The people of the Philippines, their religious progress and preparation for spiritual leadership in the Far East,

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION-SPANISH PERIOD 325

were more severe than the friars in their education, very
exacting in every detail, very critical in examinations. And
all these things the Filipinos liked because they saw that most
of the Jesuits were working for their welfare and not for
selfish reasons.
All of this comment will meet most emphatic denial on the
part of the friars, and will be called wholly unfair. At least
it can scarcely be accused of being Protestant prejudice. It is,
as a matter of fact not an attempt to fix either credit or
blame, but to study the reactions of a people to two educational
theories, that we may learn our lessons from the results of
each.
GIRLS' SCHOOLS DURING THE SPANISH PERIOD
Among the girls' schools, the oldest is the college of Santa
Isabel. It was established in 1632 (four years before Harvard), for the education of Spanish orphaned girls. The
death toll from disease and war among the Spaniards was
very high, and the number of orphans of Spanish soldiers
and civilians rapidly mounted. The institution was conducted
by private Spanish ladies until 1863 when it came under
the Sisters of Charity, who still have charge of it. The same
sisters have charge of the "College of Santa Rosa" for Filipina young ladies: of the "College of La Concordia or the
Immaculate Conception," and of the "Asylum of St. Vincent
de Paul," both in Paco; of the important school of "Santa
Isabel," located in Nueva Caseres; and of the "College of San
Jose" located in Jaro.
The "College of Santa Catalina" was established by the
Dominicans in I696 as a retreat for Spanish ladies "desirous
of renouncing the vanities of the world.... The inmates
of this institution are not permitted to leave without good
cause. They may be visited by their parents and other friends
and acquaintances in a reception room located near the door
of the college."
The impression one receives of the "finish" of girls from
these schools is usually very favorable. In culture and refine