In 1861, the governor-general of the archipelago added the royal college of Santa Potenciana to the college of Santa Isabel.[3] The former was composed of the orphan daughters of military men, and was a most ancient and beneficent institution, founded about the end of the sixteenth century by Perez Dasmariñas. It afforded shelter and protection to the orphan daughters of military men who had succumbed to the climatological influences of this country, or had died in the defense of their country.
The colleges were under the protection of private ladies and afforded quite sufficient instruction. In 1863, the sisters of charity assumed charge of the same, to the great advantage of the college and of the morality of the pupils.
In 1879, the college underwent a considerable reformation by order of Governor-general Moriones, who gave the college a new set of regulations and opened its doors to day pupils and half-boarders, and in 1880 the board of directors established new chairs, which make this establishment one of the most complete for the education of European young ladies.
Girls admitted are given a dowry of 500 pesos, but under the condition that they must first secure the title of teacher, without which requisite, even though they get married, they are given nothing. When they have concluded their studies, they engage in work, and the college reserves to them one-half of what they earn, which is added to their dowry.[4]
Retreat and college of Santa Catalina
The college of Santa Catalina follows next in order of antiquity to the college of Santa Isabel. It was founded in 1696 by the provincial, then belonging to the Dominican order, the very reverend father, Juan de Santo Domingo.
There were purchased for the purposes of the college, at the account of the province of Santísimo Rosario, some houses adjoining the convent of Santo Domingo, to serve as an asylum to the young ladies who desire to consecrate therein their virginity to the Lord.
The institution was inaugurated on the day of St. Ann, of the year mentioned, after the approval of the rules to be observed, in conformity with the spirit and statutes of the Tertiary Order of St. Dominic, with some modifications for the proper interior régime, based upon the principal laws and ordinations of the province of Santísimo Rosario. On this day some ladies who had long before adopted the dress of the Tertiary order, took the vows, binding themselves to the strictest observance of the new rule, and taking the three religious vows with all the necessary formalities.
Among the new nuns was the sister of Mother Francisca, who, in order to adopt the Dominican vestments, left the rectorate of Santa Isabel.
The new retreat was given for a patron, the seraphic mother, Santa Catalina de Sena. It was also ordered that there should be only fifteen choir nuns, in honor of the mysteries of the rosary, with some lay sisters to attend to the material service.