By Krisvimar Nogra – BA COMM 4, Centralian Link Intern
Elaisha Pomida announced as an official awardee for TOSIA 2026 (Photo Credits: TOSIA – The Top Outstanding Students of Iloilo Awards)
The voice of Elaisha Pomida is not unknown to the Centralian community. At times of extreme heat, she reminds individuals inside the campus to hydrate, and her prowess in hosting has granted her opportunities to serve as emcee for several events at the Rose Memorial Auditorium. As the reigning Miss Central Philippine University 2025 and previously hailed as the Centralian Idol 2024, her impact has remained undeniable in cementing her place as an excellent representative of the university.
Serving as the Vice President of the CPU Communication Circle, Elaisha devotes her time to collaborate with her officers and pursue meaningful initiatives to carry advocacies in events that their academic organization undertakes. In the recently concluded SIGRAB Film Festival, she served as the Programs Director.
All while juggling her academic commitments as a consistent Dean’s Lister, duties as CPU Communication Circle Vice President and SIGRAB Film Festival 2026 Programs Director, she took on another leap of faith as she applied for the Top Outstanding Students of Iloilo Awards 2026, hosted by JCI Regatta. After the rigorous process of document submissions, essay writing and interview rounds, Pomida was announced as an official awardee on April 11, 2026, making her one of the few individuals to earn the distinction twice, as she was previously awarded during her High School tenure.
Reflecting on her journey of being a TOSIA Awardee for the second time, Ms. CPU 2025 shares her initial doubts on sending in her application. “I was personally very hesitant to apply for [Top Outstanding Students of Iloilo Awards] the second time because I know that now in college, my run isn’t the same as it was in high school. However, it is because of all the people who continue to believe in me, who believe in me fiercely, that I’ve decided to apply for TOSIA. To be honest, I’m applying not for myself, but to really carry all of these people with me and really to send a message out there that maybe [in] the little things that we do, the sincere and little actions that we do everyday, through the things that we love, [it] is enough to start and spark a difference in our communities,” says Elaisha.
As a Communication student and a sociable individual, Pomida shares that one of the best memories she recalls in the journey thus far are the chances to bond with fellow student leaders and change providers through the events organized by the award-giving body.
“So far, I genuinely loved meeting and creating friendships with all our fellow TOSIA awardees. As of now, we’ve already had our TOSIA Advocacy Jam, TOSIA Bootcamp, and all of these different experiences allowed me to really create and form bonds with all of these amazing people. And truly, it’s just so heartwarming to really experience how we all have similar stories, we all go through the [similar] things, and it’s comforting to know that we have people that understand us and also form friendships with them.”
Pomida as a TOSIA 2019 – Junior High School Category awardee (Photo credits: TOSIA – The Top Outstanding Students of Iloilo Awards)
Extending her gratitude to her support system, Pomida listed names that boosted her during her TOSIA journey. “You guys are everything to me, to be honest. I had so many doubts when I was applying. I was talking to so many people saying that ‘I know I couldn’t do this’ or ‘I think I couldn’t do this,’ ‘I don’t deserve this.’ But then being outstanding takes a village and this support system, these amazing people… my mom, my dad, Miguel, Kuya Anton, Krisvimar, Mitch, to all of my friends, Pastor Alfred — all of these people have fiercely believed in me and this is bigger than myself, bigger than everything I’m doing, but it’s also to honor all of these people. This is all for you,” Elaisha expressed.
As an Ate to some, Elaisha hopes to inspire the younger generation in her path to become an efficient community servant through her craft as a local singer/songwriter. In her message to future TOSIA aspirants, the 23-year-old multi-hyphenated student leader gives important advice to those who plan to apply for the same award.
“I believe that with the nature of how competitive TOSIA is, it is very easy to do things for the sake of building a very strong portfolio. But I would really like to let everyone know, as someone who has been in TOSIA in Junior High School and in college, that TOSIA sees the sincerity and the authenticity of everything that you do. And at the end of the day, this is bigger than the awards itself. The awards are just here to give recognition to the things that we have done, as well as continue to motivate you further and develop you further through this journey as student leaders and as community servants. But at the end of the day, what we do and how we do them and for who these things are for, will always be the most important thing, so I really urge everyone to who aspire to be TOSIA aspirants; do not think about your portfolio but rather continue to do the things that you love doing and continue to put your heart into it, so that all that you do has an impact, even the smallest in our communities and society.”
Pomida is one of two Centralians that will conclude their TOSIA 2026 journeys on May 30, 2026 as they receive their distinctions as Top Outstanding Students in Iloilo Awardees. Furthermore, Elaisha is set to graduate the next day, May 31, 2026, acquiring her undergraduate degree in Communication.