HISTORY OF NURSING IN THE PHILIPPINES

I. EARLY BELIEFS AND PRACTICES

Two words—mysticism and superstitions.

 Beliefs about causation of disease: Enemy or a witch and

evil spirit

 People believed that evil spirits could be driven away by

persons with the power to expel demons.

 Persons suffering from disease without any identified cause

were believed to be bewitched by the “mangkukulam or
mangagaway.

II. Early Care of the Sick

 The early Filipinos subscribed to superstitious beliefs and practices in relation to health
and sickness.
 Herb men were called “herbicheros” meaning one who practiced witchcraft.
 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.

III. Earliest Hospitals in the Philippines

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.

IV. Nursing During the Philippine Revolution

Many women assumed the role of nurses in order to assist wounded soldiers during the late
1890s war between the Philippines and Spain.

1. 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.

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

3. Doña Hilaria de Aguinaldo — wife of Emilio Aguinaldo who organized that

Filipino Red Cross under the inspiration of Mabini.

Agoncillo de Aguinaldo — second wife of Emilio

4. Doña Maria
 Aguinaldo; provided nursing care to Filipino soldiers during the revolution,
President of the Filipino Red Cross branch in Batangas.

5. Melchora Aquino a.k.a. “Tandang Sora” — nursed the wounded Filipino

soldiers and gave them shelter and food.

6. Capitan Salome — a revolutionary leader in Nueva Ecija; provided nursing

care to the wounded when not in combat.

7. Agueda Kahabagan — revolutionary leader in Laguna, also provided nursing

services to her troops

8. Trinidad Tecson (“Ina ng Biak-na-Bato”) — stayed in the hospital at Biak na

Bato to care for wounded soldiers

V. Hospitals and Nursing Schools

Formal training in hospital school of nursing transpire during 1901-1911. This began when
American missionary doctors and nurses realized that they manpower is insufficient. Thus it
resulted to a decision of training Filipino nurses.

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. Philippine General Hospital School of Nursing

(Manila, 1907)

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.

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

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.

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

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.

6. 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.
VI. 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

1. Mary Chiles Hospital School of Nursing (Manila, 1911)

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.

2. Frank Dunn Memorial Hospital (Vigan Ilocos Sur, 1912)

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

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

4. Emmanuel Hospital School of Nursing (Capiz, 1913)

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

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)

VII. The First Colleges of Nursing in the Philippines

1.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.

2. Manila Central University-College of Nursing (1947)

The MCU Hospital first offered BSN and Doctor of Medicine degrees in 1947 and served as the
clinical field for practice. Miss Consuelo Gimeno was its first principal. Presently, Professor
Lina A. Salarda, RN, MAN, EdD serves as its Dean

3. 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

Reference:

https://nurseslabs.com/history-nursing-philippines/

https://www.slideshare.net/mobile/nurse5616/history-nursing-of-the-philippines-2875926