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

326 THE PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES

ment they stand out in their communities. But they have not
escaped the perils of over-refinement, for they frequently set
up social distinctions which proved irritating to the common
people of their communities. A popular Filipino complaint
about these schools in Spanish times is perhaps reflected in the
words of Del Rosario. It is quoted as a lesson regarding the
constant watchfulness modern schools must practice to avoid
similar criticism.
"It is only in the College of Santa Isabel, in the municipal
school, and in some private schools that adequate instruction
was given. In some of these colleges the instruction was
very poor, as many of the pupils graduated without knowing
how to speak Spanish.... Some of these colleges were
houses of recreation or of rest, rather than educational institutions, where not only girls, but women, both married and
single, went to pass a time for the purpose of change or to
renew their clothing. Provincial young ladies especially were in
the habit of attending the colleges of Manila for the purpose
of learning the customs and social manners of the capital of
the archipelago... These young ladies sometimes took to
the provinces the defective mannerisms of the capital, instead
of the correct and elegant manners of good society-habits
which they could not acquire in those colleges, where they
were always engaged in praying or in sewing, embroidering,
dressmaking, etc. The young Filipina girl left these colleges
without the habits required in society and which are so necessary to woman.... In these educational institutions..
the odious ideas of difference between races was cultivated,
a distinction being made between Spaniards, Spanish mestizos,
mestizos, natives, Filipinos, and Indians. The result of these
erroneous principles inculcated in the education of the girls,
has been that Filipino society is divided and disagreeable.
Girls leave these colleges with these erroneous ideas and believe
themselves superior to others, making themselves ridiculous
to educated and polished persons."
Del Rosario, feeling, as the reader probably will feel, that
he has been too severe, continues:
"It is but just to state that if the education and instruction