They lived in it but for a short time, for some great earthquakes happening in the year 1645, that college was entirely ruined, as well as many other buildings of this city. The city conceived so great a horror of those earthquakes that many of its citizens went to live in the suburbs, where they feared less danger of their ruin. That same reason was taken account of in the rebuilding of that college, and it was moved outside the city near the alcaycería or Parián of the Sangleys. With the alms that some benefactors offered, a college was built out of wood, with its church also of the same material, all very poor. At that site outside of the city the college was maintained for about twenty years, with notable discomfort to the collegiates, both because of the distance of the university where they had to go to attend to their studies, and because of the dampness and unhealthfulness of the land; and because of the nearness of the Chinese, who were not very good neighbors, both for fear of their insurrections, which were then very frequent, and because, being idolaters and heathens, their nearness could, not but be the cause of much scandal and a poor example to the collegiates. For these and other like reasons, from the first years that they were there, our religious began to discuss their removal and shifting. But, although they called several meetings to discuss the matter, and several plans were made for that purpose, they were never realized, for the college was very much in need of funds, for it scarcely had enough for its maintenance, until the seriousness of the harm, which was feared from keeping the college outside the city obliged the piety of this holy province to expend whatever was necessary for its removal. On the occasion of the death of a lady, named Doña Maria Ramirez Pinto, who had a new house inside the city back of the garden of the convent of Santo Domingo, the province determined to buy it, along with other houses which were near it. It gave those houses as an alms to the college for that purpose, and arranging in them all the rooms necessary for a community, with their church, choir, and belfry; for the licenses which were taken out in the year 1668 for that removal from the government, city, and ecclesiastical cabildo expressed such permission. When all the building was arranged in the form of a college on the above-mentioned day, May 8, of that year 69, the collegiates were transferred to it, with great pomp and solemnity, amid the joy and gladness of all the community.[7] For that was a matter that all desired, as that college had always merited the general esteem of this city.
And in fact, that college is of great use to this community, not only as it shelters and rears therein all the orphan and abandoned boys, but also because any well-raised youth leaves that college, or seminary, for all walks of life in this community. Some adopt a military life, others a sea-faring life, and others the ecclesiastical estate, both monastic and religious, and from them are regularly supplied most of the curacies of these islands, and other employments more noteworthy, both in the ecclesiastical and in the political world. Excellent students leave that college, many of whom graduate not only with the degree of bachelor, but also with higher degrees. On the date of this writing, four sons of the college are living with the dignity of masters and doctors. They are occupied in honorable posts. Others are also licentiates in the arts. Always in all times the college has had worthy sons who have honored it, because in general they are very attentive to study, and observant, of their obligation, and that fact is well known and believed throughout this city. It is surely a matter worthy of admiration that they make so great use of their studies, as they have many other duties and occupations which scarcely allow them time to study; for, besides some assistancies outside the college, inside it they have duties and so many employments of devotion, that one does not know when they study their lessons. In the morning, before or after mass, they recite a portion of the rosary, and afterward they go to the university. When they return thence they recite another portion. Also when they return in the afternoon from the university they recite the last portion of the rosary with a chanted Salve, and litany. Later in the evening before supping they also have other devotional duties. This is the ordinary employment every day. This seems not only not a little troublesome for a college of students, but also scarcely suitable for their studies; but this which apparently would be a hindrance and obstacle to their studies, conduces in reality to their application, or to the greater clearness with which they study. For, according to the public understanding and report, they graduate from that college better prepared than from others; and although they are lads, they attribute it to the special protection of the most holy Mary, because they recite to her every day in chorus their whole rosary. All live under that impression, and accordingly, although they petition for dispensation from other exercises, they never ask dispensation from that exercise of the rosary, because they have understood that that is what maintains them and keeps them in the progress of their studies. As proof of that I shall relate an event which was but lately told me by a doctor who was a collegiate of that college. He says that when he left the college to take up a certain employment, either with the liberty which is enjoyed outside it, or because of the duties of his profession, he abandoned the custom, which he had until then observed, of reciting the whole rosary daily, contenting himself with reciting only a portion. He entered for the degree in theology, and for the literary duties annexed to that degree, applied himself very earnestly to his studies, but with so little fruit of his application that he could scarcely understand anything that he studied. “What is this,” he said in surprise, “when I was in college did I not grasp whatever I studied? But what is this that is happening to me now that I can scarcely understand what I am studying?” Then he bethought himself of the fact of his error, and he understood the origin of his lack of intelligence. Consequently, he reformed his past lukewarmness, and again began to recite the whole rosary daily. By this diligence alone he found that he could grasp what before he could not understand. Mary is the most holy mother, not only of the fear and love of God, but also of learning and knowledge, as she herself says by the mouth of the Preacher. Consequently, it is not surprising that she communicates light for intelligence and for progress in their studies to those who pray to her as her sons and venerate her as a mother, and praise her in that devotion so pleasing to her.[8]
[1] A petition from Guerrero (see VOL. XXII, pp. 108–111) for royal aid shows under his charge more than fifty boys in August, 1626. It was accepted by the Dominicans, June 18, 1640. Hence the statement of Census of Philippines, iii, p. 599, that it was founded in 1640 is not strictly correct. [↑]
[2] The encomienda of Bignotan, in Ilocos. See Archipiélago Filipino, i, p. 343; and VOL. XXVIII, p. 139. [↑]
[3] See also VOL. XXVIII, pp. 139, 140. [↑]
[4] Census of Philippines, iii, p. 599, says that the college retained the name of “Seminary for orphan children of Saint Peter and Saint Paul,” until 1706, when it adopted its present name by virtue of a provision of the provincial chapter of the Dominicans; but as seen here it was known under its present name very early, and probably the name was only fully legalized by the provision. [↑]
[5] Fray Sebastián Oquendo was a native of Oviedo, where he professed. He became lecturer in philosophy and theology in the Manila convent. In 1637 he was vicar of the Parián, and in 1639 prior of the Manila convent. He was twice definitor, minister of the natives in the Manila convent, and lastly vicar of the hospice of San Jacinto in Mexico from 1645 until his death in 1651. See Reseña biográfica, i, p. 375. [↑]
[6] Natives were admitted to the college some time after its foundation (1640, when the Dominicans took charge of it) upon the payment of certain tuition fees. See Census of Philippines, iii, p. 599; and Archipiélago Filipino, i, p. 343. [↑]
[7] The present building is situated within the walled city, and covers a large area of ground. It is one of the best for this purpose in the islands, and is ample and well constructed. Formerly the pupils wore a habit consisting of a blue mantle and black sleeves. Since the beginning branches of primary instruction have been taught. At the beginning of the eighteenth century two courses of grammar studies were added, the college being declared one of secondary instruction in 1867. At the present time the first four years of secondary instruction are given there in accordance with the regulations of the university of Santo Tomás, to which all institutions in which secondary instruction was given were subject. Lessons are also given in music, drawing and gymnastics. The statistics of the university of Santo Tomás and San Juan de Letran showed 1,447 pupils in all for general studies, and 337 pursuing courses in secondary instruction. The latter is under the direction of the Dominicans. See Census of Philippines, iii, p. 599; and Archipiélago Filipino, i, p. 343. [↑]