Education in the Philippines during the First Republic

Prepared by: Jessica Anne C. Reyes

The Malolos Republic: Brief History

• Also called The First Philippine Republic

• Established by Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo with his adviser Apolinario Mabini
• Aguinaldo had with him a draft of a plan prepared by Mariano Ponce for the
establishment of a revolutionary government
• 2 types of government established during the first republic:
- Dictatorial government
- Revolutionary Government
• On May 24, 1898, Aguinaldo issued a decree formally establishing the Dictatorial
Government
• Aguinaldo thought that it was necessary to declare the independence of the
Philippines
• On June 12, between four and five in the afternoon, Aguinaldo, in the presence
of a huge crowd, proclaimed the independence of the Philippines at Cavite el
Viejo (now Kawit)
• For the first time, the Philippine National Flag, made by Mrs. Marcela Agoncillo,
assisted by Lorenza Agoncillo and Delfina Herboza, was officially raised.
• Marcha Nacional Filipina or the Philippine National March, composed by Julian
Felipe, was first played in public at the same day.
• The dictatorial government lasted for only a month, from May 24 to June 23,
1898.
• On June 23, 1898, Aguinaldo issued a decree setting up the Revolutionary
Government.
• The decree provided for the creation of congress
• In the morning of September 15, the basilica of Barasoain was filled with
delegates and expectators.
Education
• Because of the destruction of many schools and to the peace and order
condition, all the schools were closed for the time being.
• Aguinaldo decreed that all diplomas awarded by UST after 1898 be considered
null and void
• Article 23 of the Malolos Constitution mandated that public education would be
free and obligatory in all schools of the nation under the First Philippine Republic
• Aguinaldo included an item for public instruction amounting P35, 000 in the
budget for 1899.
• On August 29, 1898, the Secretary of the Interior ordered the provincial
governors to reestablish the schools that had been abandoned before.

Schools Established during the First Republic

A. Literary University of the Philippines

(Literaria Universidad de Filipinas)
• First Philippine state university
• In a decree issued on October 19, 1898, Aguinaldo created the Literaria
Universidad de Filipinas.
• Inaugurated on November 10, 1898
• It was first situated in Navotas and Tambobong (now Malabon) then moved at
the convent of Barasoain Church, Malolos, Bulacan
• Offered courses in law, medicine and surgery, pharmacy, and notarianship
• Dr. Joaquin Gonzales was appointed first president of the university.
• He was succeeded by Dr. Leon Ma. Guerrero, who delivered the commencement
address on September 29, 1899

B. Burgos Institute (Burgos Instituto)

• On October 24, 1898, a decree was issued outlining the curriculum of the Burgos
Institute.
• The country’s first law school
• An exclusive school for boys
• Was under the supervision of Enrique Mendiola
 • The curriculum of the said school included Latin grammar, universal geography
and history, Spanish literature, Mathematics, French, English, physics, chemistry,
philosophy and natural laws.

C. Military Academy (Academia Militar)

• It was also called Academia Militar
• The country’s first military school
• Following the decree of Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo, the academy was established on
October 25, 1898 at Malolos, Bulacan.
• It was aimed at providing training for future officers who were to lead the regular
army of the Philippines after the revolution.
• Its director was Manuel Sityar

People who contributed to education during the

First Republic
1. Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo
• First president of the Philippine Republic
• Issued decrees that established schools
• Included P35, 000 to support the education in the Philippines in the budget for
1899.

2. Apolinario Mabini
• Wrote the True Decalogue

3. Dr. Joaquin A. Gonzales

• First rector of the first Philippine state university
• Joined the medical faculty and taught legal medicine in Universidad Literaria de
Filipinas (Literary University of the Philippines)

4. Dr. Leon. Ma. Guerrero

• Second president of the Literary University of the Philippines
• Professor of pharmacy in the said school
 5. Salvador V. Del Rosario
• A member of the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery
• Taught general anatomy at LUP

6. Enrique Mendiola
• Rector of the Burgos Institute

7. Manuel Sityar
• Spanish lieutenant of the Civil Guard
• Director of the Academia Militar

Outcomes
• The Literary University of the Philippines did not live long because the conflict
with the Americans led its faculty and students in disperse.

• The Military Academy was forced to close down on January 20, 1899, however,
as hostilities broke out between the Americans and Filipinos. However, the
Military Academy later turned out as the Philippine Military Academy presently
situated in Baguio.