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.[1]
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.