Hand-out on History of Nursing in the Philippines

Early Beliefs & Practices

Two words—mysticism and superstitions. These were the early beliefs of health
and illness in the Philippines. The cause of a disease was primarily believed to
be due to either another person, whom which was an enemy, or a witch or evil
spirits. In the early times, Filipinos were very cautious not to disturb other
people or the evil spirits for the good of their health. These evil spirits could be
driven away by persons with power to banish demons.Belief in special gods of
healing, with the priest -physician (called “word doctors”) as intermediary. If
they used leaves or roots, they were called herb doctors (“herbolarios”) Filipinos
who became sick were usually cared for by the female family members or
friends in the home.

Early Care of the Sick

The early Filipinos subscribed to superstitious belief and practices in relation to

health and sickness. Herb men were called “herbicheros” meaning one who
practiced witchcraft. Persons suffering from diseases without any identified
cause were believed bewitched by“mangkukulam” or “manggagaway”. 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. If the birth became difficult, witches were supposed to
be the cause. To disperse their influence, gunpowder were exploded from a
bamboo cane close to the head of the sufferer.

Health Care During the Spanish Regime

The context of nursing has manifested through simple nutrition, wound care,
and taking care of an ill member of the family. Certain practices when taking
care of a sick individuals entails interventions from babaylan (priest physicians)
or albularyo (herb doctor). In 1578, male nurses were acknowledged as Spanish
Friars’ assistants for caring sick individuals in the hospital. These male nurses
were referred as practicante or enfermero.

The religious orders exerted their efforts to care for the sick by building
hospitals in different parts of the Philippines. The earliest hospitals were:
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.

Nursing During the Philippine Revolution

In the late 1890’s, the war between Philippines and Spain emerges which
resulted to significant amount of casualties. With this, many women have
assumed the role of nurses in order to assist the wounded soldiers. The
emergence of Filipina nurses brought about the development of Philippines Red
Cross.

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.

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

Dona Hilaria de Aguinaldo — wife of Emilio Aguinaldo who organized that

Filipino Red Cross under the inspiration of Mabini.

Dona Maria Agoncillo de Aguinaldo — second wife of Emilio Aguinaldo;

provided nursing care to Filipino soldiers during the revolution, President of the
Filipino Red Cross branch in Batangas.
Melchora Aquino a.k.a. “Tandang Sora” — nursed the wounded Filipino
soldiers and gave them shelter and food.

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

care to the wounded when not in combat.

Agueda Kahabagan — revolutionary leader in Laguna, also provided nursing

services to her troops

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

Bato to care for wounded soldiers

Hospitals and Nursing Schools

Americans began training the first Filipino nursing students in 1907. Nursing
students in the Philippines studied many of the same subjects as nursing
students in the U.S. However, it was believed that the curriculum in the
Philippines “was never a mirror-image reproduction of the American nursing
curriculum” and involved more than a simple transfer of knowledge from
American nurses to Filipino nurses. The first Filipino nursing students also
studied subjects that were more relevant to their patients, such as “the nursing
of tropical diseases” and “industrial and living conditions in the islands,” as
described by Lavinia L. Dock’s 1912 book A History of Nursing: From the
Earliest Times to the Present Day with Special Reference to the Work of the Past
Thirty Years.

Hospital School of Nursing’s Formal Training (1901 – 1911)

Formal training in hospital school of nursing transpire. This began when

American missionary doctors and nurses realized that they manpower is
insufficient. Thus it resulted to a decision of training Filipino nurses that would
be catering to the hospitals that Americans established in the 20th century.

The first hospital in the Philippines which trained Filipino nurses in 1906 was
Iloilo Mission Hospital, established by the Baptist Missionaries. When this health
institution was built, there were no strict requirements for the applicants as long
as they are all willing to work. This has been the beginning of development of
more nursing schools in the country. In this period, Pensionado Act of 1903 (or
Act 854) was mandated, allowing Filipino nursing student to study in United
States. Among of the first wave of nurses who went to United States
Iloilo Mission Hospital School of Nursing (Iloilo City, 1906)

Iloilo Mission
Hospital School of Nursing
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.

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.

Philippine General Hospital School of Nursing (Manila, 1907)

Philippine General Hospital School of Nursing
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.

In 1907, with the support of Governor General Forbes and the Director of Health
and among others, she opened classes in nursing under the Auspices of the
Bureau of Education. Admission was based on an entrance examination. The
applicant must have completed elementary education to the seventh grade.
Julia Nichols and Charlotte Clayton taught the students nursing subjects.
American physician also served as lecturers.
In 1910, the Act No. 1976 modified the organization of the school placing it
under the supervision of the Department of Health. The Civil Hospital was
abolished and the Philippine General Hospital was established.
St. Luke’s Hospital School of Nursing (Quezon City, 1907)

St. Luke’s Hospital School of Nursing (Class 1914)

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.

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

Mary Johnston Hospital and School of

Nursing
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.

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.

Sallie Long Read Memorial Hospital School of Nursing (Laoag Ilocos

Norte, 1903)
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. However, in
1919, the First True Nursing Law was enacted through Act 2808. During this
period the Board Examiners for Nursing was also created. The first nursing
board examination was given on 1920. The first executive officer of the Board
Examiners for Nurses is a physicians.

Mary Chiles Hospital School of Nursing (Manila, 1911)

Mary Chiles Hospital School of Nursing

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.

Frank Dunn Memorial Hospital (Vigan Ilocos Sur, 1912)

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

Emmanuel Hospital School of Nursing (Capiz, 1913)

Capiz Emmanuel Hospital (CEH)

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

Southern Islands Hospital School of Nursing (Cebu, 1918)

The hospital was established in 1911 under the Bureau of Health. The school
opened in 1918 with Anastacia Giron-Tupas as the organizer. Miss Visitacion
Perez was the first principal

A Much Established Professional Organization: 1921 – 1931

During this period, the precursor to the accredited professional organization in

the Philippines was created. The Filipino Nurses Association was established on
October 15, and the organization initiated the publication of Filipino Nurse
Journal. Later, this journal was changed to The Philippine Journal of Nursing.
Amendment of certain sections of the Act 2008 was conducted in 1922 under
Act 3025 passed by the 5th Legislature. This policy is entitled An Act Regulating
the Practice of Nursing Profession in the Philippine Islands, which necessitates
all nurses who are practicing the profession to register yearly. In 1929, the
organization also became a member of the International Council of Nurses.

Through the 1930s, Philippine schools of nursing continued to adopt those

aspects of American professional nursing they deemed relevant and
appropriate, such as higher admission standards and the specialization of public
health nursing.

Public Health Nursing Development: 1931 – 1941

In 1933, the nursing institution have increased their requirement. During this
period, they have implemented that to enter nursing education an applicant
must be able to complete secondary education. The first collegiate nursing
graduates of the Philippines graduated from University of the Philippines School
of Public Health Nursing in 1938.

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)

Nursing during World War II

With the occurrence of the largest and most violent armed conflict in the history
of mankind, there was a re-emergence of nursing needs as well as new
programs to entice women into training. In the US, the government empowered
the women to contribute. In fact, more women worked outside of the home
and as well as growth opportunities involving nurses multiplied.

While in the Philippines, World War II made public health nurses in Manila
assigned to devastated areas to attend the sick and the wounded. A year after,
thirty one nurses who were taken prisoners of war by the Japanese army and
confined at the Bilibid Prison in Manila were released to the Director of the
Bureau of Health. And just like in the US, a lot of public health nurses joined the
guerillas or went to hide in the mountains during this time.

In 1946, post war records of Bureau of Health showed that there were 308
public health nurses and 38 supervisors compared to the pre-war 556 public
health nurses and 38 supervisors. It was in the same year when the creation of
the Nursing Office in the Department of Health was recommended by Mrs.
Genera De Guzman, technical assistant in nursing of the DOH and the President
of the Filipino Nurses Association.

The Degree of Bachelor of Science in Nursing: 1941 – 1951

A nursing curriculum which was based on the thesis presented by Julita V.

Sotejo, graduate of the Philippine General Hospital School of Nursing, tackles on
the development of a nursing education within a University-based College of
Nursing. This dissertation was the beginning of nursing curriculum that have
made the Nursing Institution of the country as a baccalaureate course. During
this period, College of Nursing was also created.

When the Japanese occupied the Philippines in 1942, training and practice at
the hospital schools of nursing in Manila was “violently disrupted.” However,
U.S. colonial patterns in Philippine nursing education soon returned after the
U.S. reclaimed the country in 1945 and even after the Philippines gained
independence from the U.S. July 4, 1946.
The First Colleges of Nursing in the Philippines

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.

Manila Central University-College of Nursing (1947)

Manila Central University-College of Nursing

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.

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

Proliferation of Nurses as a Workforce: 1951 – 1971

The Philippine Nursing Law was approved under the Republic Act No. 877 on
June 19 1953. Then further amendment was created in 1966 which limits that
practice of among nurses 21 years old and above. The increasing number of
nurses in the Philippines have also brought about the celebration of Nurses’
Week which was proclaimed by President Carlos P. Garcia under the
Proclamation No. 539. The continuous of nurses had also resulted to the first
round of migration, particularly in United States. In fact, between 1966 and
1985 about 25,000 Filipino nurses have migrated to United States.
Nursing Profession Development: 1971 – 2001

Regulation of the practice of health care providers, the Presidential Decree No.
223, was mandated which brought about the establishment of the agency,
Professional Regulation Commission. During this period, the Philippine Nursing
Act of 1991 was also amended under Republic Act No. 7164 which expanded
nursing practice to other roles such as management, teaching, decision making,
and leadership. The qualification of nurses or faculty’s in the academe was also
updated to Master’s Degree in Nursing or equivalent. Another important event
in Philippine Nursing history is the creation of Nursing Certification Council in
1999 under the Board of Nursing through Resolution No. 14 which supervise the
new programs’ implementation conducted by Specialty Certification Boards. This
improvement also prompted the start of Advanced Practice Nursing (APN) in the
Philippines.

Further Changes in Nursing Law: 2001- to Present

Nursing graduates take their oath in Manila.

During this period, the Philippine Nursing Act of 2002 was enacted under the
Republic Act No. 9173 which entails changes on existing policies under Republic
Act No. 7164. These changes underscore on the requirements for faculty and
Dean of the Colleges of Nursing, as well as the conduct for Nursing Licensure
Exam.

In a glance

College of Nursing

1. UST College of Nursing – 1st College of Nursing in the Phils: 1877

2. MCU College of Nursing – June 1947 (1st College who offered BSN – 4
year program)
3. UP College of Nursing – June 1948
4. FEU Institute of Nursing – June 1955
5. UE College of Nursing – Oct 1958
1909

 3 female graduated as “qualified medical-surgical nurses”

1919

 The 1st Nurses Law (Act#2808) was enacted regulating the practice of
the nursing profession in the Philippines Islands. It also provided the
holding of exam for the practice of nursing on the 2nd Monday of June
and December of each year.

1920

 1st board examination for nurses was conducted by the Board of

Examiners, 93 candidates took the exam, 68 passed with the highest
rating of 93.5%-Anna Dahlgren
 Theoretical exam was held at the UP Amphitheater of the College of
Medicine and Surgery. Practical exam at the PGH Library.

1921

Philippine Nurses Association Building

  Filipino Nurses Association was established (now PNA) as the National
Organization Of Filipino Nurses
 PNA: 1st President – Rosario Delgado
 Founder – Anastacia Giron-Tupas

1953

 Republic Act 877, known as the “Nursing Practice Law” was approved.

Though it was not always considered as a profession, Nursing has already been
existing for centuries. Its significance of today will definitely not be proven real
if not because of its remarkable history. And now, the value of Nursing has
stood the test of time and is becoming more visible in the eyes of many not only
because of its past, but also due to its considerable contribution in the society.

Source: https://nurseslabs.com

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