The sun., 1903-12-06

Of university. now known as the Liceo
| de Manila, which, except in sp ecial courses,
! has as high an educational standard AZ
| many American colleges. Most of its sup
porters are ex-insurgents, its president he
/ ing Leon Guerrero, formerly the chief manu-
factuier of ammunition for the Esurgent
, army. When the Liceo was founded. on June
20, 1900. Gov. Taft was present and made a
speech. which helped more than anything
else he had done before to show the Filipino,
his true attitude toward their educational
ambitions.
Then the Club Int ernacional was organized
as an ad junct TO the Liceo. Its first scholar
ship WAS awarded o the son Of u prominent
Manila family, Santiago Artiago. who was
sent to Ann Arbor on the recommendation
Of Gov. Taft. More awards soon followed,
and for time nearly every returning trans
port from the Philippines brought several
students for American colleges.
Sefior Vllamor has large plans for the
education of the Filipino youth.
"In the old days of Spanish rule, he says,
I'VE were much hampered by the Church.
Religious training was so important a
factor of it's system of education that
native had little chance unless he studied for
the Church or the army.
"Only the rich could hope for education
abroad, and graduation from the religious
institutions went for almost nothing in
foreign universities where scientific and
professional courses were given.
But the Lceo will change that. Re-
ligious training will be separated from the
other studies, and it will be left to the STU
dents option whether he takes theology or
not.
Our course will be eminently practical;
the Liceo shall be great preparatory
school for the foreign university, and in
time, l hope, it will rise to be as good in
itself as any foreign institution of learning
During the war against the Americans
Senior Villamor established a college within
the insurgent lines, at Vigan, Ilocos Sur.
In November, 1899. the town was bombarded
by the battleship Oregon, and Sehor Villa
NOR left his class room to go out to meet
the American troops who were advancing
on the place 1t was he who surrendered
the province in the name Of the people he
represented in the insurgent Congress.
The colleges where Filipinos are in at
tendance almost invariably report that
they are exceedingly industrious, in con-
tradistinction to the majority of young
men from the tropics who find their way
up north. Besides being good students
they are naturally bright and are taking
many honors.
Mr. Lagadameo. Aguinaldo's relative at
Yale, is typical of his fellow countrymen
in America.
What do you expect to do when you
graduate?" he was asked.
Enter the civil service in our own coun-
try" he replied; "at least, that is what most
of us hope to do. | am taking a course
in forestry because / expect to enter that
part of the Government service when go
back.
Many of my countrymen are taking
law courses, and they will undoubtedly
some day interpret American law to their
fellow citizens in Manila"
When Gov. Taft was mentioned Mr..
Lagadameo grew enthusiastic.
He is great man." he said. I'VE Fill
pinos admire him immensely. In fact, l
NAV saw he is one of the three great heroes
of the Filipino people
"The first was RIAL who died for our
cause before the fire of a squad of Spanish
soldiers. Then came my cousin. Aglinaldo,
waned of late. And last Of all comes Taft,
who has more than removed our animosity
toward the Americans by his efforts to
improve our conditions"
. These young Filipinos are not only be-
coming American in ways of living and
thinking they are interesting their fathers
and friends in American investments.
My father" said Mr. Lagadameo. who
is a merchant in Manila, owns several fiat
houses in San Francisco, from which he
derives better revenues than similar
invest ment in Manila could give.
"Other Filipinos have done likewise.
know several who have bought ranches
out West and some have invested in Ameri-
can commercial enterprises. Money is
safer here. There is no danger of demands
from insurgent leaders to swell revolu-
tionary funds