II
[Concerning the professional nautical school, Archipiélago Filipino says:]
This school, which was created at the instance of the consulate of commerce, by command of his Majesty, dated January 1, 1820, was ruled by the regulations of 1837, which were modified by the royal order of October 19, 1860. In this school was studied the profession of pilot of merchant marine. The theoretical teaching was given in it in four years’ time;[1] while the practical teaching was given in vessels on the high sea, after the pupils had received, by virtue of examinations, certificates as deserving persons.
The total number of pupils was usually fifty or sixty. They were mostly Indians, who, as they did not master the Spanish language, did not derive all the profit which would have been reported under other circumstances, and many of them after the knowledge acquired in the first two courses, chose a more lucrative profession.
At first it was supported with its own funds and under the direction of the Board and Tribunal of Commerce, but later, upon the suppression of the Board and Tribunal, the school and its funds passed under the control of the state, which furnished its expenses, and gave the administrative direction to the commandant-general of the naval station and its immediate director.[2]
[Regarding the same school, Census of Philippines, iii, p. 613 says:]
As a consequence of the abolition of the tribunal of commerce existing in the city of Manila, which had charge of the school, the government undertook the supervision of it, by superior order, which provided that the personnel thereof should be considered as public officials, and that the funds on which it depended for its support should be turned into the treasury....
The nautical school[3] was not very well attended by the young Filipinos, the cause for which is not understood in view of the fact that this is a country in which navigation is one of the most powerful mercantile resources, and whose inhabitants have special and exceptional qualifications therefor. The lack of interest shown in studies of this character can be attributed only to the little protection, lack of means and of opportunities, afforded upon the conclusion of the course.
[1] See the program of these theoretical studies, in Census of Philippines, iii, p. 613. [↑]