Early Beliefs & Practices

Two words—mysticism and superstitions. These were the early beliefs of health and illness in the
Philippines. The cause of a disease was primarily believed to be due to either another person,
whom which was an enemy, or a witch or evil spirits. In the early times, Filipinos were very
cautious not to disturb other people or the evil spirits for the good of their health. These evil spirits
could be driven away by persons with power to banish demons.Belief in special gods of healing,
with the priest -physician (called “word doctors”) as intermediary. If they used leaves or roots, they
were called herb doctors (“herbolarios”) Filipinos who became sick were usually cared for by the
female family members or friends in the home.

Early Care of the Sick

The early Filipinos subscribed to superstitious belief and practices in relation to health and sickness.
Herb men were called “herbicheros” meaning one who practiced witchcraft. Persons suffering from
diseases without any identified cause were believed bewitched
by “mangkukulam” or “manggagaway”. Difficult childbirth and some diseases (called “pamao”)
were attributed to “nunos”. Midwives assisted in childbirth. During labor, the “mabuting
hilot” (good midwife) was called in. If the birth became difficult, witches were supposed to be the
cause. To disperse their influence, gunpowder were exploded from a bamboo cane close to the
head of the sufferer.

Health Care During the Spanish Regime

The context of nursing has manifested through simple nutrition, wound care, and taking care of an
ill member of the family. Certain practices when taking care of a sick individuals entails
interventions from babaylan (priest physicians) or albularyo (herb doctor). In 1578, male nurses
were acknowledged as Spanish Friars’ assistants for caring sick individuals in the hospital. These
male nurses were referred as practicante or enfermero.

The religious orders exerted their efforts to care for the sick by building hospitals in different parts
of the Philippines. The earliest hospitals were:

Hospital Real de Manila (1577) – it was established mainly to care for the Spanish king’s soldiers,
but also admitted Spanish civilians; founded by Gov. Francisco de Sande.

San Lazaro Hospital (1578) – founded by Brother Juan Clemente and was administered for many
years by the Hospitalliers of San Juan de Dios; built exclusively for patients with leprosy.

Hospital de Indios (1586) – established by the Franciscan Order; service was in general supported
by alms and contributions from charitable persons.
Hospital de Aguas Santas (1590) – established in Laguna; near a medicinal spring, founded by
Brother J. Bautista of the Franciscan Order.

San Juan de Dios Hospital (1596) – founded by the Brotherhood of Misericordia and administered
by the Hospitaliers of San Juan de Dios; support was delivered from alms and rents; rendered
general health service to the public.

Nursing During the Philippine Revolution

In the late 1890’s, the war between Philippines and Spain emerges which resulted to significant
amount of casualties. With this, many women have assumed the role of nurses in order to assist the
wounded soldiers. The emergence of Filipina nurses brought about the development of Philippines
Red Cross.

Josephine Bracken — wife of Jose Rizal, installed a field hospital in an estate house in Tejeros. She
provided nursing care to the wounded night and day.

Rosa Sevilla de Alvero — converted their house into quarters for the Filipino soldiers; during the
Philippine-American War that broke out in 1899

Dona Hilaria de Aguinaldo — wife of Emilio Aguinaldo who organized that Filipino Red Cross under
the inspiration of Mabini.

Dona Maria Agoncillo de Aguinaldo — second wife of Emilio Aguinaldo; provided nursing care to
Filipino soldiers during the revolution, President of the Filipino Red Cross branch in Batangas.

Melchora Aquino a.k.a. “Tandang Sora” — nursed the wounded Filipino soldiers and gave them
shelter and food.

Capitan Salome — a revolutionary leader in Nueva Ecija; provided nursing care to the wounded
when not in combat.

Agueda Kahabagan — revolutionary leader in Laguna, also provided nursing services to her troops

Trinidad Tecson (“Ina ng Biak-na-Bato”) — stayed in the hospital at Biak na Bato to care for
wounded soldiers

Hospitals and Nursing Schools

Americans began training the first Filipino nursing students in 1907. Nursing students in the
Philippines studied many of the same subjects as nursing students in the U.S. However, it was
believed that the curriculum in the Philippines “was never a mirror-image reproduction of the
American nursing curriculum” and involved more than a simple transfer of knowledge from
American nurses to Filipino nurses. The first Filipino nursing students also studied subjects that
were more relevant to their patients, such as “the nursing of tropical diseases” and “industrial and
living conditions in the islands,” as described by Lavinia L. Dock’s 1912 book A History of Nursing:
From the Earliest Times to the Present Day with Special Reference to the Work of the Past Thirty
Years.

Hospital School of Nursing’s Formal Training (1901 – 1911)

Formal training in hospital school of nursing transpire. This began when American missionary
doctors and nurses realized that they manpower is insufficient. Thus it resulted to a decision of
training Filipino nurses that would be catering to the hospitals that Americans established in the
20th century.

The first hospital in the Philippines which trained Filipino nurses in 1906 was Iloilo Mission Hospital,
established by the Baptist Missionaries. When this health institution was built, there were no strict
requirements for the applicants as long as they are all willing to work. This has been the beginning
of development of more nursing schools in the country. In this period, Pensionado Act of 1903 (or
Act 854) was mandated, allowing Filipino nursing student to study in United States. Among of the
first wave of nurses who went to United States

Iloilo Mission Hospital School of Nursing (Iloilo City, 1906)

It was ran by the Baptist Foreign Mission Society of America. Miss Rose Nicolet, a graduate of New
England Hospital for Women and Children in Boston, Massachusetts was the first superintendent
for nurses. It moved from its present location to Jaro Road, Iloilo City in 1929. Miss Flora Ernst, an
American nurse, took charge of the school in 1942. In April 1944 graduate nurses took the first
Nurses Board Examination at the Iloilo Mission Hospital.

Saint Paul’s Hospital School of Nursing (Manila, 1907)

The hospital was established by the Archbishop of Manila, Jeremiah Harty under the supervision of
the Sisters of St. Paul de Chartres located in Intramuros. It provided general hospital services. It
opened its training school for nurses in 1908, with Mother Melanie as superintendent and Miss
Chambers as Principal.

Philippine General Hospital School of Nursing (Manila, 1907)

Philippine General Hospital School of Nursing

PGH began in 1901 as a small dispensary for Civil officers and Employees in the City of Manila and
later grew as a Civil Hospital. In 1906, Mary Coleman Masters, an educator advocated for the idea
of training Filipino girls for the profession of nursing with the approval of Government officials, she
first opened a dormitory for Girls enrolled at the Philippine Normal Hall and the University of the
Philippines.

In 1907, with the support of Governor General Forbes and the Director of Health and among others,
she opened classes in nursing under the Auspices of the Bureau of Education. Admission was based
on an entrance examination. The applicant must have completed elementary education to the
seventh grade. Julia Nichols and Charlotte Clayton taught the students nursing subjects. American
physician also served as lecturers.
In 1910, the Act No. 1976 modified the organization of the school placing it under the supervision of
the Department of Health. The Civil Hospital was abolished and the Philippine General Hospital was
established.

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St. Luke’s Hospital School of Nursing (Quezon City, 1907)

St. Luke’s Hospital School of Nursing (Class 1914)

The hospital is an Episcopalian Institution. It began as a small dispensary in 1903. In 1907, the
school opened with three girls admitted. These three girls had their first year in combined classes
with the PGH School of Nursing and St. Paul’s Hospital School of Nursing. Miss Helen Hicks was the
first principal. Mrs. Vitaliana Beltran was the first Filipino superintendent of nurses and Dr. Jose
Fores was the first medical director of the hospital.

Mary Johnston Hospital and School of Nursing (Manila, 1907)

Mary Johnston Hospital and School of Nursing

It started as a small dispensary on Calle Cervantes (now Avenida). It was called the Bethany
Dispensary and funded by the Methodist Mission for the relief of suffering among women and
children. In 1907, Sister Rebecca Parrish together with registered nurses Rose Dudley and Gertude
Dreisbach, organized the Mary Johnston School of Nursing. The nurses’ training course began with
three Filipino young girls fresh from elementary as their first students.

Philippine Christian Mission Institute Schools of Nursing

The United Christian Missionary Society of Indianapolis, Indiana- a Protestant organization of the
disciples of Christ operated three schools of nursing.

Sallie Long Read Memorial Hospital School of Nursing (Laoag Ilocos Norte, 1903)

The Start of Nursing Practice (1911- 1921)

Promulgation of Act No. 2493 which amends Medical Law (Act No. 310) allowing the regulation of
nursing practice transpired during this period.  However, in 1919, the First True Nursing Law was
enacted through Act 2808. During this period the Board Examiners for Nursing was also created.
The first nursing board examination was given on 1920. The first executive officer of the Board
Examiners for Nurses is a physicians.

Mary Chiles Hospital School of Nursing (Manila, 1911)

Mary Chiles Hospital School of Nursing

The hospital was established by Dr. WN Lemon in a small house on Azcarraga, Sampaloc, Manila. In
1913, Miss Mary Chiles of Montana donated a large sum of money with which the preset building at
Gastambide was bought. The Tuason Annex was donated by Miss Esperanza Tuason, a Filipino
Philanthropist.

Frank Dunn Memorial Hospital (Vigan Ilocos Sur, 1912)

San Juan de Dios Hospital School of Nursing (Manila, 1913)

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In 1913, through the initiative of Dr. Benito Valdez, the board of inspectors and the executive board
of the hospital passed a resolution to open school of nursing. The school has been run by the
Daughters of Charity since then. Sister Taciana Tinanes was the first Directress of the School

Emmanuel Hospital School of Nursing (Capiz, 1913)

Capiz Emmanuel Hospital (CEH)

In 1913, the American Baptist Foreign Mission Society sent Dr. PH Lerrigo to Capiz for the purpose
of opening a hospital. Miss Rose Nicolet assisted him. The school offered a 3-year training course
for an annual fee of Php 100.00. Miss Clara Pedroso was the first principal

Southern Islands Hospital School of Nursing (Cebu, 1918)

The hospital was established in 1911 under the Bureau of Health. The school opened in 1918 with
Anastacia Giron-Tupas as the organizer. Miss Visitacion Perez was the first principal

A Much Established Professional Organization: 1921 – 1931

During this period, the precursor to the accredited professional organization in the Philippines was
created. The Filipino Nurses Association was established on October 15, and the organization
initiated the publication of Filipino Nurse Journal. Later, this journal was changed to The Philippine
Journal of Nursing. Amendment of certain sections of the Act 2008 was conducted in 1922 under
Act 3025 passed by the 5th Legislature. This policy is entitled An Act Regulating the Practice of
Nursing Profession in the Philippine Islands, which necessitates all nurses who are practicing the
profession to register yearly. In 1929, the organization also became a member of the International
Council of Nurses.
Through the 1930s, Philippine schools of nursing continued to adopt those aspects of American
professional nursing they deemed relevant and appropriate, such as higher admission standards
and the specialization of public health nursing.

Public Health Nursing Development: 1931  –  1941

In 1933, the nursing institution have increased their requirement. During this period, they have
implemented that to enter nursing education an applicant must be able to complete secondary
education. The first collegiate nursing graduates of the Philippines graduated from University of the
Philippines School of Public Health Nursing in 1938.

Other Schools of Nursing

1. Zamboanga General Hospital School of Nursing (1921)

2. Chinese General Hospital School of Nursing (1921)
3. Baguio General Hospital School of Nursing (1923)
4. Manila Sanitarium Hospital and School of Nursing (1930)
5. St. Paul School of Nursing in Iloilo City (1946)
6. North General Hospital and School of Nursing (1946)
7. Siliman University School of Nursing (1947)

Nursing during World War II

With the occurrence of the largest and most violent armed conflict in the history of mankind, there
was a re-emergence of nursing needs as well as new programs to entice women into training. In the
US, the government empowered the women to contribute. In fact, more women worked outside of
the home and as well as growth opportunities involving nurses multiplied.

While in the Philippines, World War II made public health nurses in Manila assigned to devastated
areas to attend the sick and the wounded. A year after, thirty one nurses who were taken prisoners
of war by the Japanese army and confined at the Bilibid Prison in Manila were released to the
Director of the Bureau of Health. And just like in the US, a lot of public health nurses joined the
guerillas or went to hide in the mountains during this time.

In 1946, post war records of Bureau of Health showed that there were 308 public health nurses and
38 supervisors compared to the pre-war 556 public health nurses and 38 supervisors. It was in the
same year when the creation of the Nursing Office in the Department of Health was recommended
by Mrs. Genera De Guzman, technical assistant in nursing of the DOH and the President of the
Filipino Nurses Association.
The Degree  of  Bachelor of Science in Nursing: 1941  –  1951

A nursing curriculum which was based on the thesis presented by Julita V. Sotejo, graduate of the
Philippine General Hospital School of Nursing, tackles on the development of a nursing education
within a University-based College of Nursing. This dissertation was the beginning of nursing
curriculum that have made the Nursing Institution of the country as a baccalaureate course. During
this period, College of Nursing was also created.

When the Japanese occupied the Philippines in 1942, training and practice at the hospital schools of
nursing in Manila was “violently disrupted.”  However, U.S. colonial patterns in Philippine nursing
education soon returned after the U.S. reclaimed the country in 1945 and even after the Philippines
gained independence from the U.S. July 4, 1946.

The First  Colleges of Nursing in the Philippines

University of Santo Tomas-College of Nursing (1946)

In its first year of existence, its enrollees were consisted of students from different school of nursing
whose studied were interrupted by the war. In 1947, the Bureau of Private Schools permitted UST
to grant the title Graduate Nurse to the 21 students who were of advanced standing from 1948 up
to the present. The college has offered excellent education leading to a baccalaureate degree. Sor
Taciana Trinanes was its first directress. Presently, Associate Professor Glenda A. Vargas, RN, MAN
serves as its Dean.

Manila Central University-College of Nursing (1947)

Manila Central University-College of Nursing

University of the Philippines Manila-College of Nursing (1948)

The idea of opening the college began in a conference between Miss Julita Sotejo and UP President.
In April 1948, the University Council approved the curriculum, and the Board of Regents recognized
the profession as having an equal standing as Medicine, Engineering etc. Miss Julita Sotejo was its
first dean. Presently, Professor Josefina A. Tuason, RN, MAN, DrPh is once more reappointed as the
Dean of UP Manila College of Nursing

Proliferation of Nurses as a Workforce: 1951  –  1971

The Philippine Nursing Law was approved under the Republic Act No. 877 on June 19 1953. Then
further amendment was created in 1966 which limits that practice of among nurses 21 years old
and above. The increasing number of nurses in the Philippines have also brought about the
celebration of Nurses’ Week which was proclaimed by President Carlos P. Garcia under the
Proclamation No. 539. The continuous of nurses had also resulted to the first round of migration,
particularly in United States. In fact, between 1966 and 1985 about 25,000 Filipino nurses have
migrated to United States.

Nursing Profession Development: 1971 – 2001

Regulation of the practice of health care providers, the Presidential Decree No. 223, was mandated
which brought about the establishment of the agency, Professional Regulation Commission. During
this period, the Philippine Nursing Act of 1991 was also amended under Republic Act No. 7164
which expanded nursing practice to other roles such as management, teaching, decision making,
and leadership. The qualification of nurses or faculty’s in the academe was also updated to Master’s
Degree in Nursing or equivalent. Another important event in Philippine Nursing history is the
creation of Nursing Certification Council in 1999 under the Board of Nursing through Resolution No.
14 which supervise the new programs’ implementation conducted by Specialty Certification Boards.
This improvement also prompted the start of Advanced Practice Nursing (APN) in the Philippines.

Further Changes in Nursing Law: 2001- to Present

Nursing graduates take their oath in Manila.

During this period, the Philippine Nursing Act of 2002 was enacted under the Republic Act No. 9173
which entails changes on existing policies under Republic Act No. 7164. These changes underscore
on the requirements for faculty and Dean of the Colleges of Nursing, as well as the conduct for
Nursing Licensure Exam.

In a glance

College of Nursing

1. UST College of Nursing – 1st College of Nursing in the Phils: 1877

2. MCU College of Nursing – June 1947 (1st College who offered BSN – 4 year program)
3. UP College of Nursing – June 1948
4. FEU Institute of Nursing – June 1955
5. UE College of Nursing – Oct 1958
1909

 3 female graduated as “qualified medical-surgical nurses”

1919

 The 1st Nurses Law (Act#2808) was enacted regulating the practice of the nursing
profession in the Philippines Islands. It also provided the holding of exam for the practice
of nursing on the 2nd Monday of June and December of each year.

1920

 1st board examination for nurses was conducted by the Board of Examiners, 93

candidates took the exam, 68 passed with the highest rating of 93.5%-Anna Dahlgren
 Theoretical exam was held at the UP Amphitheater of the College of Medicine
and Surgery. Practical exam at the PGH Library.

1921

Philippine Nurses Association Building

 Filipino Nurses Association was established (now PNA) as the National Organization Of
Filipino Nurses
 PNA: 1st President – Rosario Delgado
 Founder – Anastacia Giron-Tupas

1953 

 Republic Act 877, known as the “Nursing Practice Law” was approved.

Though it was not always considered as a profession, Nursing has already been existing for
centuries. Its significance of today will definitely not be proven real if not because of its remarkable
history. And now, the value of Nursing has stood the test of time and is becoming more visible in
the eyes of many not only because of its past, but also due to its considerable contribution in the
society.