By Cyrus A. Natividad

 Stuart Hall, one of the oldest buildings in the university, is the present main headquarters of the CPU Republic.

Upon the declaration of Martial Law by the late President Ferdinand E. Marcos on September 21, 1972, the first established student government in South East Asia, known until this time as the CPU Republic (CPUR), was suspended along with other student organizations in the country.

Along with prominent political figures, some student leaders were arrested, incarcerated, or held for questioning. As the death of campus freedom loomed on the dark horizon, student leaders vowed for a bright tomorrow – when CPU Republic will live again with dignity and pride.

In 1983, with the assassination of Senator Benigno Aquino, Jr, martial law was lifted; giving hope for the return of student governments throughout the country. A new day shone brightly on campuses.

An air of celebration was felt in CPU and other universities in Iloilo. The rebirth of the CPU Republic after a decade came as an opportune time for young, hopeful student leaders on the campus.

In no time, the CPUR election was scheduled with three political parties approved to run with a slate for office, in coordination with the administration’s COMELEC (ad hoc) Committee.

The Alliance of Democratic Students (ADS) the United Students Party (USP) and the Partido ng Mag-aaral at Sambayanan (PANGMASA) were given two weeks to campaign.

The campus-wide rallies, flyers, sackcloth streamers, and scrap paper buntings – tied between the anahaw and acacia trees around the big field stayed as colorful mementos in our minds from some 38 years ago today.

The Partido ng Mag-aaral at Sambayanan won the CPUR Presidency. Seven of its senatorial candidates also won. Gerardo “Gerry” Sonalan (CPU Electrical Engineering) became the student Republic President during the rebirth of the CPUR.

The CPUR election 2021 reinforces the spirit of leadership and value formation in the students and the youth. We shall look forward to greater cooperation and success – with the new CPUR organization, CPU Administration, Faculty, Staff and students.