Universidad de Sta. Isabel de Naga, Inc., (USI, formerly Colegio de Sta. Isabel)[1] 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 the Philippines and Southeast Asia, named in honor of the university's patron, St. Isabel, Queen of Hungary.[2][3]
Colegio de Sta. Isabel was founded by the Rt Rev. Francisco Gainza, O.P., Bishop of Caceres. The administration of the school was given to six Daughters of Charity sisters; Crisologo Navarro, Ignacia Ostolozas, Juana Morga, Rita Deloe, Antonioa Novao, and Sales Montoya; whom were welcomed by Fr. Vicente Garcia at the Pasacao Port, who arrived in the Bicol Region (Philippines) on April 4, 1868. The school was solemnly blessed and opened on September 18, 1870.
A Royal Decree of Queen Isabella II of Spain, dated January 11, 1872, granted to the Lord Don Fray Francisco Gainza, Bishop of Nueva Caceres, the authority to construct a school for girls (escuela de niñas) which will be under the care of the Hijas de Caridad (Daughters of Charity). On 18 September 1875, Colegio de Sta. Isabel became the first normal school for girls in the Philippines and Southeast Asia under the name Escuela Normal de Maestras. About 100 pensioned students were inculcated into a three-year Normal School Program.[4][circular reference]
Throughout the turn of the century, the nascent academe of Colegio de Sta. Isabel rapidly developed. By 1877, the Colegio celebrated the graduation of its first eleven students. In 1898, the Spanish-American War immediately paused any academic excursions in the Colegio. As far-flung revolutions started to centralize in the Tagalog portions of Luzon, a separate local revolt, staged by Guardia Civil corporals Elias Angeles and Felix Plazo, presented Nueva Caceres as an independent polity. On 19 September, the Spanish provincial capitol capitulated under Angeles' forces, provisioned by the papers of unconditional surrender signed by Governor Vicente Zaldin. The Colegio campus seated Angeles' interim government until the American regime came and changed everything for the 20th century.
The former half of the 20th century substantially revised Colegio's preliminary colonial-era curriculum, superseding it with Anglo-centric educational practices. This mirrored early-century American higher education, where 1913 introduced Primary Courses, then Intermediate Courses in 1916. By 1924, Secondary Courses opened to all students, with Home Economics Secondary Courses starting from 1932. In 1936, Music Teachers Course in Piano became widely available. Finally, the Junior Normal Course being opened to all in 1939.
On 12 December 1941, the Imperial Japanese16th Division "Kimura Detachment" landed on the shores of Legazpi, signalling the start of the Second World War in Bicol. The local academic community became frantic at the prospect of an all-supreme Japanese authority intruding the domestic life of local campus'. All the administrative functionaries, including the Colegio de Sta. Isabel, proceeded with a hastened safekeeping process. Then, on 15 December, the Japanese arrived in Naga. The Japanese immediately occupied the educational institutions around the downtown area. From 1942, Nippongo-based curricula imposed by the authorities superseded Anglo-American textbooks in Colegio. The Colegio campus throughout the war was subjected to severe aerial bombings from both Allied and Japanese air power, with the first instance occurring after the guerilla recapture of Naga in 1942. In May, an all-out retaliatory aerial bombing conducted by the Imperial Japanese Army Air Services (IJAAS) leveled the urban infrastructure of Naga completely. The fragile wooden edifice and structure deemed the Colegio vulnerable, as evidenced by the collapse of Colegio's roof. Then, from October 1944 to March 1945, the United States Army Air Forces (USAAAF) conducted a devastating bombing campaign in Naga to flatten out the sporadic Japanese fortifications. In Colegio's case, a precision strike, a week before a guerilla-led liberation of Naga, desecrated the campus' edifice. After the liberation of Naga on 3 April 1945, Colegio de Sta. Isabel was recaptured by Allied forces after an intense three-day battle.
During the immediate post-war period, Colegio de Sta. Isabel, subsidized by legislative proxies, rebuilt its ruined campus rapidly. In 1946, the first post-liberation graduation was held with sixty students. It was also the year where the Colegio officially received the permit for the opening of the College of Education and Liberal Arts courses.
The latter half of the century saw the Colegio expand its college and graduate level departments. In 1950, the CSI College Department introduced elementary women's education in Secondary Education levels. Then, in 1954, the Pre-Nursing Course was opened to address Nagueño's graduating their Nursing Courses at the San Juan de Dios Hospital in Pasay. By 1955, the CSI College Department introduced elementary women's education in Elementary Education levels. In 1957, the Junior Secretarial Course sought to address young girls seeking employment, a quasi-vocational training for feminine jobs.
In 1957, Colegio de Sta. Isabel finally opened their Bachelor of Arts program (B.A.), gradually introducing new courses at three-year intervals. In 1960, B.A. in Music Education was introduced, then B.A. in Home Economics and B.A. in Management and Information Systems in 1963.
The main campus was opened on April 12, 1868. Colegio de Sta. Isabel achieved its university status in August 2001,[5][6] and was renamed Universidad de Sta. Isabel. It is still sometimes colloquially referred to as 'Colegio' across Metro Naga.
Campuses
Universidad de Sta. Isabel Naga Façade
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.
Graduate school
Doctor of Philosophy
Major in Human Development Management
Master of Arts in education (Thesis Tract)
Major in: Administration and Supervision, Guidance and Counseling, Filipino, Mathematics, Religious Education, Music Education & History
Master in Education (Non-thesis track)
Master in Management
Master of Arts in Nursing
Major in: Medical Surgical Nursing, Community Health Nursing, Maternal Child Nursing & Nursing Administration (non-thesis program)
Master of Science in Social Work
Higher education
College of Health Education
Bachelor of Science in Technology
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy
Bachelor of Science in Radiologic Technology
College of Business Education
Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
Bachelor of Science in Entrepreneurship
College of Arts And Sciences, Teacher Education, Social Work and Music Education
Bachelor of Arts in Communication
Bachelor of Science in Social Work
Bachelor of Music
Bachelor in Human Services
Teacher Education Programs*** Bachelor of Elementary Education (BEED)
Bachelor of Secondary Education (BSE)
Bachelor of Special Needs Education (BSNed)
Bachelor of Physical Education (BPEd)
Bachelor of Culture and Arts Education (BCAEd)
Bachelor of Early Childhood Education (BECE)
USI as National Historical Landmark
Universidad de Santa Isabel NHCP historical marker
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.[7][8] 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."[9][10]
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