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.jpg) The Heritage and Historical University of Bicol | |
Former names |
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|---|---|
Motto in English | We Move Forward |
| Type | PrivateCatholicresearch non-profitcoeducational basic and higher education institution |
| Established | April 12, 1868 (157 years and 230 days) |
| Founder | Rt. Rev. Francisco Gainza, O.P., Bishop of Caceres |
Religious affiliation | Roman Catholic (Daughters of Charity) |
Academic affiliations | ACUP,ASEACCU,CEAP,PAASCU |
| President | Sr. Lourdes L. Albis |
| Principal | Simonet A. Barrosa (basic education) |
| Vice-principal | Luisa P. Vale (academics) |
| Address | Elias Angeles St., Bagumbayan Sur ,,,13°37′44″N123°11′19″E / 13.62902°N 123.18861°E /13.62902; 123.18861 |
| Campus | Urban
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| Alma Mater Song | "The University Hymn" |
| Patron saint | St. Elizabeth of Hungary |
| Colors | Yellow Green |
Sporting affiliations | BUCAL |
| Mascot | Falcons |
| Website | www |
.svg)  Location in Luzon Show map of Luzon.svg) Location in the Philippines Show map of Philippines | |
Universidad de Sta. Isabel de Naga, Inc., ([juːnɪvɚˈsɪdæddeɪˈsæntaˌɪˈseɪbɛldeɪˈnɑːgəˌɪŋk],en) (English:University of St. Isabel in Naga, Inc.code: eng promoted to code: en) (USI, formerly Colegio de Sta. Isabel)[1] is aprivateCatholicuniversity run by theSisters of Charity of Saint Vincent De Paul inNaga, Camarines Sur, Philippines. It was founded by theRt Rev. Francisco Gainza,O.P.,Bishop of Caceres, in 1868 as the firstnormalschool for women inAsia, named in honor of the university's patron,St. Isabel, Queen of Hungary.[2][3]
Queen Isabella II'sRoyal Decree in 1867 opened Escuela-Colegio de Sta. Isabel (ESCI) in 1868 under the Diocese of Cáceres of Rt Rev. Francisco Gainza'sepiscopate inNueva Cáceres.[1][2][4][5] ECSI introduced the Escuela Normal de Maestra in 1872, founding the first normal school for women in Asia, named in honor of the university's patron, St. Isabel, Queen of Hungary. Three years later, ESCI was renamed to Colegio de Sta. Isabel (CSI). In 1898, it housed theinterim government for Elias Angeles' regional rebellion.[6]Americanized withsecular Thomasite instruction in 1901, the colonial-eracurriculum was gradually diluted yet CSI retained its primaryVincentian doctrines. DuringWorld War II, CSI became a temporaryco-educational facility under aGreater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere-based syllabus, offering education toAteneo de Naga pupils when their campus was requisitioned by theJapanese16th Division from 1941 to 1945.[7] In 1968, CSI introduced itsGraduate School.[1] CSI was granted university status by virtue of theHigher Education Act of 1994 in 2001, conferred a year after in 2002, and is now officially referred to as Universidad de Sta. Isabel de Naga, Inc. (USI).[7]
The university offerselementary andsecondary education through the Basic Education Department (USI-BED), aHigher Education Department (USI-HED), and Graduate School. The campus is a leading institution in implementing the St. Louise de Marillac Educational System (SLMES) worldwide across Vincentian institutions.[1]
In accordance to theEnhanced Basic Education Act of 2013, otherwise known as the "K-12 Basic Education Program" in conjunction with the "SHS Academic Track, Technical-Vocational Livelihood",[8] USI-BED combines both elementary and secondary education under a single departmental faculty and student governing body, the Student Central Council (SCC), and a collection of classrooms in the St. Louise de Marillac Building (SLM Bldg.) and St. Vincent de Paul Building (SVP Bldg.). USI-BED is composed of Preschool, Elementary, and high schools separated into both Junior High School with aNight High School Program and Senior High School curricula.[1]
USI-HED offers over 24 undergraduate and 5 graduate specializations.
In February 1863, during Rev. Francisco Gainza'sconsecration to the episcopated by Abp. Gregorio Meliton,Archdiocese of Manila, he planned reformations for the Diocese of Caceres with Fr. Gregorio Velasco, C.M. in theLas Islas Filipinas: the establishment of acolegio-beaterio ran by theSisters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul and the redirection of the Seminario Conciliar. Velasco described Gainza's endeavors as a "daring pursuit" (era una empreza atrevida).[4]
Upon Gainza's initialization of hisdiocesian reformations since his arrival in Nueva Cáceres on 19 March 1863, he worked toward thecolegio-beaterio by first erecting an edifice across theCathedral and near the Episcopal Palace. On 8 October 1866, Gainza briefed the Ministry of Overseas Colonies,Alejandro de Castro, of his proposals for acolegio-beaterio in Nueva Cáceres. In his letter, he stressed the absence of the diocese's primary normal school for girls to wit:[4]
"Another diocesan establishment is missing, to whose classes all the girls of this city and immediate suburbs go to receive an education in harmony with the conditions of their sex, and with the high mission of women in the Islands, so that returning to their homes, they can carry the seeds of Christianly advanced civilization, for the improvement of their towns and for the good of their families."
— Rev. Francisco Gainza, 6 October 1866
In the same letter, Gainza requested de Castro tolobby the authorization, both the funding for the journey and the ₱150 monthly wages of the five Provincial Visitors of the Sisters of Charity administering the school, andsubsidization of personnel and supplies. At the end of the letter, Gainza proposed renaming the blank Colegio of Nueva Cáceres afterQueen Isabella II and St. Elizabeth of Hungary (Santa Isabel de Hungría):[4]
"I dare to propose to your excellency (V.E.) that the diocesan Colegio of Nueva Cáceres be named Santa Isabel, so that it will remember in the future generations the name of a Queen, who is gladly obeyed by these loyal provinces, and at the same time another Isabel, who discarded her own jewelry to bring to the new world true civilization, founded on Christianity."
— Rev. Francisco Gainza
On 29 June 1867, Gainza headed forSouthern Europe inRome, for hisquinquennial visit ad limina on the18th centenary ofSaint Peter, thenMadrid, where he discussed with Isabella II his proposals of thecolegio-beaterio. Met with resounding approval, Gainza described his meeting with the Queen:[4]
"The warm welcome that her majesty and her august husband gave us during our stay; of the sweet satisfaction with which they heard the news of these Islands; the eager interest with which they asked interesting details, of the kind deference with which they promised us at first to accept our wishes, and the hasty kindness with which they later fulfilled it."
— Rev. Francisco Gainza, 29 June 1867
A royal decree from Her Majesty, dated November 5, 1867, formally authorized Gainza to construct the multidepartmental "colegio-beaterio" (all-girls school) ran by theHijas de Caridad de Sta. Vincent de Paul (Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul) in Nueva Cáceres; it was referred to as the Escuela-Colegio de Sta. Isabel. In the decree's three provisions, it read:[1][4]
"First. A primary school is created in the city of Nueva Cáceres, capital of the Diocese, and under the dedication of Santa Isabel, to which poor girls from the Diocese can attend to receive free education;
Second. Said school will be under the immediate inspection of the Reverend Bishop and the provisions of the Royal Decree of December 20, 1863;
Third. The staff of said school will be made up of six Sisters of Charity,19 with the annual salary of six hundred escudos each, assigning one thousand escudos for the maintenance of the building where the school is located, and for the replenishment of the necessary teaching materials."
— Isabella II, 5 November 1867, Royal Decree
By January 1868, Gainza and the six sisters departed Madrid for Nueva Cáceres. After two months of sea travel, they arrived at Manila, where they were joined byVincentian and Dominican monks, such as Mariano Cuartero, O.P. and Rev. Uy of the Diocese of Jaro for the rest of the excursion. On 4 April 1868, the six sisters, Francisca Sales Montoya, the first superior of the Sisters of Charity in Nueva Cáceres, Crisologa Navarro, Ignacia Ostolozas, Juana Morga, Rita Delome, Antonia Novao were welcomed by Fr. Vicente Garcia atPasacao Beach southeast of Nueva Cáceres, resting at Pamplona for the night.[1][4]
On the next day, 5 April 1868, the Sisters vacated Pasacao viaPamplona and theBicol River then docking atCamaligan en route to Nueva Cáceres. Upon arrival, they were welcomed by Rt Rev. Francisco Gainza, O.P., Bishop of Caceres at his Episcopal Palace in the Diocese of Caceres.[4]
On 12 April 1868, the Escuela-Colegio de Sta. Isabel wasformally opened.[1] During the inauguration, Rev. Francisco Gainza delivered a speech at the Mary's Garden of the present day Higher Education Department (HED) noting the Queen's complacence in the establishment of the Colegio and paid his gratitude to Her Majesty, saying:[4]
“The erection of a Colegio, not so much for the education of the girls of the city and its neighboring towns, but for the formation of disciples among the boarding students and zealous teachers, who can spread the principles of a Christian education and of a sound and judicious enlightenment.”
— Rev. Francisco Gainza, 12 April 1868
The Escuela-Colegio de Sta. Isabel, a diocesan school decreed therein, consisted of two instructions: the primary instruction and their students (colegialas), and the normal school and their teacher students (normalistas). Both were distinctly independent units with differentstatutes, academic policies, and curriculum.[4]
On the opening year of the Colegio, the school received a general total of 220 enrollees with more day thanboarding students: a meager 70 boarding students from theprincipalia of Nueva Cáceres andAlbay (internas), because of budgetary constraints at the time; and 150day students (externas).[4]
After the provision, the primary school had two departments: the Boarding and Day School for Girls (Colegio de Niñas Internas y Externas) and the Municipal School for Poor Girls (Escuela Municipal para Las Niñas Pobres).[4]
The primary school was composed of three levels:entrada (entrance),ascenso (intermediary), andtermino (final); with the curriculum enshrined inCastilian studies ofCatholic doctrine.Colegialas had subjects inSpanish, itsgrammar,orthography, andliterature;Christian Doctrine (Doctrina Cristiana); Principles of Morality; Sacred History;Arithmetic, with 19th century concepts inintegers,fractions,decimals, and measuring; Rules of Courtesy (Reglas de Urbanidad);voice lessons;women's work, such as different studies ofneedlework. On 4 August 1868, Fr. Gainza ratified the primary school's implementing statutes, theEstatutos; herein the provisions of the Escuela Normal de Manila's 20 December 1863 Decree were adopted.[4]
In the normal school, theacademic year began on 1 July and ended on 15 May, on thefeast of San Isidro Labrador. Comparable to Nueva Cáceres and Manila'scolegio-beaterio, thenormalistas studiedReligion,Morals,Sacred History, Spanish, Arithmetic,Geography,History, Rules of Courtesy, andPedagogy, withGeometry,Natural Sciences, and Music being voluntary.[4]
On 14 December 1869, Gainza lobbied toGov-Gen. Carlos María de la Torre y Navacerrada of a proposal to recruit 100 16 to 20 year-old womenpensionadas (scholars) from 100towns under his episcopate chosen by their principalia andparish priests; they were to train pedagogy for two to four years then take charge of their town's primary schools as teachers or assistants, with Gainza specifically requesting thepensionadas be shouldered by provincial funds, a fee of six pesos a month or 72 pesos a year. Notably, Gainza added:[4]
"to provide teachers to the towns of the Diocese and to apply on a large scale to Santa Isabel the measures adopted to train teachers at the Escuela Normal de Manila"
— Fr. Francisco Gainza, 14 December 1869
On 3 January 1870, de la Torre reassured to Gainza that the secular civil government would support them financially, but did not directly acknowledge his requests; he instead requested him a draft regulation for the normal school. Because de la Torre consolidated liberal policies, his conservative successor after his abrupt departure on 4 April 1871,Rafael de Izquierdo, had repealed Gainza's curricula, stalling his proposals altogether.[4]
On 11 January 1872, Gainza received a royal decree signed byAmadeo I to raise the Colegio to "Escuela Normal de Maestras." This was thereby made to be inaugurated solemnly on theFeast of Our Lady of Peñafrancia.[4]
Three months after the abdication of the Spanish throne and the establishment of theFirst Spanish Republic, Minister of Overseas Colonies Juan Cristobal Sorni issued "Orden del Poder ejecutivo autorizando a los Cien Pueblos de la Diocesis de Nueva Cáceres Para Mandar una Joven a la Escuela de Niñas de Dicha Ciudad para que Despues Pudiera Dirigir La Escuela De Su Respectivo Pueblo," granting Gainza's proposal of authorizing his recruitment policy and its funding.[4]
Promulgated upon the "Escuela Normal de Maestras," a government decree dated 19 June 1875 approved ad interim regulations for Colegio educators in Nueva Cáceres and was duly signed byGov-Gen. José Malcampo, then published later in Gaceta de Manila on 23 June 1875.[4][9]
Principled after the catechetical teachings of the Daughters of Charity, the integration of thepoor studentry with the day and/or residential studentry into one curriculum was segregated in a multidepartmental structure: theColegio de Niñas Internas yExternas andEscuela Municipal para Las Niñas Pobres.[1] The program of studies required the aforementioned, elementary knowledge, instruction in Spanish, and women's work such as needlework. Primary courses lasted three years, with an optional additional year for graduate studies; a ratifiable schedule was to be sent annually to the governor for approval. Resident pupils funded locally were to reach ten years, underpenalty restitution.[4][9]
Thenormalista staff enumeration was regular, with the ethical and religious guidance of the teacher studentry notably administered by a secularpriest, the moral and religious supervision by a Diocese of Caceres bishop, andsecular supervision by analcalde-mayor, thebishop, the administrator of public finances, and a board member consolidating the staff for a period of three months. Upon accomplishment of the triennal course and the general public examiniations, students were granted the Teacher's Certificate, licensure to teach in either day or residential schools, especially in Escuela-Colegio de Sta. Isabel; if not over the age of twenty-three thereof, and other rewards.[4]
On 18 September 1875, Escuela-Colegio de Sta. Isabel became the first normal school for girls in the Philippines and Southeast Asia under the name Escuela Normal de Maestras. About 100 pensioned students were inculcated into the three-year Normal School Program.[5][circular reference]
Throughout the turn of the century, the nascent academe of Colegio de Sta. Isabel rapidly developed. By 1877, the Colegio celebrated the graduation of its first eleven students.[1] By 1897, Colegio had a convent of 13 sisters and 170 scholars, and a friary of 9 fathers and 2 brothers.[6]
In 1898, theSpanish-American War immediately paused any academic excursions in the Colegio. As far-flung revolutions started to centralize in the Tagalog portions of Luzon, a separate local revolt, staged byGuardia Civil corporals Elias Angeles and Felix Plazo, presentedNueva Caceres as an independent polity from 18–19 September.[1][6]
On the morning of 19 September, while the Spanishvoluntarios recaptured the Guardia Civil barracks in Tabuco, the Angeles-led rebel forces entered Colegio grounds and fortified the campus with emplacements along the facade in anticipation for a Spaniard siege.[6]
In the afternoon, the Spaniards' resistance faltered, prompting them to negotiate with the Guardia Civil. In an account from Franciscan friar, Fr. Marcos Gomez, he describes Sr. Don Ramon Lopez and his bearer (of the white flag) approaching the campus to seek terms:[6]
"Sr. Lopez arrived at the school where the rebels were and the latter received him with signs of sympathy, and there they made the agreement..."
— Fr. Marcos Gomez, A Friar's Account, p. 60
The Spanish provincial capitol capitulated under Angeles' forces, provisioned by the papers of unconditional surrender signed by Governor Vicente Zaldin. In the present day, Zaldin-Angeles' treaty is in exhibit at Universidad de Sta. Isabel's Museo Histórico de la Universidad de Sta. Isabel.[6] The Colegio campus seated Angeles' interim government until theAmerican regime came and changed everything for the 20th century.[1]
Following the capture and surrender ofGen. Emilio Aguinaldo on 23 March 1901, D Company of theUnited States Army's15th Infantry Regiment fromLegaspi, Albay occupied Nueva Cáceres. The arrival of the Thomasites, aboard theUSS Thomas,secularized the Catholic colonial-era public school system in Naga. CSI, being a privately-funded Vincentian learning institution, retained most of its Catholic doctrinal teachings in its local curriculum in both primary and normal instructions.
It did however substantially revise Colegio's preliminary colonial-era curriculum, superseding it with Anglo-centric educational practices. This mirrored early-century American higher education, where 1913 introduced Primary Courses, then Intermediate Courses in 1916.
By 1924, Secondary Courses opened to all students, with Home Economics Secondary Courses starting from 1932. In 1936, Music Teachers Course in Piano became widely available. Eventually, the Junior Normal Course was opened to all in 1939.
On 12 December 1941, theImperial Japanese16th Division "Kimura Detachment" landed on the shores ofLegazpi, signalling the start of theSecond World War in Bicol. The local academic community became frantic at the prospect of an all-supreme Japanese authority intruding on the domestic life of the local campus. All the administrative functionaries, including the Colegio de Sta. Isabel, proceeded with a hastened safekeeping process.
Then, on 15 December, the Japanese arrived in Naga. The Japanese immediately occupied the educational institutions around the downtown area, erecting their garrison in the nearby Ateneo de Naga campus. Upon request ofThe Most Rev. Pedro Paulo Santos, the male pupils from the newfound Ateneo de Naga were admitted by the Colegio. From 1942, Nippongo-based curricula imposed by the authorities superseded Anglo-American textbooks in Colegio. The Colegio campus throughout the war was subjected to severe aerial bombings from bothAllied and Japanese air power, with the first instance occurring after the guerilla recapture of Naga in 1942.
In May, an all-out retaliatory aerial bombing conducted by theImperial Japanese Army Air Services (IJAAS) leveled the urban infrastructure of Naga completely. The fragile wooden edifice and structure deemed the Colegio vulnerable, as evidenced by the collapse of Colegio's roof.
Then, from October 1944 to March 1945, theUnited States Army Air Forces (USAAAF) conducted a devastating bombing campaign in Naga to flatten out the sporadic Japanese fortifications. In Colegio's case, a precision strike, a week before a guerilla-led liberation of Naga, desecrated the campus' edifice. After the liberation of Naga on 3 April 1945, Colegio de Sta. Isabel was recaptured by Allied forces after an intense three-day battle. During the immediate post-war period, Colegio de Sta. Isabel, subsidized by legislative proxies, rebuilt its campus rapidly.
In 1946, the first post-liberation graduation was held with sixty students. It was also the year where the Colegio officially received the permit for the opening of the College of Education and Liberal Arts courses.
The latter half of the century saw the Colegio expand its college and graduate level departments. In 1950, the CSI College Department introduced elementary women's education in Secondary Education levels. Then, in 1954, the Pre-Nursing Course was opened to address Nagueño's graduating their Nursing Courses at the San Juan de Dios Hospital in Pasay.
By 1955, the CSI College Department introduced elementary women's education in Elementary Education levels. In 1957, the Junior Secretarial Course sought to address young girls seeking employment, a quasi-vocational training for women's work and their Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) program, gradually introducing new courses at three-year intervals.
In 1960, B.A. in Music Education was introduced, then B.A. in Home Economics and B.A. in Management and Information Systems in 1963. In 1968, the Graduate School was formally recognized, extending the Master of Arts in both Education and Nursing that year.
Amid Marcos' martial law decreed by Proclamation 1081, Royal Decree issued in 1972 conferred Colegio de Sta. Isabel to issue honorifics for the faculty. In the same year, the Bachelor of Science in Nursing received full recognition.
The main campus was opened on April 12, 1868. Colegio de Sta. Isabel achieved its university status in August 2001,[10][7] and was renamed Universidad de Sta. Isabel. It is still sometimes colloquially referred to as 'Colegio' across Metro Naga.
The main campus of the Universidad de Sta. Isabel is located at Elias Angeles St., Bagumbayan Sur, Naga City. The main campus manages three academic departments, the Basic Education Department, Higher Education Department, Graduate School. An annex campus is located at Panganiban Drive, Naga City and a satellite campus in Pili, Camarines Sur.
In recognition of the important role, the academe played in Philippine history, theNational Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) has declared the Universidad de Sta. Isabel (USI) as aNational Historical Landmark by virtue of Republic Act No. 10086.[11][12] In view of this declaration, Universidad de Sta. Isabel is now also known as theHeritage and Historical University of Bicol.
At the unveiling ceremony of the historical marker, NCHP Chairman Dr. Rene R. Esclante said that "USI is important in the history of the Philippines as this is the oldest school in the country," and "the first normal school for women built during the Spanish era, where traces of the old structures and even the courses offered still exists as to this time."[13][14]
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This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.
