Universidad de Sta. Isabel

Universidad de Sta. Isabel de Naga, Inc., ([juːnɪvɚˈsɪdæd deɪ ˈsænta ˌɪˈseɪbɛl deɪ ˈnɑːgə ˌɪŋk], en) (English: University of St. Isabel in Naga, Inc.) (USI, formerly Colegio de Sta. Isabel) is a private Catholic university run by the Sisters of Charity of Saint Vincent De Paul in Naga, Camarines Sur, Philippines. It was founded by the Rt Rev. Francisco Gainza, O.P., Bishop of Caceres, in 1868 as the first normal school for women in Asia, named in honor of the university's patron, St. Isabel, Queen of Hungary.

Queen Isabella II's Royal Decree in 1867 opened Escuela-Colegio de Sta. Isabel (ESCI) in 1868 under the Diocese of Cáceres of Rt Rev. Francisco Gainza's episcopate in Nueva Cáceres. ECSI introduced the Escuela Normal de Maestra in 1872, founding the first normal school for women in Asia, named in honor of the university's patron, St. Isabel, Queen of Hungary. Three years later, ESCI was renamed to Colegio de Sta. Isabel (CSI). In 1898, it housed the interim government for Elias Angeles' regional rebellion. Americanized with secular Thomasite instruction in 1901, the colonial-era curriculum was gradually diluted yet CSI retained its primary Vincentian doctrines. During World War II, CSI became a temporary co-educational facility under a Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere-based syllabus, offering education to Ateneo de Naga pupils when their campus was requisitioned by the Japanese from 1940 to 1941, subsequently transferring all classes to the convent of the Cathedral and the Archdiocesian Seminary throughout the duration of the war. In 1968, CSI introduced its Graduate School. CSI was granted university status by virtue of the Higher Education Act of 1994 in 2001, conferred a year after in 2002, and is now officially referred to as Universidad de Sta. Isabel de Naga, Inc. (USI).

The university offers elementary and secondary education through the Basic Education Department (USI-BED), a Higher Education Department (USI-HED), and Graduate School. The campus is a leading institution in implementing the St. Louise de Marillac Educational System (SLMES) worldwide across Vincentian institutions.

In accordance to the Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013, otherwise known as the "K-12 Basic Education Program" in conjunction with the "SHS Academic Track, Technical-Vocational Livelihood", USI-BED combines both elementary and secondary education under a single departmental faculty and student governing body, the Student Central Council (SCC), and a collection of classrooms in the St. Louise de Marillac Building (SLM Bldg.) and St. Vincent de Paul Building (SVP Bldg.). USI-BED is composed of Preschool, Elementary, and high schools separated into both Junior High School with a Night High School Program and Senior High School curricula.

History

Proposals of Rev. Francisco Gainza

In February 1863, during Rev. Francisco Gainza's consecration to the episcopated by Abp. Gregorio Meliton, Archdiocese of Manila, he planned reformations for the Diocese of Caceres with Fr. Gregorio Velasco, C.M. in the Las Islas Filipinas: the establishment of a colegio-beaterio ran by the Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul and the redirection of the Seminario Conciliar. Velasco described Gainza's endeavors as a "daring pursuit" (era una empreza atrevida).

Establishment of a colegio-beaterio in Nueva Cáceres

Upon Gainza's initialization of his diocesian reformations since his arrival in Nueva Cáceres on 19 March 1863, he worked toward the colegio-beaterio by first erecting an edifice across the Cathedral and near the Episcopal Palace. On 8 October 1866, Gainza briefed the Ministry of Overseas Colonies, Alejandro de Castro, of his proposals for a colegio-beaterio in Nueva Cáceres. In his letter, he stressed the absence of the diocese's primary normal school for girls to wit:

"Another diocesan establishment is missing, to whose classes all the girls of this city and immediate suburbs go to receive an education in harmony with the conditions of their sex, and with the high mission of women in the Islands, so that returning to their homes, they can carry the seeds of Christianly advanced civilization, for the improvement of their towns and for the good of their families."

In the same letter, Gainza requested de Castro to lobby the authorization, both the funding for the journey and the ₱150 monthly wages of the five Provincial Visitors of the Sisters of Charity administering the school, and subsidization of personnel and supplies. At the end of the letter, Gainza proposed renaming the blank Colegio of Nueva Cáceres after Queen Isabella II and St. Elizabeth of Hungary (Santa Isabel de Hungría):

"I dare to propose to your excellency (V.E.) that the diocesan Colegio of Nueva Cáceres be named Santa Isabel, so that it will remember in the future generations the name of a Queen, who is gladly obeyed by these loyal provinces, and at the same time another Isabel, who discarded her own jewelry to bring to the new world true civilization, founded on Christianity."

Isabella II's enthusiasm with the colegio-beaterio

On 29 June 1867, Gainza headed for Southern Europe in Rome, for his quinquennial visit ad limina on the 18th centenary of Saint Peter, then Madrid, where he discussed with Isabella II his proposals of the colegio-beaterio. Met with resounding approval, Gainza described his meeting with the Queen:

"The warm welcome that her majesty and her august husband gave us during our stay; of the sweet satisfaction with which they heard the news of these Islands; the eager interest with which they asked interesting details, of the kind deference with which they promised us at first to accept our wishes, and the hasty kindness with which they later fulfilled it."

Campuses

The main campus of the Universidad de Sta. Isabel is located at Elias Angeles St., Bagumbayan Sur, Naga City. The main campus manages three academic departments, the Basic Education Department, Higher Education Department, Graduate School. An annex campus is located at Panganiban Drive, Naga City and a satellite campus in Pili, Camarines Sur.

Integrated Basic Education Department (BED)

The Basic Education Department, or BED, in accordance with the K-12 Basic Education Program, refers to USI's basic education institution consisting of the Elementary Department, from Grades 1 to 6; the Junior High School Department, from Grades 7 to 10; the Senior High School Department, from Grades 11 to 12.

Auditorium

The USI Auditorium is the campus' main proscenium theater, an enclosed two-story structure equipped with sound-proofing, air-conditioning, and a seating capacity of 800 seats. It can be used for "assemblies, programs, convocations, seminars, stage plays, conventions and other school functions."

St. Elizabeth of Hungary Chapel

The St. Elizabeth of Hungary Chapel is one of the campus' principal chapels. Its exterior appears to be as a medium-sized circular structure roofed by a tall cone. The chapel has semi-circular auditorium seating arrangement in front of an altar upon a large crucifix spanning to the ceiling. Religious activities such as sponsored masses are held at this chapel.

Blessed Frassati Activity and Sports Center

The Blessed Frassati Activity and Sports Center, most commonly referred to as the "USI Frassati Gymnasium," is a two-story indoor venue structure functioning as both a student's gymnasium and an activity center for campus-related events. Its static seating is arranged on the balcony, while the first floor consists of the main activity and sports floor. The gymnasium also holds the offices for the USI Sports Development Office, USI GSS, and the USI Symphonic Band and Marching Lady Falcons.

The first floor is mostly composed of the main hall partitioned by its three paved ballcourts and enclosed by wall matting, with an adjustable truss stage deployed in the upper-center below the gym's large, wall-hung USI logo; this is the area where "ball games, PE classes, student assembles, and physical fitness exercises" are held.

The second floor contains the balcony stands, arranged in a horseshoe-type seating except for the bottom. This floor may be separated left-right relative to the stage: both sides contain eight-tiered concrete stands, the tech booth on the left, and the outdoor gymnasium in the middle, where the Vincentian Performing Arts Company and the taekwondo club often practice.

Higher education

• College of Health Education
• College of Business Education
• College of Arts And Sciences, Teacher Education, Social Work and Music Education
• Graduate school

USI as National Historical Landmark

In recognition of the important role, the academe played in Philippine history, the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) has declared the Universidad de Sta. Isabel (USI) as a National Historical Landmark by virtue of Republic Act No. 10086. In view of this declaration, Universidad de Sta. Isabel is now also known as the Heritage and Historical University of Bicol.

At the unveiling ceremony of the historical marker, NCHP Chairman Dr. Rene R. Esclante said that "USI is important in the history of the Philippines as this is the oldest school in the country," and "the first normal school for women built during the Spanish era, where traces of the old structures and even the courses offered still exists as to this time."

Notable people

Alumni

Leni Robredo (14th Vice President of the Philippines) attended the Basic Education Department.

Эх сурвалж: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)