and the example he set.

Dong, your life was a gift to us all. You taught us what it is like to think independently, to act boldly, and to live with purpose. We mourn your passing, but we celebrate the rich legacy you leave behind. Thank you for everything. Rest in peace, my dearest friend.

Randy David