Tag Archive | PANGMASA

Student Independent Democratic Party – History of CPU Republic (1988-1990)

central philippine university republic

At first, the Independents thought that their entry in the CPUR political arena was only transitory. But their noble cause became the ideals of the next line of leaders both those we were and were not involved in the movement.

Gape-Corvera Administration (1988-1989)

Thus, Peter Gape who was a senator in the Salido-Plotria administration and Jonan Castillon, Salido’s executive secretary organized the Student Independent Democratic Party or SIDP. The party maintained the slogan, “I am Independent! I am Free to Serve!” to remind SIDP leaders to work for the interest of the students and not for the party.

Peter Gape, then a senior Political Science student became the standard bearer of the SIDP in the SY 1988-89 CPUR elections. Peter Corvera of the College of Commerce and Accountancy ran as Gape’s Vice President. Both won the CPUR top posts.

Gape who became popular in the campus for his oratorical skills and the former Red-Cross Youth chairperson did not have a hard time campaigning. He reaped what the “Independents”, the forerunner of SIDP had sown—a dynamic CPUR.

Gape’s greatest achievement was the installation of the electronic bell which plays “Central, My Central” during class period. Gape commmissioned Silverio Navarro, a fifth year electrical engineering student to design the electronic bell.

During his term, Gape was able to work out the establishment of a cheaper XEROX copying services, which was then located at the old library building. He initiated the establishment of the CPU postal station.

Perhaps, the House of Senate made a very unique move in the history of CPUR when it elected Artchil Fernandez as Senate President.

Ten SIDP senators dominated the 12-member Senate. Making true the SIDP principle to work for the interest of the students, the Senate elected Mr. Fernandez because he was the most experienced and qualified among the group.

Gensaya-Palabrica Administration (1989-1990)

The SY 1989-1990 marked the third year of the SIDP in CPUR as Joseph Gensaya became the next CPUR president.

Gensaya tried his best to work for a good CPUR. Despite the perception that he had very weak cabinet members, Gensaya was able to come up with significant achievements.

CPUR participated in the establishment of the CPU Postal Station. Senator Brenda Guevarra (SIDP) donated uniforms for the CPU Band.

The CPU Radio Station Proposal

Gensaya with the assistance of Senator Gilbert Longno (SIDP-Engineering) worked out the feasibility of setting up a radio station owned and managed by CPU.

Many students scoffed upon the idea of a CPU radion staion. They thought that Gensaya’s promise would be realized within a year.

[note note_color=”#ffd566″]NOTE: This account is not complete. Former CPU Republic officials are encouraged to provide additional information. Thank you very much.[/note]





Accomplishments of Salido and Plotria (1987-88)

The accomplishments of the Salido and Plotria administration were:

  3. Putting up of the basketball court lights;
  4. Repair of the waiting shed near the first gate;
  5. Electric fans for the province of engineering; and


  • painting of the Engineering building;
  • fifteen additional stools for the engineering drawing room;
  • installation of electric fans at Franklin dormitory’s study area; and









The Reign of the Independents/SIDP (1987-1990) – History of the Revived CPUR and the Emergence of the Student Independent Democratic Party

The Reign of the Independents/SIDP (1987-1990)

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Independent candidates during their miting-de-avance parade in 1988.

The decision to boycott the school year 1986-87 election created disillusionment to some members of the USP.  According to them, they were not consulted about the party’s decision.  They said that only top USP officials made the decision whose pride in the “Constitution” issue was affected.

Meanwhile, some idealistic members of the Koalisyon were becoming restless because of the party’s failure to implement programs, which would make leadership impression to the studentry.

The polarization of the CPUR between USP and Koalisyon which deviated the CPUR from a real pro-student government, the failure of both parties to work in unity prompted other leaders both members and non-members of the two political parties to search for an alternative.

Right after the election in 1986, Val Salido, consistent honor student in the College of Engineering was challed by a classmate to make initial plans to organize an alternative group.

Salido was a former CPUR senator (USP) in 1984.  He and the classmate discussed their visions of a true pro-student CPUR.  They plotted palns for the SY 1987-88 CPUR election.

Immediately, the thought of forming a new party emerged.  However, the two realized that forming a party would not be a good solution because they perceived that the students might have negative impressions on political parties based on the present party polarization in the CPUR.

Later, Val Salido, Ryan Comuelo, a high school classmate; and the engineering student leader conceived the idea that instead of forming a party, candidates for all positions would be recruited.  They will be instructed to file their candidacy as independents.

This concept was later echoed to Rico Plotria, a classmate in college and in high school.  Plotria was a popular leader in the College of Engineering.  At that time, the Koalisyon as their next presidential bet was eyeing Rico Plotria.

In SY 1987-88, while the “independent concept” was silently being worked out by Salido, Plotria and their supporters, another group under the leadership of Roy Fajutrao, Jojie Roy Juarez, and David Mark Dominado who incidentally were high school classmates of Salido and Plotria, organize a party.

John Roldan, a fifth year EE student and the chairperson of the Work Student Organization became the standard bearer of this party known as the New Student Alliance. (NSA later became the Democratic Student Alliance).

Meanwhile, Koalisyon, the ruling party was preparing for the year’s election and with hopes to again capture the presidency.  However, the party’s popularity was at the ebb because most of the students were dissatisfied with the current CPUR leadership.

The students’ cry for a change in leadership was proven true when at the prelude of the election Koalisyon could not come up with a strong national and provincial line-up of candidates. Some of their leaders in the colleges who were Salido and Plotria’s batch in high school and whom they were counting on to recruit candidates defect to the Independents.

In the college of engineering, the Phi Beta Epsilon Fraternity, which was a PANGMASA and later Koalisyon’s avid follower, shifted its loyalty to the Independent’s cause.  Val Salido is a member of the fraternity.

To further strengthen the independent support in the college of engineering, Salido forged union with the Gamma Rho Upsilon, also an engineering-based fraternity.  In due time, Koalisyon’s machinery broke down with College of Theology as the only supporting college left.

As the deadline for application of candidacy drew nearer, the remnants of loyal USP leaders made a last effort to establish their presence and participation in the election by circulating printed statemen, “encouraging all USP candidates to run as independents”.  However, Amparo Barroma, another high school classmate of Salido and Plotria refrained from distributing such classmates as it would affect the “independent” stand of the group.

The slogan of the independent candidates was “I am Independent! I am free to serve!”.  In the election, all “Independent” candidates, except a candidate for representative in high school won the election.

Thus, for the first time in history of the CPU Republic a landslide victory was achieved not by a party but by a group of Independent candidates.




History of the Revived CPUR and the Emergence of the Student Independent Democratic Party (1982-1990) – The KOALISYON Administration

The KOALISYON Administration (1982-1984)

Central Philippine University Republic

As the next school year 1984-85 opened, the CPUR witnesses an event which was the first ever in the CPU Republic’s history—two parties coalesced to form a new party. The PANGMASA and the Alliance of Democratic Students joined and the party Koalisyon ng Demokratikong Mag-aaral para sa Sambayana emerged.

As described by Sherlito Deduro (Vice President 1984-85) in his article, “Koalisyon ng Demokratikong Mag-aaral para sa Sambayanan”, the moderation and militancy which characterized ADS and PANGMASA, respectively became the weapons of the KOALISYONin answer to the chaos which characterized the national government.

On the other hand, student political observers interpreted that one reason for the ADS-PANGMASA union was that the two parties felt weak against USP standard bearer Vitini Idemne who was the No. 1 senator in the previous year.

Having given no hand in the decision-making process, the ADS-PANGMASA coalition resulted into the division of the high school ADS leaders. Some were recruited by the USP while other went to the KOALISYON.

The split of the high school ADS was significant for they were the batch of leaders who became strong contenders for higher CPUR positions under their respective parties in their college years.

Among these leaders were Rico Plotria and Val Salido, who became a KOALISYON and USP, respectively. They later reunited in 1987 to lead the group of independents to a landslide victory.

The De la Fuente Administration

Perhaps the time when CPUR became the most active student government in Iloilo was during the presidency of Manuel de la Fuente (KOALISYON). Mr. De la Fuente was a student of the College of Theology.

It was the height of student demonstration against the Marcos regime and campus affairs focused mainly on national issues. It was the period when the legislative and the executive often met jointly and the active participation of the adviser, Atty. Jane Harder was observed.

The de la Fuente Administration’s general program of action of “sponsoring symposia, for dialogues, workshops, and other forms of discussion on critical issues” gave both the students and the Administration a very unforgettable year.

The accomplishments of the de la Fuente administration were the revival of Central Echo, which publication stopped for one semester. Their demand to purchase a good quality public address system was granted by the Administration.

Other accomplishments are as follows: readjustment of the sixth gate’s schedule for the students’ convenience, the creation of the student organization federation, and the adjustment in the hourly rate of the work student in proportion with the tuition fee increase.

Glenn Campañera, an engineering student headed the CPUR in SY 1985-86. A reticent type and very reserve person, Campañera was in a way opposite to de la Fuente’s personality.

Although for the succeeding years the Koalisyon party had succeeded in getting the top leadership, the USP had the majority of the legislative department. At this period, the CPUR had become a field of heated arguments and walkouts due to party interests.

This created prejudices between the Koalisyon and USP elected officials. The USP, which dominated the legislation branch, would not approve legislation by the Koalisyon and later, the USP dominated legislative will pass legislation with almost the same idea or provision authored by the USP.

The Campañera administration

It was during Campañera’s incumbency when the “Constitution” issue emerged. The congress had already approved a draft constitution. Immediately, ratification procedures followed.

Campañera being the chief executive facilitated the ratification in which the “yes” votes for the constitution won. However, the CPUR president did not approve the ratification. He passed a declaration, which stated that the constitution was not validly ratified.

One of the reasons was the low percentage of votes. The USP members in the CPUR headed by Senator Felice Garingalao, who was the Chairperson of the Constitutional Commission were not amenable to Campañera’s move.

The Upper House subjected the CPUR President’s decision into several debates. Protest was filed with the SOC. The complaint was deliberated until the next school year 1986-87.

Whether or not Campañera’s move was a political maneuver (as top level USP officials thought), being the president, he has the power to veto any legislative initiative with valid grounds. However, the USP leaders claimed that Campañera’s move was to prevent the USP from crediting to their accomplishments the “duly ratified” constitution.

The Campañera administration was able to conduct routine CPUR activities such as during the University Day, CPUR sponsored shows and symposiums.

The Baldago administration

Because of the “Constitution” issue, the USP boycotted the SY 1986-87 election and thus, Roosevelt Baldago of the college of commerce came out victorious with the rest of the Koalisyon candidate running unchallenged.

Koalisyon described the boycott option by the USP candidates as a “political suicide”. This was proven true for in succeeding y ears, the USP never recovered and was lost in the CPUR political arena.

Baldago’s one party administration was expected by most students to perform well because all officers of CPUR were Koalisyon party members. CPUR activities focused mainly on routine activities such as during University Days, CPUR sponsored shows and others. The students’ hope for a wholesome CPUR year did not materialize. The idealism of Koalisyon party failed to be manifested in a one-party administration.

Indeed, student activism, which was observed during the De la Fuente administration, waned. This could be attributed to the change in the political climate of the national government. School year 1986-87 was the year when the EDSA revolution occurred and the air of freedom it brought was very fresh in every student’s mind.




CPUR Elections The imposition of martial law in 1972 suspended the annual establishment of the CPU Republic. The purpose in which the student republic was created in 1906, to educate the Filipino people in the democratic form of government, was temporarily disturbed as the clout of martial rule curtailed the liberties of the Filipino people.

When martial law was lifted in 1981, there were immediate moves to revive the oldest student republic in the country. The Student Organization Committee (SOC) announced the revival of the CPUR. The SOC encouraged the students to organize themselves into parties and have their parties accredited.

In answer to the SOC’s bidding, three parties applied and were recognized. They were the PANGMASA, Alliance of Democratic Students (ADS), and the United Students Party (USP).

In preparation for election, President Pulido together with the SOC gathered the student representatives from participating parties. The meeting paved way for the revision of the pre-martial law CPUR constitution.

The group adapted it for election purposes only. Here, the constitution was transitory in nature because the group agreed that the adapted constitution should be used until the elected CPUR officials could facilitate a duly ratified constitution.

The history of the revived CPUR could be divided chronologically in three regimes.

The PANGMASA party, which ruled from 1982-1984; the Koalisyon party in 1984-1987; and the Independents/Student Independent Democratic Party (SIDP) in 1987-1990.

The PANGMASA Administration (1982-1984)

The first president of the revived CPUR was an engineering student named Gerardo Sonalan of the PANGMASA party. His administration was strongly supported by the engineering student leaders. His administration could be considered as very militant because it immediately provided a venue for student sentiments on various national issues.

It was during his time when the Central Echo, the official student paper of CPU was revived. Four senators led by Senator Vitini Edhard Idemne (USP) pushed for the revival of the Central Echo. Sonalan tried to assert for an autonomous Central Echo but the group agreed to the guidelines that there will be advisorship by the administration.

The next PANGMASA president was Gualberto Cataluña, a law student. He finished an engineering baccalaureate degree in CPU also. His candidacy could be considered controversial because of the issue on grade requirement.

The SOC requires a 2.0 average grade for every student who files his/her candidacy. However, Cataluña whose grades fell below 2.0 appealed directly to President Pulido for reconsideration. The administration overruled the SOC’s decision to uphold 2.0 grade requirement. The decision allowed Cataluña to proceed with his bid for the CPUR presidency.

This decision resulted into the resignation of some SOC members. The other parties, ADS and USP did not react strongly on this issue as observed by SOC member (later Chairperson) Dr. Johnny Gumban.

During his term, Cataluña was able to provide benches in several areas in the campus. Concrete benches bearing the inscription CPUR 1983-84 could still be seen along half-moon drive, central and acacia roads, and University Church drive.

