A survey of the educational system of the Philippine islands by the Board of educational survey, created under acts 3162 and 3196 of the Philippine Legislature.

646 EDUCATIONAL SURVEY OF THE PHILIPPINES

one but many constituencies to satisfy. He must be the educational
adviser of his board of regents and yet be content to see some of his
advice rejected on other than educational grounds. He must be the
leader of his faculty and formulate plans for the advancement of the
university only to find that many members frequently doubt the wisdom
of his plans and some oppose their execution. He must carry with
him in his reform a body of alumni who believe that the old ways are
the best ways. He must satisfy a body of students who are constantly
demanding greater participation in university administration. Finally,
despite the opposition of influences that have little regard for higher
education at public expense, he must convince the Legislature of the
absolute necessity of the requests he makes. Surely a man of vision
and experience is needed, a man with backbone enough to maintain
his ground and yet with sufficient tact and courtesy to win hearty
rather than grudging support.
What has been the history of the University of the Philippines in
respect to the presidency? Since the installation of its first president,
June 1, 1911, until the Commencement of 1925, a period of fourteen
years, it has had six presidents or acting presidents. Their periods
of service were as follows:
1. Murray Bartlet, June 1, 1911, to Commencement, 1915.
2. Ignacio Villamor, June 7, 1915, to May 19, 1920.
3. Jose Escaler (Acting President), December 28, 1918, to June
14, 1919.
4. Alejandro Albert (Acting President), May 20, 1920, to April
4, 1921.
5. Guy Potter Benton, April 5, 1921 to October 8, 1923.
6. Rafael Palma (Acting President), October 10, 1923, to Commencement, 1925.
For its president, any university needs a man with qualities of leadership and it should insure him a tenure sufficiently long to enable him to
formulate his plans and attempt to realize them. For a new university
both are absolutely essential requirements. It is unnecessary to consider
whether any or all of these gentlemen were leaders. No one of them
remained in office sufficiently long to accomplish much of whatever plans
he may have formulated. In this constant succession of executives the
deans of the colleges in order to keep things going had naturally to assume functions that belonged to the president. At times there have been
lack of harmony and unwise interference from without, and working
at cross purposes. That the University should have maintained itself
in the manner that it has is astonishing. Fortunately, this chaotic period
seems to have drawn to a close. At the past Commencement, the
Acting President, Rafael Palma, was elected President. The Com

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