The University Belt is a de facto subdistrict in Manila, Philippines, referring to an area with a significant concentration of major colleges and universities in the city. The districts of Quiapo, Sampaloc, and San Miguel are traditionally considered areas of the University Belt. Other clusters of schools along the southern bank of the Pasig River, mostly in the districts of Intramuros and Ermita and the southernmost part of Malate near the city limits, are also sometimes included. Each of the colleges and universities in the district is within walking distance of each other.

History Since the Spanish colonial period, Manila has been the center of education in the country, and Intramuros was home to various academic institutions. The first schools in the district were the Colegio de Santa Potenciana founded in 1589,Perez Dasmarinas, Luis. Letters from Luis Perez Dasmariñas to Felipe II. In The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898. Ohio: A.H. Clark Company, 1903-9. Vol. 9 Universidad de San Ignacio in 1590,The First Hundred Years of the Ateneo de Manila Ateneo de Manila University website May 1, 2012 San Jose Seminary in 1601, the University of Santo Tomas in 1611, the Colegio de San Juan de Letran in 1620, the Santa Isabel College Manila in 1632, Universidad de San Felipe de Austria in 1640, and Ateneo de Manila University in 1859. At present, only Colegio de San Juan de Letran, Santa Isabel College Manila, and the University of Santo Tomas continue to operate in Manila; Ateneo de Manila University transferred to Katipunan Avenue in Quezon City in 1952, though its Graduate School remained in Manila until 1977.

During the American period, the city planner, Daniel Burnham envisioned Manila's educational hub in Santa Mesa Heights, the area north of Sampaloc, Manila in present-day Quezon City, although the Americans wanted institutions to be near the national government center in Rizal Park, with several institutions opening in Calle Rizal (present-day Taft Avenue), among them the University of the Philippines Manila, the oldest of the constituent universities of the University of the Philippines System, and De La Salle University. Nevertheless, the University Belt within Quiapo, Sampaloc, San Miguel, and Santa Cruz began growing organically. By the early 1900s, nine institutions were present in the area: National University, Manila Law College, University of Manila, San Beda University, Saint Rita College, La Consolacion College Manila, College of the Holy Spirit, and Centro Escolar University, as well as the University of Santo Tomas, which moved from Intramuros to Sampaloc in 1927 although the older campus continued to host the College of Law.

World War II devastated the city, and several schools were forced to shut down during the war. In Intramuros, the University of Santo Tomas did not rebuild their campus in the district. At the same time, Ateneo de Manila University moved their institution to Sampaloc and eventually to Loyola Heights, Quezon City. Meanwhile, non-sectarian schools were built in the district before and after the war: Far Eastern University was founded in 1928, Mapúa University moved from its campus in Santa Cruz in 1956, while Lyceum of the Philippines University and Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila were established in 1952 and 1965 respectively. Outside Intramuros, new institutions were also founded, such as the Eulogio "Amang" Rodriguez Institute of Science and Technology in 1945 and the University of the East in 1946, among others.

List

Within northeastern Manila

Included are the major universities and colleges located in Sampaloc, Quiapo, Santa Cruz, Santa Mesa, and San Miguel. InstitutionLocationFoundedFounded asArellano UniversitySampaloc1938Arellano Law CollegeCentro Escolar UniversitySan Miguel1907Centro Escolar de SeñoritasChinese General Hospital CollegesSanta Cruz1921Chinese General Hospital School of NursingCollege of the Holy Spirit ManilaSan Miguel1913Holy Ghost SchoolDe Ocampo Memorial CollegeSanta Mesa1913Philippine Dental CollegeEulogio "Amang" Rodriguez Institute of Science and TechnologySanta Mesa1945Eulogio Rodriguez Vocational High SchoolFar Eastern UniversitySampaloc1928Institute of AccountancyFar Eastern University Institute of TechnologySampaloc1992East Asia Institute of Computer TechnologyFEATI UniversitySanta Cruz1946Far Eastern Aeronautics SchoolGuzman College of Science and TechnologyQuiapo1947Safe Driving InstituteLa Consolacion College ManilaSan Miguel1902Colegio de Nuestra Señora de la Consolacion. Manila Business CollegeSanta Cruz2000Manila Law CollegeSanta Cruz1899Escuela de Derecho de ManilaManuel L. Quezon UniversityQuiapo1947Manuel L. Quezon School of LawMary Chiles CollegeSampaloc1913Metropolitan Hospital College of NursingSanta Cruz1976Metropolitan Hospital College of NursingNational Teachers CollegeQuiapo1928National UniversitySampaloc1900Colegio FilipinoUniversity of Perpetual Help JONELTA (Manila campus)Sampaloc1968Philippine College of CriminologySanta Cruz1954Philippine College of Health SciencesSampaloc1993Philippine Merchant Marine SchoolSanta Cruz1950Philippine School of Business AdministrationSampaloc1963Philippine Accounting and Taxation Training SchoolPhilsin College FoundationSampaloc1995PMI CollegesSanta Cruz1948Polytechnic University of the PhilippinesSanta Mesa1904Manila Business SchoolSaint Jude College ManilaSampaloc1968St. Jude College of NursingSaint Rita CollegeQuiapo1907Escuela de Santa RitaSan Beda UniversitySan Miguel1901El Colegio de San BedaSan Sebastian College – RecoletosQuiapo1941Santa Catalina CollegeSampaloc1706Colegio de Santa CatalinaSTI NAMEISanta Mesa1947NAMEI Polytechnic InstituteTechnological Institute of the PhilippinesQuiapo1962University of ManilaSampaloc1913Instituto de Manila Unciano CollegesSanta Mesa1976University of the EastSampaloc1946Philippine College of Commerce and Business AdministrationUniversity of Santo TomasSampaloc1611Colegio de Nuestra Señora del Santísimo Rosario

Taft Avenue

All institutions are located along or near Taft Avenue, stretching from Ermita to Malate, with a distance of from Universidad de Manila in the north to De La Salle University in the south. InstitutionFoundedFounded asAdamson University1932Adamson School of Industrial ChemistryDe La Salle–College of Saint Benilde1980 College of Career DevelopmentDe La Salle University1911De La Salle CollegeEmilio Aguinaldo College1957Marian School of MidwiferyPhilippine Christian University1946Manila Union UniversityPhilippine Normal University1901Philippine Normal SchoolPhilippine Women's University1919Philippine Women's CollegeSt. Paul University Manila1912St. Paul InstitutionsSanta Isabel College Manila1632Colegio de Santa IsabelSt. Scholastica's College, Manila1906Technological University of the Philippines1901Manila Trade SchoolUniversidad de Manila1995City College of ManilaUniversity of the Philippines Manila1905Philippine Medical School

Intramuros

All institutions are located within the walled city of Intramuros. It also lies close to the northern tip of the Taft Avenue cluster. InstitutionFoundedFounded asColegio de San Juan de Letran1620Colegio de Niños Huerfanos de San Juan de LetranColegio de Santa Rosa1750Beaterio y Casa de EnsenanzaLyceum of the Philippines University1952Lyceum of the PhilippinesMapúa University1925Mapúa Institute of TechnologyPNTC Colleges1994Philippine Nautical Training InstitutePamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila1965University of the City of Manila

See also

Big Four (universities) Hugh Wilson Hall List of universities and colleges in Metro Manila

References