Dr. Rex Divinagracia Drilon was born in Dumangas, Iloilo, on April 21, 1905. He spent the greater part of his childhood in his hometown where he also received his early education. He finished his secondary education and Associate in Art (pre-Law), with honors, at Central Philippine College, Iloilo City in 1925 and 1927 respectively.

Through a scholarship, he was able to study abroad. He obtained his Bachelor of Arts (English) at Linfield College, McMinnville, Oregon in 1931 and a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Master of Arts (Editorial Writing) degree at the University of Missouri in 1937. He was officially approved as matriculated candidate for the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree at Columbia University in 1949. In 1967, Prof. Drilon was conferred the degree Doctor of Humane Letters (L.H.D.), honoris causa, by Linfield College, his Alma Mater.

Dr. Drilon was a high school teacher in English from 1927 to 1929. Abroad in 1936, after graduation, he taught Editorial Writing at the University of Missouri, School of Journalism for one semester. When he came back to the Philippines, he became an English instructor at Central Philippine College in 1938-1939 and, later, a professor of English at the National Teachers College and Lacson College (Manila) in 1939 up to the outbreak of World War II in December 1941. In 1941, he was professor-lecturer of Know-Your-Philippines-Tours, Inc., teaching freshmen English, Composition and Rhetoric and Journalism, and adviser of the Manila Chapter of CPC Alumni Association. In 1960, aside from being designated as the assistant professor of Political Science, he was also the acting secretary to the President of the University of the Philippines.

As a writer, he served various positions exercising his God-given talent, such as editor, Filipino Pilgrim Magazine, Delano California (1932-33); editor, Filipino Students’ Bulletin, New York city (1936); editorial writer, Columbia Missourian (1936-1937); staff, Manila Daily Bulletin (1941); and co-editor, Teachers’ College Journal.

During the war, Prof. Drilon was an officer of the Panay Guerilla Movement. After the war, he resumed his academic work as a faculty in Central Philippine College and on one of his messages, he prophetically declared, “Out of the ruins and ashes of war shall rise a greater Central!” In response, Centralians declared, “We shall show the generations coming after us that no war of man or machine can destroy the Central Spirit and that, like a river forever seeking the ocean, the College must go on… no matter what the difficulties… The martyrs did not die in vain at Hopevale, for we now keep the torch of their vision burning…We must all keep that faith.”

In 1946-1948, he was designated dean of the College of Arts and Sciences; head of the Departments of English, Journalism and Philosophy; director of Summer School; and adviser of the Central Echo Staff. It was in this period that his students would lovingly remember him as “a journalist from Missouri who walks with a busy man’s heavy tread, keeps a thesaurus in his head, and exhibits a mood as stable as the waves, and does not want to be called ‘Resurreccion.’” In 1952-1953, he continued to be a member of the faculty teaching English, Political Science, Philosophy and Sociology and staff-editor of the Alumni Newsletter.

From 1952-1955, he was elected executive secretary of the CPU Alumni Association. He was appointed director of Summer School in 1953, and officer of Public Relations in 1954-56. In the school year 1955-1956, he was designated professor of Political Science. His career in CPU reached its peak when he was appointed as its President in June 1, 1966. During his presidency, he also served as acting dean of the College of Theology in 1968.

On June 1, 1966, President Rex D. Drilon signed the contract, making him the first Filipino President for the 61-year-old Central Philippine University. That historical moment was witnessed by members of the Administrative Staff and Board of Trustees. His installation into office on April 21, 1967 was administered by then Philippine President, Ferdinand E. Marcos. A 50-voiced choir sang “This Nation Will Be Great Again” with lyrics written by Rex Drilon himself and music composed by Frederick E. Bieler.

During his presidency, on Christmas day, December 25, 1969, the entire university property—land, buildings, and equipment—was turned over by the American Baptist Foreign Mission Society (ABFMS) to the Filipino Corporation of Central Philippine University. “This was the largest real estate transfer in the history of ABFMS… The deed of donation earned for itself the distinction of being an event without parallel in the history of religious foreign missions. The ABMFS is the first such religious foreign mission to award Filipino title to its properties in the Philippines.”

“A great Central” was the vision of Rex D. Drilon, his all-consuming passion. When he became President in 1966, it was a turn of a new era characterized by political and social unrest throughout the land. Despite all the tumult, he nourished his vision and held it high as light in the darkness, urging the Board of Trustees, faculty, students, alumni, and friends with the imperative, “We shall move this school as it has never been moved before. Central will be great.” Rex Drilon brought to the Presidency an unparalleled combined acumen of an educator, administrator, and humanitarian. He was a topflight journalist and political scientist with very strong libertarian and nationalist fervor. He accepted the prestigious yet difficult position prepared with a wealth of administrative experience gained from the places of responsibility he occupied in Central Philippine College and in the University of the Philippines.

President Drilon took to his task keenly aware of the role his administration had to play: that of a bridge between the years of American leadership and support since the founding of the school in 1905 and the unknown future. He very well knew that the success or failure of the university would be his responsibility and that of his Filipino colleagues. In his inaugural address, he appealed for support. In conclusion he said, “If your Filipino president fails, then the Filipino name is marked forever. But if your Filipino president succeeds with your help, with your loyalty, then the Filipino name shall be honored—you honor yourselves.”

A staunch advocate of academic freedom, he organized the University Forum where students and faculty could experience what he termed “a free market of ideas.” He allowed students to speak their minds with “no holds barred” and encouraged the students to write and express themselves in the Central Echo on university policies and student problems as well as on problems of the local and national governments. He was a humanitarian of the highest water, a champion of the less privileged and the underdog, but a thorn in the flesh of the arrogant and the sanctimonious and those who would betray the Central Spirit. In Scientia et Fides, The Story of Central Philippine University by Nelson and Herradura, Rex Drilon is dubbed the “epitome of the Central Spirit.”

Dr. Rex D. Drilon died a sudden death in the morning of February 21, 1971. Loved and mourned by thousands, he was brought to his final resting place at the Evangelical Garden by a procession of thousands of students, faculty and staff, friends, and admirers—seen as one of the longest ever witnessed in Jaro.

President Drilon is survived by his wife, Independencia Quimpo, and children: Ed Nathan, Lincoln Rex, and Pearl Dency.

As a final tribute to their first Filipino president, the university bestowed upon Dr. Rex Drilon the Distinguished Service Award, which was presented to Mrs. Independencia Q. Drilon during the 1971 Commencement Exercises. On March 22, 2002, CPU also bestowed a Posthumous Service Award for his faithful and dedicated service.

Rex D. Drilon is remembered in the history of Central Philippine University as the fulfillment of the dream of his predecessors—the Filipinization of administrative leadership. He is cherished in the hearts of thousands he touched with his compassionate life—students, faculty, colleagues, and friends, and, most especially, janitors and laborers for whom he had a soft spot in his heart.