ANYTHING UNDER THE SUN
The World of Mother Rosario (3)
Since time immemorial, the Ilonggos have a deep love for knowledge which they look upon as a passport to progress in life.
Before the Spaniards came in the 16th century, the pagan Malays–ancestors of the preent Ilonggos, have already an informal school (bothuan) where they taught their ancient syllabic alphabet, tribal mores and customs.
During the Spanish regime, it was reported that of all the provinces in the colony, Iloilo was “the most instructed” with a school in every pueblo.
Molo then had four schools and colleges–Colegio de Santa Ana, Instituto Ensenanza Libre de Molo, Centro Escolar de Molo and Escuela Publica.
Molo has produced a justice of the Real Audiencia–highest court during the Spanish time, a Chief Justice, nine. senators two of whom were senate presidents , seven governors, six generals of the Philippine Revolution, six congressmen, four city mayors, and the first Miss Philippines. That is why it is often called the “Athens of the Philippines”.
In the neighborhood of Molo, there were also good schools In 1592, Jesuit Fray Pedro Chirino established in Tigbauan the first school for boys in the Philippines. In 1872, the Daughters of St Vincent de Paul founded the Colegio de las Nina de San Jose which was the second oldest school for girls outside of Manila. It was here where Mother Rosario spent her elementary and high school education.
In 1872, the third seminary in the Philippines was founded in Jaro–Seminario de San Vicente Ferrer which had produced a national hero–Graciano Lopez Jaena and Cardinal Jaime L. Sin, Archbishop Gabriel Reyes, the first Filipino Archbishop plus ten other archbishops and bishops.
During the American regime, more schools were created in Iloilo: Colegio de San Agustin (1902)–now first university in the region, Central Philippine College (1905)–now university, Baluarte Elementary School in Molo (1905)–the first public elementary school in the country, Iloilo High School (1902)–the first public high school in the country, Iloilo Trade School (1904)–now Western Visayas College of Science and Technology, and Iloilo Normal School (1907)–now West Visayas State University.
Even until now, Molo continues to be a center of education with John B. Lacso Foundation Maritime University as the only maritime university in the country of international standards, Iloilo Doctors’ College–the first college of medicine in Panay and the Iloilo City High School–the first free public school in the country since 1953 and St. Anne College.
The province of Iloilo also continues to be a center of education with with having the largest school division in the country, with having the most number of state colleges/universities in the country, with Iloilo School of Fisheries as the biggest fishery school in the country and the University of the Philippines in Visayas as having the largest UP school campus in the country, too.
‘This prolification of schools in Molo and Jaro during the childhood of Mother Rosario up to her adulthood must have convinced her of the vital importance of schools and education in her divine mission of the formation and teaching of the people of God thru her Congregation which has now started to establish schools in the four comers of the world.
(To be continued)
