DAGUPAN CITY — After 75 years, a Pangasinense was finally elected president of the Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities, the country’s oldest and largest association of private schools.

Dr. Gonzalo Duque, president of the Lyceum-Northwestern University here, was chosen president by the 21-member board of directors during PACU’s organizational meeting in Manila last July 21.

The board was earlier elected at large by its more than 160 member-schools.

“I am humbled by my election as president,” Duque, brother of Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, said.

“I know that this is a challenging job and I can only humbly ask our members and officers to support our programs to make PACU more responsive to the interest of its members in providing quality education to the people,” Duque said.

PACU was organized in 1932 after a group of private schools then saw the need “for closer supervision and regulation amidst the proliferation of diploma mills.”

Among its founders were then Sen. Camilo Osias, Justice Jose Abad-Santos, Dr. Nicanor Reyes Sr., Francisca Tirona-Benitez, Jose Fabella and Mariano de los Santos.

In the late 1960’s, the first Pangasinense to occupy a position in PACU was the late Luis Samson Sr., who was then president of the Luzon Colleges (now University of Luzon), when he was elected member of the board of directors.

Duque served twice as PACU’s first vice president since his involvement in the organization in 2005.

Cebu Rep. Eduardo Gullas, president of the University of Visayas, described Duque’s election as “unprecedented, historic and unequaled.”

In congratulating Dr. Duque, Engr. MacArthur Samson, president of the University of Luzon, said Duque’s victory will make the voices of the provincial and regional schools heard by the country’s policy makers and resound in the corridors of power.

Angeles University Foundation Chancellor Dr. Emmanuel Angeles said that with Duque’s election, he was certain that PACU will “experience a lot of reforms and changes.”

Angeles has elevated Duque as co-chair of the Private Schools Athletic Association after the “successful and unprecedented” hosting of the PRISAA national athletic meet in Pangasinan last year.

Former PACU president Dr. Virgilo delos Santos said that Duque’s election augurs well for the association so that he can respond to the challenges ahead.

Other elected PACU officers were: Dr. Emily deLeon (University of Manila), first vice president, Dr. Ricardo Pama (Angeles University Foundation), second vice president, Dr. Ramon Cercado (Perpetual Help College of Manila), secretary, and Dr. Edison Chua (Asian Development Foundation College), treasurer.

Elected members of the board of directors were: Dr. Vincent Fabella (Jose Rizal University), Dr. Lydia Echauz (Far Eastern University), Dr. Reynaldo Vea (Mapua Institute of Technology), Dr. Eric Olivarez (Olivarez College), Dr. Juliet Santos (Our Lady of Fatima University), Fr. Ernesto Arceo (University of Sto. Tomas), Dr. Ester Garcia (University of the East).

Dr. Carlo Villanueva (Naga College Foundation), Dr. Romeo Padilla (Pangasinan College of Science and Technology), Atty. Augusto Go (University of Cebu), Atty. David Tirol (University of Bohol), Rep. Eduardo Gullas (University of Visayas), Dr. Guillermo Torres (University of Mindanao), Atty. Casimiro Juarez Jr. (Capitol University), Dr. Josefina Paloma (Northeastern Mindanao College), and Francisco Matugas  (Siargao Island Institute of  Technology).

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