This is a list of notable students and alumni of the Colegio de San Juan de Letran in Manila. The list includes people who have studied at various levels in the college, from elementary up to postgraduate education.
Note: The Bachiller en Artes (Bachelor of Arts or A.B.) degree during the Spanish colonial period is equivalent to today's high school diploma.
Religion
Saints Name Year/degree Notability Reference Saint Vicente Liem de la Paz, O.P.trivium & quadrivium 1747–1750, Humanit. Letran's foremost alumnus saint. One of the Vietnamese Martyrs canonized by Pope John Paul II.Saint Vicente Do Yen de San Pedro, O.P.(no year indicated)One of the Vietnamese martyrs.Saint Pedro Duong de Santa Maria, O.P.(no year indicated)One of the Vietnamese martyrs.Saint Domingo Tuoc, O.P.(no year indicated)One of the Vietnamese martyrs.Saint Vicente Shiwozuka Dela Cruz, O.P.(no year indicated)One of the 16 Martyrs of Japan. Companion of Saint Lorenzo Ruiz.Saint Tomas Hioji Rokuzayemon Nishi de San Jacinto, O.P.(no year indicated)A Kirishitan. One of the 16 Martyrs of Japan.Saint Jacobo Kyushei Tomonaga de Santa Maria, O.P.(no year indicated)Born of a noble Christian family of Kyudetsu, in Kyushu, Japan in 1582. Expelled in Japan in 1614. Studied at Letran then entered the Dominican Order in 1624.Saint Francisco Shoyemon, O.P. (no year indicated)One of the 16 Martyrs of Japan.
Servants of God Name Year/degree Notability ReferenceJosé María de Manila, O.F.M.Cap. A.B. 1892-1894Born Eugenio Saz-Orozco in Manila to Spanish parents. One of the martyrs of the Spanish Civil War. Beatified by Pope Francis. Juan Bautista Fung de Santa Maria, O.P.(no year indicated) Chinese Dominican friar. Entered Letran in 1736. Martyred in 1755.Alfredo Versoza A.B.First Filipino bishop of Lipa, Batangas. Co-founded the Congregation of the Missionary Catechists of the Sacred Heart (MCSH). Declared Servant of God by Pope Benedict XVI.
Men of Cloth Name Year/degree Notability Reference Teodoro BacaniH.S. 1956 Bishop Emeritus of Novaliches Artemio CasasH.S. 1930Rector of Manila Cathedral (1956–1962), Archbishop of Jaro, Iloilo (1974–1985)Oscar CruzG.S. 1943Archbishop-Emeritus of Lingayen–DagupanClarence Victor MarquezH.S. 198581st rector and president of Colegio de San Juan de Letran Manila (2015–2023)Sonny RamirezH.S. 1963,B.S.Psych. 1967known for his sermons in “Siete Palabras,” the traditional Good Friday live broadcast reflection on the Seven Last Words of Jesus Christ; one of the founders of Oasis of Love Charismatic CommunityJose SalazarH.S. 1958Auxiliary Bishop of BatanesRufino Sescon Jr.G.S. 1984,H.S. 1988Bishop of Balanga, BataanSocrates VillegasH.S. 1977Archbishop of Lingayen–Dagupan
National Heroes
Heroes of the Philippine Revolution
Name Year/degree Notability Reference Pedro Abad SantosA.B. Physician and lawyer, founder of Socialist Party of the Philippines, anti-Japanese guerrilla in World War II.Gregorio AglipayA.B. 1879 (transferred to University of Santo Tomas)Military Vicar General of the Revolutionary Government of the Philippines, Lieutenant general during the Philippine–American War, and First Supreme Bishop (Obispo Maximo) of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente.Crispulo AguinaldoA.B.Lieutenant general in the Katipunan. Older brother of Emilio Aguinaldo. Killed in the Battle of Pasong Santol.Santiago AlvarezA.B.Revolutionary general in the Katipunan from Imus, Cavite. Son of Mariano Alvarez.Servillano AquinoA.B.,land surveyingRevolutionary general in the Katipunan and the Philippine–American War. Grandfather of Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr.Vito BelarminoA.B. (did not finished)Revolutionary general in the Katipunan and the Philippine–American War.Higinio BenitezA.B.Filipino lawyer and judge who represented the province of Laguna in the Malolos Congress. Father of Conrado Benitez, one of the drafters of the 1935 Constitution of the Philippines.José BurgosA.B.,Phil. 1855One of the Gomburza martyrs who were falsely accused of mutiny in Cavite by the Spanish colonial authoritiesJose G. Burgos (PDF). National Historical Commission of the Philippines. Retrieved January 9, 2026.Graciano Cordero(no year indicated)Filipino physician who represented the province of Laguna in the Malolos Congress. Gregorio CrisostomoA.B.Filipino priest who is a member of the Katipunan. Represented the province of Bulacan at the Malolos Congress. Nephew of Marcelo H. Del Pilar.Mariano CrisostomoA.B.Filipino lawyer who is a member of the Katipunan. Younger brother of Gregorio Crisostomo. Represented the province of Bulacan at the Malolos Congress. Nephew of Marcelo H. Del Pilar.Marcelo H. Del PilarA.B.Journalist, satirist, and one of the leading Ilustrado propagandist and revolutionary leader of the Philippine Revolution.Ladislao DiwaA.B.Founding member of the Katipunan.Edilberto EvangelistaA.B.Engineer and Katipunan lieutenant generalLeandro L. FullonA.B. (did not finish)Revolutionary general in the Katipunan from Hamtic, Antique. First Filipino governor of Antique (1901–1904).Máximo Gregorio(no year indicated)Drafted into the Spanish colonial army while studying at Letran. Joined the Katipunan in 1892. One of the Thirteen Martyrs of Cavite.Emilio JacintoA.B.One of the highest-ranking military officers in the Philippine Revolution and known as the "brains of the Katipunan." Author of the Kartilya ng Katipunan.Pedro Tongio LiongsonA.B. 1886Member of the Malolos Congress from Bohol 1898–1899, First Director of Military Justice in the Republic's army during the Philippine–American WarMariano LlaneraA.B. (did not finish)Revolutionary general in the Katipunan from Cabiao, Nueva Ecija. One of the instigators of Cry of Nueva Ecija.Honorio LopezA.B.Filipino playwright and lieutenant colonel in the Katipunan. Wrote the book "Dimasalang Kalendariong Tagalog."Victoriano LucianoA.B.Filipino pharmacist, freemason, and member of the Katipunan. One of the Thirteen Martyrs of Cavite.Vicente LukbánLL.B.Revolutionary general in the Katipunan from Lucban, Tayabas. Governor of Tayabas province (1912–1916).Apolinario MabiniA.B. 1887(granted the title "Profesor de Latín")Filipino revolutionary leader, educator, lawyer, and statesman who served first as a legal and constitutional adviser to the Revolutionary Government, and then as the first prime minister of the Philippines upon the establishment of the First Philippine Republic.Mamerto NatividadA.B. (did not finish)Filipino haciendero and revolutionary general who established the army headquarters of the revolution at Biak-na-Bato.Pedro PelaezA.B. 1829Father of Secularization Movement in the PhilippinesArtemio RicarteA.B.Filipino general during the Philippine Revolution and the Philippine–American War. The first Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.Pablo TecsonA.B.Revolutionary officer serving under Gen. Gregorio del Pilar. Governor of Bulacan, 1902–1906Pio ValenzuelaA.B.Filipino physician and one of the high-ranked officers of the Katipunan.Isidoro TorresA.B.Filipino general during the Philippine Revolution and the Philippine–American War. Known as "Matanglawin" (Hawk-eyed) of the Katipunan.Flaviano YengkoA.B.Filipino general during the Philippine Revolution. Died at the Battle of Pasong Santol.Jacinto ZamoraA.B.One of the Gomburza martyrs who were falsely accused of mutiny in Cavite by the Spanish colonial authorities.
Government
Presidents of the Philippines
Name Year/degree Notability Reference Emilio AguinaldoA.B. 1880-1882 (did not finish) Philippine revolutionary leader. President of the First Philippine Republic (1899–1901)Jose P. LaurelA.B. 1903-1904 (transferred to Manila High School)Third president of the Philippines, president of the Second Republic (1943–1945)Sergio OsmeñaA.B. 1894Second president of the Commonwealth of the Philippines, and fourth president of the Philippines (1944–1946)Manuel L. QuezonA.B. 1894First president of the Commonwealth of the Philippines, and second president of the Philippines (1935–1944)
Vice Presidents of the Philippines
Name Year/degree Notability Reference Mariano TriasA.B. First de facto Philippine Vice President of the revolutionary government established at the Tejeros ConventionFernando LopezH.S. 1921Third and seventh vice president of the Philippines
Chief Justices
Name Year/degree Notability ReferenceManuel AraulloB.Phil.Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines, 1921–1924 Cayetano ArellanoA.B. Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines, 1901–1920Ramón AvanceñaA.B.Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines, 1925–1941Victorino MapaA.B.Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines, 1920–1921Andres NarvasaG.S. 1938Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines, 1991–1998Diosdado PeraltaB.S. Econ. 1974Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines, 2019–2021
Senators of the Philippines
Name Year/degree Notability ReferenceNicolas CapistranoA.B.,S.T.B. (transferred to University of Santo Tomas)Senator of the Philippines from the 11th District (1916–1919)Francis Afan DelgadoA.B.Senator of the Philippines 1951–1957Isabelo de los ReyesA.B.Senator of the Philippines from the 1st district (1922–1928), founder/proclaimer of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente, labor activistPedro GuevaraA.B. 1896Senator of the Philippines from the 4th district (1916–1923)Richard GordonG.S. 1955Senator of the Philippines 2004–2010, 2016–2022; Philippine Red Cross chairman 2004-presentFrancisco Tongio LiongsonA.B. 1887Senator of the Philippines from the 3rd district (1916–1919)Vicente MadrigalA.B. 1894Senator of the Philippines 1945–1953, grandfather of Senator Jamby MadrigalEnrique MagalonaA.B. 1907,LL.B. 1911Senator of the Philippines 1946–1955, grandfather of Francis MagalonaEugolio RodriguezA.B. 1896Seventh and tenth Senate President of the Philippines 1954–1963Quintin ParedesA.B.Fifth Senate President of the Philippines, 1952Esteban SingsonA.B. 1903Senator of the Philippines from the 9th District 1916–1922Vicente Y. SottoA.B.Senator of the Philippines 1946–1950Tito SottoG.S.,H.S. 1965,A.B. English 1970Twenty-ninth and Thirty-second Senate President of the Philippines (2018–22, 2025-2026), TV host, actor; bronze medalist (bowling), 1978 Asian Games.Freddie WebbA.B. EnglishSenator of the Philippines 1992–1998, TV host, actor, radio personality, basketball head coach; member, Philippines' national basketball team in the 1972 Summer Olympics; member, 1960 NCAA Philippines championship team
Congressmen of the Philippines
Name Year/degree Notability ReferenceBenigno Aquino Sr.A.B. 1907Speaker of the National Assembly of the Second Philippine Republic. Father of Senator Ninoy Aquino. Grandfather of President Noynoy AquinoSergio ApostolAssociate in Arts 1954Member of the Philippine House of Representatives from Leyte's 2nd congressional district 1992–2001, 2010–2016Teodoro KalawG.S.Filipino scholar, legislator, and historian in Spanish language. Member of the Philippine Assembly from Batangas's 3rd district 1909–1912Gus TambuntingG.S. 1976,H.S. 1980,B.S.B.A. in Mktg. Mgmt. 1984Member of the Philippine House of Representatives from Parañaque's 2nd District 2013–2019, 2022–2025
Other government officials