By Karren Jay G. Asgar

Ms. CPU 2024 Stella Maris Lapay and Mr. CPU 2024 Hans Gabriel Daduya.

Centralian Fest update – Both contenders from the College of Engineering, Hans Gabriel Daduya and Stella Maris Lapay, won the Mr. and Ms. CPU 2024 titles at the Rose Memorial Auditorium on April 17, 2024.

Ms. CPU 2024 Stella Maris Lapay also bagged the award of Best in Talent, while Hans Gabriel Daduya, aside from the Mr. CPU title, also won awards for Best in Casual Wear, Best in Interview, and The Face of 2024.

For the final interview, finalists were asked about what they think are the causes of why people kill each other in relation to the wars that have recently erupted in many parts of the world.

“I believe what causes wars and problems in all humanity is greed. Greed is the reason why we want to aspire for personal gain. We’re trying to bring other people down. I believe that the current issue in Israel and Palestine is the perfect example of this, where greed for natural resources and political power causes harm to victims and innocent civilians like the women and children. I believe that if we try to aspire for change—we try to replace it with empathy over greed, I believe that we achieve a much more peaceful and loving society where war no longer exists, and we can only love one another.” Mr. CPU 2024 Hans Gabriel Daduya winning answer during the said interview.

On the other hand, in response to the question above, Ms. CPU 2024 Stella Maris Lapay passionately conveyed, “Growing up my parents have never failed to teach me how gratitude can make us good people. And with that, I believe that in order to make peace and to end war, we must lose our greed—the greed for power, the greed for money, the greed for everything. Because without greed, we can be empathetic to people, we can embrace our differences, and we could be grateful for what we have in our lives.”

The first runners-up, Zian Christian Lirazan from the College of Nursing and Monica Vienne Centena from the College of Business & Accountancy, were crowned Mr. and Ms. CPUR 2024. While 2nd runners-up, Sky Caldeo from the College of Business & Accountancy and Colette Dale Modesto from the College of Education were crowned as Mr. and Ms. University Day 2024.

The search for Mr. and Ms. CPU is one of the most anticipated events during the University Day Celebration.