Colegio de San Juan de Letran (CSJL) (also as San Juan de Letran College (SJLC), Letran College (LC) or simply Letran), was founded in 1620. Letran is a private Roman Catholic institution of higher learning located in Intramuros, Manila, Philippines. The Colegio was given Level 2 accreditation by the Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities in the Elementary department, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS), the College of Business Administration (CBA), and the High School Department.
Presidents and Rectors of
Colegio de San Juan de Letran
1620-38 - Juan Alonso Jeronimo Guerrero
1632-38 - Bro. Diego de Sta. Maria
1639-43 - Fr. Sebastian de Oquendo, O.P.
1643-45 - Fr. Francisco Herrera, O.P.
1645-47 - Fr. Lucas Ruiz Montana, O.P.
1647-48 - Fr. Juan L. de Guete, O.P.
1648-50 - Fr. Rafael de la Carcel, O.P.
1650-52 - Fr. Juan de los Angeles, O.P.
1652-56 - Fr. Jeronimo de Zamora, O.P.
1656-57 - Fr. Juan de los Angeles, O.P.
1657-59 - Fr. Andres Gomez, O.P.
1659-61 - Fr. Ignacio de Herrera, O.P.
1661-63 - Fr. Pedro Camacho, O.P.
1663-65 - Fr. Andres Gomez, O.P.
1665-67 - Fr. Francisco Sanchez, O.P.
1667-69 - Fr. Andres Gomez, O.P.
1669-84 - Fr. Juan de los Angeles, O.P.
1684-86 - Fr. Tomas de los Reyes, O.P.
1686-92 - Fr. Jose Valdes, O.P.
1692-94 - Fr. Tomas de los Reyes, O.P.
1694-98 - Fr. Gregorio Giraldez, O.P.
1698-1700 - Fr. Domingo de le Escalera, O.P.
1700-02 - Fr. Juan de Sto Domingo, O.P.
1702-04 - Fr. Sebastian del Castillo, O.P.
1704-06 - Fr. Diego Nunez, O.P.
1706-10 - Fr. Francisco Ruiz, O.P.
1710-18 - Fr. Juan de Sto Domingo, O.P.
1718-20 - Fr. Pedro Bono, O.P.
1720-22 - Fr. Juan de Sto Domingo, O.P.
1722-23 - Fr. Francisco Petite, O.P.
1723-25 - Fr. Juan Caballero, O.P.
1725-35 - Fr. Juan de Arrechedera
1735-37 - Fr. Diego Saenz, O.P.
1737-41 - Fr. Vicente Salazar, O.P.
1741-42 - Fr. Bernardo Ustariz, O.P.
1742-45 - Fr. Vicente Salazar, O.P.
1745-47 - Fr. Jose Herrera, O.P.
1747-49 - Fr. Tomas Canduela, O.P.
1749-51 - Fr. Francisco Carriedo, O.P.
1751-53 - Fr. Juan de la Cruz, O.P.
1753-55 - Fr. Bernardo Ustariz, O.P.
1755-57 - Fr. Jose Herrera, O.P.
1757-59 - Fr. Diego Serrano, O.P.
1759-63 - Fr. Bernardo Ustariz, O.P.
1763-69 - Fr. Pedro Luis de Sierra, O.P.
1769-73 - Fr. Cristobal Rodriguez, O.P.
1773-77 - Fr. Andres Melendez, O.P.
1777-81 - Fr. Francisco Garcia, O.P.
1781-85 - Fr. Juan Fernandez, O.P.
1785-94 - Fr. Cristobal Rodriguez, O.P.
1794-98 - Fr. Antonio Robles, O.P.
1798-1802 - Fr. Diego Martin, O.P.
1802-14 - Fr. Pedro Galan, O.P.
1814-25 - Fr. Francisco Genoves, O.P.
1825-29 - Fr. Antonio Tavanera, O.P.
1829-33 - Fr. Tomas Rosello, O.P.
1833-45 - Fr. Francisco Mora, O.P.
1845-51 - Fr. Rafael Castro, O.P.
1851-55 - Fr. Juan Velichon, O.P.
1855-59 - Fr. Antonio Carrillo, O.P.
1859-63 - Fr. Jose R. Gonzales
1863-67 - Fr. Raimundo Rodriguez, O.P.
1867-71 - Fr. Mariano Martin, O.P.
1871-73 - Fr. Benito Corominas, O.P.
1873-74 - Fr. Pedro Perez, O.P.
1874-77 - Fr. Domingo Tressera, O.P.
1877-78 - Fr. Miguel Narro, O.P.
1878-80 - Fr. Lucio Asencio, O.P.
1880-82 - Fr. Ruperto Alarcon, O.P.
1882-86 - Fr. Miguel Narro, O.P.
1886-89 - Fr. Bernardino Nozaleda
1889-90 - Fr. Jose Maria Garcia, O.P.
1890-94 - Fr. Lucio Asencio, O.P.
1894-1903 - Fr. Marcos Lainez, O.P.
1903-10 - Fr. Jose Maria Ruiz, O.P.
1910-14 - Fr. Santiago Paya, O.P.
1914-17 - Fr. Florencio Llanos, O.P.
1917-22 - Fr. Calixto Prieto, O.P.
1922-23 - Fr. Juan Ylla, O.P.
1923-27 - Fr. Jesus Andres Villaverde, O.P.
1927-30 - Fr. Roque Ruano, O.P.
1930-33 - Fr. Juan Ylla, O.P.
1933-34 - Fr. Silvestre Sancho, O.P.
1934-36 - Fr. Angel de Blas, O.P.
1936-45 - Fr. Juan Labrador, O.P.
1946-49 - Fr. Honorio Muñoz, O.P.
1949-52 - Fr. Evergisto Bazaco, O.P.
1952-55 - Fr. Aurelio Valbuena, O.P.
1955-61 - Fr. Angel de Blas, O.P.
1961-64 - Fr. Isidoro Katigbak, O.P.
1964-65 - Fr. Pedro Mateos, O.P.
1965-68 - Fr. Antonio Cabezon, O.P.
1968-69 - Fr. Lorenzo Rodriguez, O.P.
1969-70 - Fr. Eladio Neira, O.P.
1970-74 - Fr. Antonio F. Posadas, O.P.
1974-80 - Fr. Pompeyo F. de Mesa, O.P.
1980-86 - Fr. Regino O. Cortes, O.P.
1986-89 - Fr. Thomas Lopez Francisco, O.P.
1989-92 - Fr. Rogelio B. Alarcon, O.P.
1992-99 - Fr. Ramon C. Cercado, O.P.
1999-2007 - Fr. Edwin A. Lao, O.P.
2007-11 - Fr. Tamerlane R. Lana, O.P.
The name San Juan de Letran is derived from the Basilica of St. John Lateran in Rome, considered as the Mother Church of Christendom[1] This name, in turn, was taken from that of the palace known as Palazzo Laterano, beside which it stands at the Piazza San Giovanni or Saint John Square in that SE of Rome location, a former Imperial Palace given by Emperor Constantine to the Pope in the early 4th century, which later served as official papal residence for over a thousand years.
St. John the Baptist building fronting Muralla St. in Intramuros. The building serves as the administration building.
The Colegio is owned and administered by priests of the Order of Preachers (Dominicans) of the Philippine Dominican Province. The school has a rich and proud history and holds the distinction of having produced Philippine presidents, revolutionary heroes, poets, legislators, members of the clergy, jurists, and is the only Philippine school that has produced a Catholic Saint that actually lived and studied inside its original campus. The campus contains two statues, representing the two foremost alumni in the fields of secular and religious service: former Philippine President Manuel L. Quezon and Vietnamese Saint Vicente Liem de la Paz.
Originally founded by Don Juan Geromino Guerrero in 1620, a retired Spanish officer, in Intramuros as Colegio de Niños Huerfanos de San Juan de Letran. The school was designed to educate and mold orphans to be good Christian citizens. Around the same time, Diego de Santa Maria, O.P. established Colegio de Huerfanos de San Pedro y San Pablo. As Don Guerrero grew old, the two schools were fused together, taking the name of Colegio de San Juan de Letran. In 1623, King Philip IV of Spain placed Letran under Royal protection.
St. Thomas Building, which houses the library, the media center and TV studios.
After 60 years, Letran was declared an ecclesiastical college. A royal decree on May 1865 pronounced Letran as a "College of the First Class". Around this time, Letran was still a school exclusively for boys.
During World War II, Letran suspended classes, and the school was changed into a Japanese garrison. After the war, Letran resumed operations. Several new construction projects were inaugurated to replace the old structures wrecked by the war. The school began accepting female students in its college department in the 1970s while the grade school and high school departments started accepting female enrollees in June 2005. Letran has programs in business education, humanities, information technology, communication arts and basic education, and has successful athletic programs, particularly in basketball, football, volleyball, taekwondo, and tennis. Through the centuries Letran has produced numerous athletes that have donned the national colors (especially in basketball) in international events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Southeast Asian Games, Jones Cup, and FIBA World Championship. In October 2007, two former Letran administrators were among the 498 Spanish martyrs beatified by Pope Benedict XVI. They are Fr. Jesus Villaverde Andres, OP, a former rector; and Fr. Antonio Varona Ortega, OP, a former professor and moderator of the NCAA Philippines.
The Colegio's Symbols
Motto
"Deus, Patria, Letran" - "For God, Country, and Letran."
Creed
"Soy una Letranista, y viviré para el Señor Dios, Patria y Letran" - "I am a Letranite and I will continue to live my days as one - for God, the Fatherland, and for my beloved Alma Mater."
The Colegio currently participates in basketball, volleyball, football (soccer), track and field, taekwondo and lawn tennis. The varsity teams are called Letran Knights (for seniors division), Squires (for juniors division) and Lady Knights (for women's division) The seniors basketball team is the most successful team in the NCAA. Since joining in the 1928-29 season, the Knights have won a total of sixteen titles, the most in NCAA seniors basketball. The most recent championship came in the 2005 tournament, with a record of 13-1 in the eliminations and 3-1 in the playoffs (2-1 in the Finals) for an overall record of 16-2. The staple cheer is Arriba Letran! (English: "Fly high Letran"). Several cheers of the Colegio were among of the first cheers to be used in the NCAA. The team supporters are known as Dugong Arriba (Arriba blooded). Their most prominent rivals are the De La Salle Green Archers (before the Green Archers left the NCAA), San Sebastian Stags and the Mapua Cardinals, their neighbor in Intramuros. Their newest rivals are the San Beda Red Lions which has been beefing up since season 82.
Campuses
Colegio de San Juan de Letran-Manila
Colegio de San Juan de Letran-Bataan
Colegio de San Juan de Letran-Calamba (a totally independent institution)
Letran is underway to be a university with the inception of a San Juan de Letran University (SJLU) with one system under the aggregation of the three campuses.
Degree Programs
Colegio de San Juan de Letran - Manila
Pre-Elementary
Kindergarten
Preparatory
Elementary
Primary and Intermediate (Grades 1-6)
Home Study Program
High school
Secondary (First Year to Fourth Year)
Home Study Program
College of Business Administration and Accountancy
Bachelor of Science in Accountancy
Bachelor of Science in Entrepreneurship
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
Major in Operations Management
Major in Economics
Major in Financial Management
Major in Human Resources Development Management
Major in Marketing Management
Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management
With Specialization in Hotel and Restaurant Management
With Specialization in Tourism
With Specialization in Cruise Line Management
College of Education
Bachelor in Secondary Education
Major in Mathematics
Major in English
Major in Science
Major in Physical Education
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Bachelor of Arts
Major in Political Science
Bachelor of Science in Psychology
Institute of Communication
Bachelor of Arts
Major in Communication Arts
Bachelor of Arts in Advertising
Bachelor of Arts in Broadcasting
Bachelor of Arts in Journalism
Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations
Institute of Information Technology
Bachelor of Science in Information Technology
Major in Digital Arts
Bachelor of Science in Information Technology (Microsoft IT Academy)
With specialization in Network Engineering
With specialization in Systems Administration
With specialization in Software Development
With specialization in Database Administration
Professional School for Continuing Education in Business (PSCEB)
(Pursuing School in Continuing Education in Business)
Doctor in Business Administration (DBA) Program
Masters of Business Administration - Special Management (SMP) Program
Masters of Business Administration - Regular
Colegio de San Juan de Letran - Bataan
Rev. Fr. Rogelio Alarcon, O.P., former rector and president of Colegio de San Juan de Letran in Intramuros, Manila and an alumnus proposed the idea of having another campus in the north. Bataan was chosen. Initially, two sites were presented: Hermosa and Balanga. Abucay came into the picture later, after three years in the conceptualization stage. By what could be described as heavenly intercession and providential twists, Abucay was selected. The community of St. John Lateran, the Board of Colegio de San Juan de Letran and the Council of the Philippine Dominican Province approved the establishment of Letran-Abucay in 1998. Construction started in 2000 in the fifteen-hectare area, donated by Mayor and Mrs. Liberato Santiago, Mr. and Mrs. Nicanor Soriano and Gov. and Mrs. Leonardo Roman. A breathtaking view of the Manila Bay and the surrounding mountains, including Mt. Samat, envelope the site. One of the main attractions of Letran-Abucay is its relatively undisturbed natural area and environment. Indeed, an ideal place for study. The site was chosen because of the natural character it projects- a plateau. Architect and environmental planner, Yolanda David Reyes incorporated this in the overall design and conceptual master planning of the campus. Preparations for the establishment of the Letran-Abucay spanned over the terms of three Filipino Dominican provincials: Rev. Fr. Quirico Pedregosa, O.P., Rev. Fr. Ernesto Arceo, O.P. and Rev. Fr. Edmund Nantes, O.P., an alumnus. Rev. Fr. Edwin Lao, O.P., former rector and president of Letran-Intramuros spearheaded the over-all construction of the building and the formulation of the guiding principles of the institution. The blessing and inauguration on June 4, 2006 coincided with the gathering of the priors and superiors of the Philippine Dominican Province. Bishop Socrates Villegas, D.D., also an alumnus, officiated the Eucharistic celebration and blessing. Colegio de San Juan de Letran-Abucay is considered as the first Catholic tertiary school and the “new university town” in Bataan.
Bachelor of Arts in Communication Arts
Bachelor in Secondary Education major in:
Biological Science
English
Mathematics
Bachelor of Science in Accountancy
Bachelor of Science and Business Administration Major in:
Marketing
Business Management
Financial Management
Human Resource Management
Bachelor of Science in Electronics and Communication Engineering
Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management with specializations in:
Cruise Line Management
Hotel and Restaurant Management
Tourism
Bachelor of Science in Information Technology
with specializations in Network Engineering
with specializations in Network Systems Administration
with specializations in Network Software Administration
with specializations in Network Database Administration
Colegio de San Juan de Letran - Calamba
On August 7, 1986, Letran-Calamba finally gained its autonomy from Letran-Intramuros with the installation of Rev. Fr. Tamerlane Lana, O.P., as its First President and Rector.
Elementary
Primary and Intermediate (Grades 1-6)
High school
Secondary (First Year to Fourth Year)
College of Education
Bachelor of Elementary Education
With Specialization on Elementary Education
Bachelor of Secondary Education
Major in English
Major in Math
College of Accountancy
Bachelor of Science in Accountancy
College of Commerce
Bachelor of Science in Commerce
Major in Management Accounting
Major in Management
Major in Information Management
Major in Marketing
Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management
Major in Hotel and Restaurant Management
Major in Tourism
College of Engineering
Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering
Bachelor of Science in Electronics and Communications Engineering
Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering
Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering
Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering
College of Nursing
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
College of Arts and Sciences
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
Notable alumni (Letran Intramuros)
Philippine President Manuel L. Quezon's statue on Letran. The inscription at the bottom reads: "I feel happier to be identified not as Quezon the Chief Executive but as Quezon the Letranite."
Saint
St. Vicente Liem dela Paz, O.P. (HS,1747-1750) - Letran's foremost alumnus and heavenly patron. A young Vietnamese scholar who lived and studied in Letran during the 18th century.
Very Rev. Fr. Rogelio B. Alarcon, OP - Founder of the Angelicum School in Quezon City, Philippines and the first Filipino Father Provincial of the Order of Preachers.
Rev. Fr. Augusto Antonio, OP
Msgr. Nestor Cerbo - current Rector of Manila Cathedral
Very Rev. Fr. Edmund Nantes, OP - Former Father Provincial- Philippine Dominican Province; Former Vice-Chancellor- University of Santo Tomas
Gregorio Gozon Sanciangco (AB)- Wrote “El Progreso De Filipinas” which advocated reforms in the political, administrative, agrarian, revenues, property, natural resources and urban development and taxation.
Dr. Fernan Lukban (HS, 1978) - Head, Business and Economics Program of Arts and Sciences, University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P)
Enrique Mendiola - Educator, Member of the first Board of Regents of UP
Jovencio Ortañez - Former president of Ortañez University
Ignacio Villamor (AB, 1885) - First Filipino president of UP, Associate justice at the Supreme Court
Dr. Virgilio Enriquez (HS, 1958) - Founder Pambansang Samahan ng Sikolohiyang Pilipino; Named as one of the Outstanding Psychologists of the Philippines by the Psychological Association of the Philippines
Enrique Locsin - Businessman; COO and President, Manila Times
Francisco Ortigas - Businessman and Corporate Lawyer
Petronilo Pineda - Lawyer, Businessman and Real Estate
Ramesh Sadhwani (HS, 1967) - General Manager, Four Seasons Resort (Maldives)
Alfredo Tan (HS, 1957) - president of Himmel (a chemical trading company), vice president of Basic Holding, Inc. (the mother company of business tycoon Lucio Tan’s group of companies), and assistant to the chairman of Philippine Air Lines
Letran Knights
