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 when 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.”

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.

Other elected PACU officers were: Dr. Emily de Leon (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.