Public instruction is sufficiently far advanced in Filipinas,
especially in what refers to primary instruction.
It is strange to see that in the most remote villages, the majority of
the Indians know how to read and even to write, having learned without
teachers, and solely through the strength of their inclination and
extraordinary patience.
The public schools are better organized today, and have in charge of
them teachers who have graduated from the normal school of Manila. It
cannot fail to be worthy of striking the attention that almost all
the boys and girls who attend the schools read Spanish without
understanding it, and write our language by drawing the letters
materially.
Secondary education is studied in the college of San Juan de Letrán,
created into an institute in 1820, in that of Santo Tomás, in charge
of the Dominican fathers; in the Ateneo Municipal, under the direction
of the Jesuits; in the college of San José, directed by the secular
clergy; and in various private schools.
Superior branches are studied in the royal and pontifical university of
Santo Tomás, of Manila, founded at the beginning of the seventeenth
century. It was erected under the name of College of Santo Tomás
de Nuestra Señora de Rosario of Manila, August 15, 1619. Felipe IV
approved it by a decree of November 27, 1623. Pope Innocent X conceded
to this college on November 20, 1645, the title of university,
and Clement XII extended its studies to civil and canonical law,
and the other subjects that are studied in universities.
It is pontifical, for the degrees which are conferred in it have
canonical effect and supply ecclesiastics for determined charges,
according to the bulls of Innocent X and Clement XII.
It is in charge of the illustrious Dominican fathers, its founders,
who fill the greater number of its chairs.
With reference to the reform introduced by royal order of October 29,
1875, the studies necessary for the professions or jurisprudence and
of the Church, and of medicine, pharmacy, and notary, are given in
this institution.
Manila has a seminary, called San Carlos, and the same is true of
Cebú and Iloílo.
The seminary in Camarines Sur is called Nuestra Señora del Rosario,
and that of Ilocos Sur is entitled Nuestra Señora de la Concepción.
Furthermore, there is a naval academy in Manila, another of drawing
and painting, a normal school for men teachers, chairs of bookkeeping,
languages, and history, and a meteorological observatory. [153]
The naval school was established in 1862, at the instance of the
consulado of commerce. In it are taught arithmetic, elementary
geometry, plane and spherical trigonometry, cosmography, pilotage,
practical geometry applied to the construction of hydrographic maps
and plans, and methods of drawing them, etc., etc.
The academy of drawing and painting was instituted by the Hoard
of Trade, March 1, 1849. Its classes consist of figure drawing,
ornamentation, and modeling, both in nature and in colors.
The normal school for the training of men teachers of primary
instruction was created by royal decree of December 20, 1863, and was
inaugurated January 23, 1865, under the direction of the fathers of
the Society of Jesus.
For young women, Manila has the beaterio of Santa Catalina de Sena,
instituted in 1696 for the general instruction of girls, and ruled
over by a prioress chosen by the mothers; the beaterio-college of
Santa Rita, created in 1740, for the education of Indian orphan girls;
that of Santa Rosa, founded in 1750, for the purpose of educating
poor girls; the college of La Concordia; that of Santa Isabel; and
the municipal school for girls, directed by the sisters of charity.