TheRoyal and Pontifical University of Santo Tomas , established by theDominican missionaries in 1611 and raised to the rank of a University in 1645 byPope Innocent X through the petition ofPhilip IV of Spain , is currently the educational institution with the oldest extant university charter in Asia.[ 1] [ 2] This is alist of educational institutions in the Philippines arranged according to the dates of their foundation . It comprises the list of the oldest schools in thePhilippines sorted in various categories, and gives an overview of the development ofeducation andhigher learning in the Philippines. To be included in this list, an institution must satisfy a traditional definition of a formal educational institution at the time of its founding.
The oldest universities, colleges,vocational schools and the first modern public education system in Asia were created during theSpanish colonial period . The earliest schools were founded by SpanishCatholic missionaries . By the time Spain was replaced by the United States as the colonial power,Filipinos were among the most educated subjects in all of Asia.[ 3]
Dispute over the oldest school [ edit ] The title of the oldest in the Philippines have been topic fordebate between two educational institutions : the University of Santo Tomas and the University of San Carlos.[ 4]
TheUniversity of Santo Tomas , established in 1611 as the Colegio de Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario, is the oldest university in the Philippines. In 1935 the Commonwealth government of the Philippines through the Historical Research and Markers Committee declared that UST was "oldest university under the American flag."[ 5] Intramuros Administration installed a marker on the original site of the University of Santo Tomas with the recognition that the university is the "oldest university in Asia."[ 6] Pope Benedict XVI recognized UST as "the oldest institution of Catholic higher education in the Far East,"[ 7] National Historical Commission of the Philippines published an online article recognizing UST as Asia's oldest university.[ 8]
However,University of San Carlos has opposed this recognition and claims that it is older than the University of Santo Tomas by 16 years by tracing its roots to theColegio de San Ildefonso (established 1595).[ 9] [ 10]
[ edit ] Numerous scholars and official government bodies have reviewed the case. In 2010, theNational Historical Commission of the Philippines installed a bronze marker declaring USC's foundation late in the 18th century, effectively disproving any direct connection with theColegio de San Ildefonso .[ 11] [ 10] Fidel Villarroel from the University of Santo Tomas argued that USC only took over the facility of the former Colegio de San Ildefonso and that there is no 'visible' and 'clear' link between San Carlos and San Ildefonso.[ 12] [ 13] National Historical Commission of the Philippines cemented its previous position when it published an online article recognizing UST as Asia’s oldest university.[ 8]
Oldest educational institutions [ edit ] Current name/ Year Name at time of foundation Founding Location upon foundation/ Current Current/last Type Ref Colegio de Santa Potenciana 1589 Colegio de Santa Potenciana Franciscan Order Intramuros ,Manila Defunct Private [ 14] [ 15] [ 16] [ 17] Universidad de San Ignacio 1590 Colegio de Manila Society of Jesus Intramuros ,Manila Defunct Society of Jesus Seminary ,Pontifical , royal,private [ 17] [ 18] [ 19] Colegio de San Ildefonso 1595 Colegio de San Ildefonso Society of Jesus Cebu City Defunct Society of Jesus Private [ 17] [ 20] [ 21] [ 22] Colegio y Seminario de San José 1601 Colegio de San Jose Society of Jesus Intramuros ,Manila Active Society of Jesus Private [ 17] [ 23] [ 24] Real y Pontificia Universidad de Santo Tomás de Aquino (University of Santo Tomas, Manila) 1611 Colegio de Nuestra Señora de Santisimo Rosario Dominican Order Intramuros ,Manila Active Dominican Order Private ,pontifical , royal[ 17] [ 25] [ 26] Colegio de San Juan de Letran 1620 Colegio de Niños Huerfanos de San Juan de Letran Don Juan Geronimo Guerrero Intramuros ,Manila Active Dominican Order Private [ 17] [ 27] Colegio de Huérfanos de Santos Pedro y Pablo 1620 Colegio de Huérfanos de Santos Pedro y Pablo Dominican Order Intramuros ,Manila Defunct Private [ 17] [ 27] Colegio de San Juan de Letran 1620 Colegio de San Juan de Letran Dominican Order Intramuros ,Manila Active Dominican Order Private [ 17] [ 27] [ 28] Real Colegio de Santa Isabel (Santa Isabel College, Manila ) 1632 Real Colegio de Santa Isabel Intramuros ,Manila Active Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul Private [ 17] [ 29] [ 30] Universidad de San Felipe de Austria 1640 Universidad de San Felipe de Austria Audiencia Real de Manila Intramuros ,Manila Defunct Public [ 17] [ 31]
Oldest educational institutions in continuous operation [ edit ] Current name Traces origin to Year Founding Location upon foundation Type Current Ref Colegio y Seminario de San José Colegio de San Jose 1601 Society of Jesus Intramuros ,Manila Private Jesuit [ 17] [ 23] [ 24] Real y Pontificia Universidad de Santo Tomás de Aquino (University of Santo Tomás, Manila ) Colegio de Nuestra Señora del Santísimo Rosario 1611 Dominican Order Intramuros ,Manila Private ,pontifical , royalDominican Order [ 17] [ 25] [ 26] Colegio de San Juan de Letran Colegio de San Juan de Letran 1620 Dominican Order Intramuros ,Manila Private Dominican Order [ 17] [ 27] [ 32] [ 28] Real Colegio de Santa Isabel (Santa Isabel College, Manila ) Real Colegio de Santa Isabel 1632 Intramuros ,Manila Private, Royal Daughters of Charity [ 17] [ 29] [ 30] San Carlos Seminary Real y Conciliar Colegio de San Carlos 1702 Archdiocese of Manila Intramuros ,Manila Seminary Archdiocese of Manila [ 17] [ 20] [ 21] [ 22] [ 33] Santa Catalina College Beaterio Colegio de Santa Catalina de Siena 1706 Dominican Order Intramuros ,Manila Private Dominican Order [ 17] [ 34] [ 35] [ 36] [ 37] [ 38] St. Mary's College Colegio del Beaterio 1725 Religious of the Virgin Mary Intramuros ,Manila Private Religious of the Virgin Mary [ 17] [ 29] [ 30] Colegio de Santa Rosa Beaterio y Casa de Enseñanza 1750 Intramuros ,Manila Private Daughters of Charity [ 17] [ 34] [ 39] [ 40] [ 41] Seminario Mayor de San Carlos Real Seminario de San Carlos 1783 Archdiocese of Cebu Cebu City Seminary Society of the Divine Word [ 17] [ 42] Holy Rosary Minor Seminary Casa de Clerigos 1793 Archdiocese of Caceres Naga City Seminary Archdiocese of Caceres [ 17] [ 43] Immaculate Conception School of Theology, Vigan Seminario de San Pablo 1822 Dominican Order Vigan Seminary Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia [ 44] [ 45] [ 46] [ 47] Ateneo de Manila University Escuela Municipal de Manila 1859 Society of Jesus Intramuros ,Manila Private Jesuit Saint Vincent Ferrer Seminary Seminario-Colegio de San Vicente Ferrer 1869 Archdiocese of Jaro Jaro ,Iloilo City Seminary Archdiocese of Jaro [ 48] [ 49] [ 50]
Oldest educational institutions for girls [ edit ] Still in operation Defunct Established as a school for girls
Oldest public educational institutions [ edit ] Still in operation Defunct
Educational institutions with the oldest university charters [ edit ] Still in operation Defunct
Still in operation Defunct
Still in operation Defunct
Oldest schools of medicine [ edit ] Oldest normal schools [ edit ] Oldest schools of engineering [ edit ] ^ Garcia, F.C. (February 1, 2006)."Remembering our Rectors" .The Varsitarian 77 (9). RetrievedNovember 9, 2011 . ^ De Ramos, N.V., 2000.I Walked with Twelve UST Rectors . ^ Coleman, Ambrose (1899).The Friars in the Philippines 17– 59. ^ UST, USC engages in friendly debate Today's Carolinian Accessed April 19, 2020^ The Historical Marker Database accessed April 19, 2020^ University of Santo Tomas Intramuros Administration marker Accessed April 23, 2020^ The Papal Message from Pope Benedict XVI to the Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas accessed April 19, 2020^a b Asia’s Oldest University, The Royal and Pontifical University of Santo Tomas 'National Historical Commission of the Philippines' accessed April 19, 2020^ About USC 'The University of San Carlos Website' accessed April 19, 2020^a b No contest: UST is oldest university 'Philippine Daily Inquirer' Accessed April 19, 2020^ NHCP historical marker for University of San Carlos in Cebu City 'National Historical Commission of the Philippines marker' accessed April 19, 2020^ UST is oldest, period 'The Varsitarian' Accessed April 19, 2020^ Which Is the Oldest University? Revisiting the Conflicting Claims of the University of Santo Tomas, Manila and University of San Carlos, Cebu in Light of the Historyof Seminario (Mayor) de San Carlos of Cebu 'Philippine E-Journals' accessed April 19, 2020^a b Grant to the seminary of Santa Potenciana, 1617 accessed May 30, 2012^a b Real Colegio de Santa Potenciana accessed May 30, 2012^a b Perez Dasmarinas, Luis. Letters from Luis Perez Dasmariñas to Felipe II. In The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898. Ohio: A.H. Clark Company, 1903-9. Vol. 9 ^a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x Ang edukasyon sa panahon ng mga Kastila "The Filipino Corner" accessed October 27, 2012^a b c The First Hundred Years of the Ateneo de Manila Archived September 15, 2012, at theWayback Machine Ateneo de Manila University website May 1, 2012^a b c Geographical History Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila website May 1, 2012^a b About USC: University of San Carlos Archived June 26, 2012, at theWayback Machine University of San Carlos website retrieved on April 24, 2012^a b No contest: UST is oldest university Archived March 1, 2014, at theWayback Machine Inquirer.net accessed May 30, 2012^a b UST is oldest, period Varsitarian website accessed May 30, 2012^a b c History of Colegio de San Jose / San Jose Seminary San Jose Seminary website accessed May 12, 2012^a b c d Fr. Miguel A. Bernad, S.J.: "Colegio de San José (1601–2001): A Quick Survey of the Turbulent 400-year History of an Educational Institution" Monk's Hobbit May 1, 2012^a b c d Lim-Pe, Josefina (1973).The University of Santo Tomas in the Twentieth Century . University of Santo Tomas Press, Manila. pp. 1– 19. ^a b c d History of the University of Santo Tomas Archived March 2, 2012, at theWayback Machine University of Santo Tomas website accessed May 30, 2012^a b c d History of Colegio de San Juan de Letran Colegio de San Juan de Letran website accessed May 30, 2012^a b A Knight's Tale Archived September 8, 2008, at theWayback Machine - The Lance, June 2005^a b c d Santa Isabel College Santa Isabel College website accessed May 28, 2012^a b c d Colegio de Santa Isabel intramuros.wordpress.com accessed October 27, 2012^a b c The first university The Philippine Star accessed May 28, 2012^ Colegio de Huerfanos de San Pedro y San Pablo jobstreet.com accessed May 30, 2012^a b San Carlos Seminary website accessed May 28, 2012^a b c d e History of the Colegio de Santa Catalina accessed May 29, 2012^ The Beaterio de Sta. Catalina de Siena of Manila: Its Beginnings Mother Francisca O.P. Siena website accessed October 27, 2012^a b c Brief accounts on the Mother Foundress and the Beaterio de Santa Catalina de Siena now the Congregation of Dominican Sisters of St. Catherine of Siena accessed October 27, 2012^ Mother Francisca del Espiritu Santo accessed October 27, 2012^a b c Noli Me Tangere/Huag Acong Salangin Nino Man: Pascual Poblete Filipino translation by Rizal, Jose Filipiniana.net accessed October 27, 2012^a b [1] Geodeg website accessed October 28, 2012^a b Ito ang mga kolehiyong itinatag ng mga paring Kastila sa Pilipinas accessed October 28, 2012^a b Colegio de Sta. Rosa’s Legend of the Twisted Sword Traveler on foot website accessed October 28, 2012^a b History and Heritage Archived June 21, 2011, at theWayback Machine Seminario Mayor de San Carlos website accessed May 28, 2012^a b Holy Rosary Minor Seminary History accessed May 28, 2012^a b Immaculate Conception School of Theology history Immaculate Conception School of Theology website accessed May 28, 2012^ Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia Claretian Publications website accessed October 28, 2012^ Seminaries, Houses of Formation UCA News website accessed October 28, 2012^ Nueva Segovia Chancery directory Nueva Segovia Chancery website accessed October 28, 2012^a b "History – St. Vincent Ferrer Seminary" .svfs1869.org . RetrievedDecember 21, 2023 .^ "07. Archdiocese of Jaro" .www.claretianpublications.com . May 26, 2017. RetrievedDecember 21, 2023 .^ Solinap, Leo (November 23, 2019)."Saint Vincent Ferrer Seminary to celebrate 150 years of existence" .SunStar Publishing Inc . RetrievedDecember 21, 2023 . ^ Universidad de Santa Isabel history Universidad de Santa Isabel website accessed May 30, 2012^ Universidad de Sta. Isabel Nursing Guide website accessed November 2, 2012^ Universidad de Sta. Isabel: 137 Years Young (The Best of Catholic Vincentian Education) The Manila Bulletin website accessed November 2, 2012^ [2] Vincentian Online Library accessed November 2, 2012^ History of Concordia College Concordia College website accessed May 29, 2012^ A page in Ayala’s history: May 3, 1868 Filipinas Heritage Library website accessed November 2, 2012^ Noli Me Tangere/The Social Cancer: Charles Derbyshire English translation by Rizal, Jose Filipiniana website accessed November 2, 2012^ Colegio de la Inmaculada Concepcion History Colegio de la Inmaculada Concepcion website accessed May 30, 2012^ Colegio de la Inmaculada Concepción Everything Cebu website accessed November 2, 2012^ de la Inmaculada Concepcion - Cebu accessed November 2, 2012^ Schools and Universities in Cebu All About Cebu website accessed November 2, 2012^a b La Consolacion College Manila ^ History of St. Scholastica's College St. Scholastica's College website accessed May 30, 2012^a b [3] Centro Escolar University website accessed December 3, 2016^ About Philippine Merchant Marine Academy 'Philippine Marine Merchant Academy website'^ [4] 'Pampanga State University website'^ oldest-elementary-school-country-marks-116th-anniversary-429142 (September 8, 2015)."Oldest elementary school in country marks 116th anniversary" .SUNSTAR . RetrievedFebruary 18, 2023 . {{cite web }}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link )^ "132 nd Birth Anniversary of Don Rosendo M. Mejica" .www.thenewstoday.info . RetrievedDecember 21, 2023 .^a b The First University The Philstar website accessed October 27, 2012^a b Decree of 19 October 1898, establishing the Literary University of the Philippines by Aguinaldo, Emilio Filipiniana.net accessed October 27, 2012^a b Universidad Literaria de Filipinas The Manila Bulletin website accessed October 27, 2012^a b c d About UP Archived May 7, 2012, at theWayback Machine University of the Philippines website accessed May 31, 2012^ UP Manila University of the Philippines website accessed May 31, 2012^ About UPV University of the Philippines Visayas website accessed May 31, 2012^ "The Story of FEU • Far Eastern University" .Far Eastern University . RetrievedOctober 13, 2023 .^ History: Silliman's Journey of Over a Century Silliman University website accessed May 31, 2012^ Adamson University history Adamson University website accessed May 31, 2012^ University of San Agustin Historical Milestones Retrieved 10/13/13^a b Saint Louis University 2015 Student Handbook, page 7 Retrieved 10/13/13^ UST Central Seminary History University of Santo Tomas website accessed May 30, 2012^a b Royal and Pontifical Archived October 6, 2008, at theWayback Machine Inquirer.net accessed July 30, 2012^ About Manila Law College Manila Law College website accessed October 27, 2012^ Manila Law College (formerly Manila Law College Foundation) Philippine Online School Directory website accessed October 27, 2012^ A brief history of the UP College of Law University of the Philippines College of Law website accessed July 31, 2012^ University of Manila history University of Manila website accessed July 31, 2012^ Philippine Law School accessed July 31, 2012^ The Philippine Law School Philippine Online School Directory website accessed October 27, 2012^ Did you know: University of Manila "Inquirer website" accessed October 27, 2012^ Ninety Years of the University of Manila "88DB.com" accessed October 27, 2012^ Far Eastern University Institute of Law Far Eastern University Institute of Law website accessed July 31, 2012^ History of Silliman University College of Law Silliman University College of Law website accessed July 31, 2012^ Ateneo Law School Ateneo Law School website accessed July 31, 2012^ University of San Carlos School of Law and Governance University of San Carlos School of Law and Governance website accessed July 31, 2012^ Arellano University School of Law Arellano School of Law website accessed July 31, 2012^ About Us University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Medicine and Surgery website Accessed April 19, 2020^ History of the University of the Philippines College of Medicine University of the Philippines College of Medicine website Accessed April 19, 2020^ Matias H. Aznar Memorial College of Medicine Matias H. Aznar Memorial College of Medicine website Accessed April 19, 2020^ A Rich History and Track Record of Success Manila Central University website Accessed April 19, 2020^ History of the Far Eastern University Institute of Medicine Far Eastern University Institute of Medicine website Accessed April 19, 2020^ History of the University of the East Rammon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center website Accessed April 19, 2020^ About us Cebu Institute of Medicine website Accessed April 19, 2020^ History of the Lyceum-Northwestern University Lyceum-Northwestern University website Accessed April 19, 2020^ History West Visayas State University website Accessed April 19, 2020^ Virgen Milagrosa University Foundation College of Medicine Virgen Milagrosa University Foundation College of Medicine website Accessed April 19, 2020^ Milestones in the History of One USI Universidad de Sta. Isabel website Accessed April 19, 2020^ History and Milestone A Brief History of the Philippine Normal University Philippine Normal University website Accessed April 19, 2020^ History West Visayas State University Accessed April 19, 2020^ [5] Archived May 25, 2012, at theWayback Machine University of Santo Tomas website accessed July 31, 2012^ Mapua University Commission on Higher Education
Notable historic centers Spanish missions Lists of buildings Cathedrals Churches and monasteries Fortifications Bridges and roads Other building types Architecture types Modern Revival styles
Administration
Organization Law Titles and positions
Administrative subdivisions
