This establishment was founded in 1750 by the Paulist Mother de la Trinidad, a nun of the Tertiary Order of St. Dominic. She arrived in Manila the preceding year, whither she had resolved to come from the Peninsula, desirous of consecrating herself to the good of others. Being convinced that the greatest service she could render the public was to establish an educational institution, she immediately took steps to carry out her holy work, and in a short time by her ardent zeal she secured sufficient funds for the establishment of a retreat, where she supported on charity a certain number of native young women for the purpose of educating them in the fear of God, in Christian doctrine, and in all exercises suitable for a woman. This was done so that, whether they left the retreat of their own will and married or remained therein, they would develop strong moral principles.
His Majesty has taken this college under his royal protection, and the regent of the Audiencia supervises it in his name, with the corresponding powers.
The spiritual direction is, at the present time, entrusted by the archbishop to the very reverend Fray José Corujedo, former provincial of the corporation of St. Augustine.
Up to January 26, 1866, the education of the girls was in charge of elderly ladies, of well-known education and virtue, who acted as teachers; but, on this date, by superior order, the sisters of charity undertook the direction of the institution, which they discharged to the satisfaction of all.[7]
College of La Concordia or of the Immaculate Conception
In the town of Paco, a suburb of Manila, there is a college, which was inaugurated May 3, 1868, ordinarily called the college of the Concordia. The entire grounds and part of the building, which now serves as a college, were piously donated to the sisters of charity by a charitable lady named Margarita Roxas, whose picture is exhibited in the reception room. Five-sixths of said college have been built since its foundation.
This college is the exclusive property of the sisters of charity, who act at the same time as teachers therein. It occupies a very picturesque and open position on a beautiful plain between the towns of Paco and of Santa Ana, and has very capacious and well-ventilated rooms.
It is the central building of the sisters of charity of the Philippines, and usually a priest of the congregation of the mission, entrusted with the spiritual direction of the college, lives therein.
The studies and work in this college and the distribution of classes are identical with those of other colleges.
From the date of the foundation of the college, up to the present year, 62 pupils have been examined for teachers, of whom 35 were classed as excellent, 17 as good, and 10 passed.[8]