[1] The meteorological observatory was founded by the Jesuits in 1865, its main object being the discovery of the laws of the typhoons that rage in Oriental seas. Its other departments—seismatic, magnetic and astronomic—were added later. For the first five years the apparatus was very scarce, and most of that was lent by the Ateneo Municipal, but notwithstanding that, some excellent work was done in those early years. In 1870, the publication of a bulletin was begun, and new apparatus began to be installed. The first typhoon was forecast and notice of its coming given in 1879. Finally the government authorities made the observatory a central institution and placed it officially in charge of the Jesuits. In 1898, through the influence of the British meteorologist at Hongkong, the United States government ordered the coming of typhoons not to be announced, but the order was speedily revoked. Of this observatory Packard says in the Educational Report for 1897–98, pp. 973, 974: “The latest fruit of the scientific activity of the Jesuits, and the most important and best known scientific institution in the Philippines, and perhaps in the whole east, is the famous meteorological observatory of Manila, which was founded in 1865, and now has one of the most complete equipments for meteorological observations in the world. An important practical service which the observatory renders shipping is the warning of approaching hurricanes, which it is enabled to give by means of its branch stations at different points in several of the islands. The Jesuit father Faura, who is so well known for his meteorological work, has been for a long time in charge of the observatory, and began forecasting the weather as early as 1879. Expeditions have been made under his direction all over the archipelago, with a view to making magnetic and other observations.” See also Archipiélago Filipino, ii, pp. 5–16. [↑]
[2] “Manual for the traveler:” a guide book, in which various interesting statistics are published. [↑]
[3] Historia geográfica, geológico y estadistica de Filipinas (Manila, 1876), by Agustin de la Cavada y Mendez de Vigo. This author was for many years a State official in the Philippines. He died in Spain in 1894. See Pardo de Tavera’s Biblioteca filipina, p. 96. [↑]
[4] The Indian and mestizo advocates, too abundant in that country, are a real calamity to it, and the same thing may be said of them as of the Indian secular clergy. They do not know the law, nor do they ever come to understand what they have studied. They obtained their certificate, thanks to the excessive tolerance of their professors, and once converted into licentiates and even doctors, they pay for their benefits and the honor which they have received by becoming outrageous anti-Spanish. They believe themselves superior to the latter, and dream of republics in which they can figure and strut. Their ridiculous hopes, and their vanity and deficiency would be excusable, if they did not deceive their simple countrymen in a nursery of litigation with their eagerness of defending evil causes. Such is, although it be a cause for regret, the general rule. See Montero y Vidal, Archipiélago Filipino, pp. 192, 193, note. [↑]
[5] This is one of the needs that has been most apparent to the American authorities since 1898. The stress laid upon industrial training is evident from the many Filipinos among the government pupils now in the United States, who are being trained especially in agriculture and the various forms of engineering. Regarding trade schools and industrial instruction, see Report of Philippine Commission, 1905, iv, p. 412. [↑]
GIRLS’ SCHOOLS IN MANILA AND THE PROVINCES
There are four colleges for the education of girls without taking into consideration the municipal school of Manila,[1] and the college of Santa Isabel, of Nueva Cáceres.[2] These are the college of Santa Isabel, that of Santa Rosa, that of Santa Catalina, and that of La Concordia, also called college of the Immaculate Conception, all located in the capital of the archipelago. Of all these institutions, the oldest is the college of Santa Isabel, founded in 1632 for the education of Spanish orphan girls by a pious foundation called the Santa Misericordia. In 1650, the first regulations for the government of the same were issued, which continued in force until 1813, when they were revised. The college is supported from part of the interest derived from the Misericordia legacy, administered by a board, of which the civil governor of Manila is the president. It also enjoys a grant of land in Tagudín, province of Pangasinán, by a royal cedula of March 14, 1680, which produces an income of 600 pesos per annum.
Until the beginning of the present century, nearly 13,060 girls had been educated in this institution.