Its foundation dates back to the year 1699, and it was directed
by the fathers of the Society of Jesus until they were expelled in
the last century, when it passed to the charge of the provisor of
this archbishopric. Its original object seems to have been that of
educating native girls in the fear of God, and to give them primary
instruction and instruction in the work of their sex. This retreat
serves as an asylum for devout women.
Since 1883, a school has been established in this retreat, with
three teachers. They teach reading from the first letters, Christian
doctrine, compendium of morals, sacred history, courtesy, arithmetic,
Spanish grammar to the analysis of analogy, and in addition they
have every week an explanation of the gospel, in charge of a priest
of the secular clergy.
Needle-work is taught from the first stitches to the finest embroidery.
Oil painting is also done in this institution, and we have a teacher
of embroidery, who is an expert in this art, and whose work is much
applauded." [166]
[The following girls' schools are noted also by Archipiélago Filipino,
i, p. 353.]
Schools for the education of girls, which, without having the rank
of normal schools, exist outside the capital of the archipelago,
are principally the four following, the first three of which are in
charge of the Dominican nuns.
That of Nuestra Señora del Rosario, founded in Lingayén (Pangasinán),
in 1890, with 60 pupils; that of Santa Imelda, founded in Tuguegarao
(Cagayán de Luzón), in 1892, with 81 pupils; that of Nuestra Señora
del Rosario, in Vigan (Ilocos Sur), with 90 pupils; and finally, that
of San José de Jaro, under the direction of the sisters of charity,
with 116 resident pupils, 160 day, and 14 half-boarders.
Lastly, centers also devoted to the instruction of girls are the
Real Casa de Misericordia in Cebú, the beaterio of the Society of
Jesus in Manila, and those of Santa Rita in Pasig, and San Sebastián
in Calumpang. However, we shall not review them here, as they are
chiefly religious institutions.