22 Facts About Librada Avelino

Librada Avelino was a Filipina educator who co-founded the Centro Escolar University.

Librada Avelino was the first woman to earn a teaching certificate from the Spanish authorities when she passed her examination in 1889.

Librada Avelino took English classes and studied English briefly in Hong Kong in 1901.

Librada Avelino was awarded an honorary master's degree in pedagogy by the University of the Philippines in 1930.

Librada Avelino directed the school until shortly before her death from cancer in 1934.

Librada Avelino Mangali was born on January 17,1873, in Quiapo, Manila, in the Philippine Islands, then part of the Spanish Empire, to Francisca Mangali and Pedro Avelino.

When Librada Avelino was seven, her mother died and about three years later her father remarried to Paula Arcilla, who was determined to have a close relationship with her step-daughter.

Librada Avelino studied advanced syntax and language with Fermin Raymundo, a local Spanish grammarian, as well as music, including the piano, with Ladislao Bonus.

Librada Avelino modeled it on Lopez's school and trained students for the teaching examination.

Librada Avelino was joined by her cousin Margarita "Garit" Oliva and Carmen de Luna.

Librada Avelino was appointed as the first Filipina principal in the United States era.

In 1901, though hostilities continued over the terms of the Treaty of Paris and there were discussions as to whether the Philippines would gain independence or be annexed by the United States, Librada Avelino wrote the school superintendent, David Prescott Barrows asking for a leave of absence to study English abroad and approval to be reinstated upon her return as principal of the Pandacan Girls' School.

The insurrection continued until 1902, and Librada Avelino's step-mother died in 1905.

Still longing to open a school, when she came out of mourning in 1907, Librada Avelino sought the advice of Fernando Salas, a lawyer from a family of educators, and her friend Carmen de Luna.

At a time when few opportunities for girls' education existed, Librada Avelino argued that women's responsibility for raising children required them to have the education needed to instill moral responsibility and patriotism to keep the country free.

Librada Avelino's shrewd merging of girls' education and nationalist interests swayed fathers with daughters on more than one occasion to send them to her school.

Once the basic staff had been recruited, the school began operations under Librada Avelino's leadership, accepting boarders, half-boarders and day students for girls from kindergarten to high school with 27 students in June 1907.

Short on space, Librada Avelino began buying up adjoining properties to increase both the number of lecture halls, as well as dormitory space.

Librada Avelino's plan included opening 10 colleges, but after pharmacy, she succeeded in opening six more: The College of Liberal Arts was founded in 1922, the College of Education in 1923, the College of Dentistry in 1924, the College of Law in 1925, the College of Medicine in 1929 and College of Optometry in 1930.

Librada Avelino died from stomach cancer at the home of a friend who lived on Alhambra Street in Ermita, Manila, on November 9,1934.

Librada Avelino was buried in Campo Santo de La Loma, in Caloocan.

In 2005, President Gloria Macapagal proclaimed the country's Centennial of the Feminist Movement and Librada Avelino was honored with the Champion of the Feminist Movement Award.