It owed its foundation to the charitable zeal of Juan Gerónimo
Guerrero, who in the year 1630 dedicated himself to gathering orphan
boys, to whom he taught reading and writing and the Christian doctrine,
paying for their support and clothing from the abundant alms with
"which the citizens of Manila aided him." This institution was
recommended to the supreme Council of the Indias by the government
of these islands, and later his Majesty recommended it to Governors
Fajardo and Corcuera. Before dying, the aged Guerrero took the habit
as lay-brother in [the convent of] Santo Domingo, and made that order
a formal bequest of his advanced charitable work. Later it was erected
into a college and received under the royal protection, his Majesty
conceding it some encomiendas, or annuities for its support. At
present it maintains at its own cost twenty-one Spanish orphan lads,
with the 600 pesos to which amounts the product of the annuities which
are collected from the alcalde-mayor of Pangasinan by a Dominican
religious. It also receives Indian and mestizo collegiates who pay
fifty pesos per year apiece for their support. Their number is not
fixed. Under the title of sacristan, porters, librarians, and other
mechanical trades, there are various people who pay nothing. Their
studies are carried on in the university of Santo Tomás, except
that of grammar. At the present time this college has 239 students,
counting orphans, capistas and others.