Arts & Culture of Zamboanga City

by contributing writer & local artist: Icelle G. Borja

 

IcelleARTicles: Remembering The Old Burleigh School

 

In line with the City's thrust to preserve and restore the legacy of its culture and history, in my list of historic buildings and landmarks, one that comes to the fore is the "Burleigh School," centrally located on a 2.6 hectare lot in the heart of the City, which is considered as the oldest school building built during the early American Regime.  It is also pointed out as one of Zamboanga's "Patrimonial Properties." Today, it is renamed as the East and West Central Schools respectively, for it was divided by previous administrations for the easy handling of the fast growing population.

Zamboanga City's Dear Old Burleigh School
The original 'Prairie' type of architecture was used by the Americans - built of wood all through out. (c. 1900)

Today, the Old Burleigh School still stands with its original architectural structure but in a lamentable state of decay and deterioration, weather-beaten with age and neglect.  In a meeting with the school's Principal Mrs. Cleotilde A. San Luis, she said that she has written the City's Engineering Department requesting for its restoration and rebuilding, and that was last year yet. I am thankful for we still have in our midst real people with genuine concern and with a sense of history.

Historical background:

The establishment of schools was a potent factor in the interest of pacification, and the work in the schools was more or less a continuation of the Spanish System of instruction to which the teaching of English was added in the curriculum. Soldiers and Military officers were appointed teachers, and the great education venture was finally launched in earnest. A new system of education was introduced during the American Regime and was made available to the masses. All public schools were transformed into co-educational institutions, and school children were encouraged to go to school and were given free books, notebooks, and pencils.

US Army Transport "Thomas"

The shortage of teachers were evident, and thus the arrival of the "Thomasites."  They were 540 American teachers, some of whom came with their families, who arrived in the Philippines in August 1901, via the US Army Transport "Thomas," to augment teaching jobs in our islands.

Within three months, these teachers were assigned to the different schools around the archipelago. Among the priorities of the American Occupation during the first decade were public works, namely the building of public schools, which was patterned after the American "Prairie" school type of architecture, building of roads, bridges, port and harbor facilities, waterworks, irrigation systems, and public civic buildings. American engineers and architects were imported on large numbers.

Filipinos were sent to the United  States as "Pensionados" at government expense for training in various professions.  These, among others, eventually replaced the American civil servants.

June, 1908 - one of the American soldier-teacher was killed by Jikiri's band of outlaws on Jolo island. Private Albert L. Burleigh, of the 2nd Infantry, had been detailed at his own request to teach in Mainbung school. He had never been molested at his station, where he was under the direct protection of the Sultan. Then one day, when he was returning from a trip to Jolo town, he was attacked and slain by four Moros. He became the first teacher, American or native, to suffer violence at the hands of the inhabitants of the Moro Province.

His loss was much lamented at Mainbung, where he had performed his duties with unusual success, that the school there had to be closed temporarily. In his honor and memorial, the Zamboanga Central School was renamed as "Burleigh School."

Zamboanga City's Burleigh Classroom detail
An American Soldier-Teacher with his native pupils. NOTE: the soldier in his white uniform during classes. (click to enlarge photo detail)

The old Burleigh School derived much of its strength and prestige as a threshold of learning from its administrators, faculty, and auxiliaries, a good number of whom were American or American trained.  Its teachers were among the finest in elementary school teaching, and its fine quality of instruction was due in large measure to its curriculum, thus maintaining a high standard for elementary education.

If the effectiveness of an institution of learning is measured by the success of its alumni in their respective fields of endeavor, then the Burleigh school has every reason to be proud of its graduates.  In its roll of alumni are men and women in their different fields who have contributed their share in nation building.

This sturdy and imposing building was the center ­of teaching and learning, the Fountain of Knowledge. Not even the artillery shells of both the conqueror and liberators could destroy or defile it.  Many ugly shell holes tell the scars of war, were all promptly patched so no trace of damage is at all visible. It served as a Nippongo school during the Japanese period, a Field Hospital during the World War II, the venue for softball matches, horticultural exhibits, and the agro-industrial fairs.

Today, it still stands serene as the Grand Old Dame of Learning, a silent witness to the metamorphosing progressive Zamboanga, were thousands of graduates passed through her Portals of Knowledge.
The Old Burleigh School:  Zamboanga del Norte VS. Zamboanga City ( June 30, 1969 )
PHILIPPINE JURISPRUDENCE - FULL TEXT

The Lawphil Project - Arellano Law Foundation

G.R. No. L-24440 June 30, 1969

PROVINCE OF ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTE vs. CITY OF ZAMBOANGA, ET AL.

Republic of the Philippines

SUPREME COURT

Manila

EN BANC

G.R. No. L-24440 June 30, 1969

THE PROVINCE OF ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTE, plaintiff-appellee,

vs.

CITY OF ZAMBOANGA, SECRETARY OF FINANCE AND COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, defendants-appellants.

R E S O L U T I O N

REYES, J.B.L., J.:

Professing respect for the principles enunciated by this Court in its decision of 28 March 1968, in Case G. R. No. L-24440, entitled Province of Zamboanga del Norte vs. City of Zamboanga, et al., 1 the appellant City seeks reconsideration of our decision in so far as the latter declares that Republic Act 3039 is unconstitutional and void in so far as the same seeks to deprive the Province of Zamboanga del Norte of its share in the 26 lots situated within the City of Zamboanga, and hereinafter enumerated, without just compensation, for the reason that said 26 lots are patrimonial property of the old Province of Zamboanga. Said 26 lots are declared in the main decision to be the following:

TCT Number Lot Number U s e

5577 .......................... 177 .......................... Mydro, Magay

13198 ......................... 127-D .......................... San Roque

5569 .......................... 169 .......................... Burleigh2

5558 .......................... 175 .......................... Vacant

5559 .......................... 188 .......................... "

5560 .......................... 183 .......................... "

5561 .......................... 186 .......................... "

5563 .......................... 191 .......................... "

5566 .......................... 176 .......................... "

5568 .......................... 179 .......................... "

5574 .......................... 196 .......................... "

5575 .......................... 181-A ....................... "

5576 .......................... 181-B ....................... "

5578 .......................... 182 .......................... "

5579 .......................... 197 .......................... "

5580 .......................... 195 .......................... "

5581 .......................... 159-B ......................... "

5582 .......................... 194 .......................... "

5584 .......................... 190 .......................... "

5588 .......................... 184 .......................... "

5589 .......................... 187 .......................... "

5590 .......................... 189 .......................... "

5591 .......................... 192 .......................... "

5592 .......................... 193 .......................... "

5593 .......................... 185 .......................... "

7379 .......................... 4147 .......................... "

The movant City contends that the 26 lots aforestated were not patrimonial property of the former Province of Zamboanga, for the reason that said 26 lots have always been used for public purposes, such as school sites, playgrounds and athletic fields for schools.

To bolster its contention, the City of Zamboanga submitted photographs, plans and a sworn certification of its City Engineer to the effect that:

(a) Twenty-one lots (Nos. 17, 177, 179, 181-A, 181-B, 182 to 197) are part and parcel of the Zamboanga Trade School;

(b) Three lots (Nos. 169, 175 and 176) are part and parcel of the Zamboanga Normal College;

(c) Lot No. 127-D is the Pasonanca Elementary School;

(d) Lot No. 4147 is the Bolong Elementary School;

(e) Lot No. 159-B is part and parcel of the Baliwasan Elementary School.

Appellant City of Zamboanga, therefore, prays that the main decision be partly reconsidered and that all title to, and ownership of, the 26 lots be declared to have been validly vested in said City free of charge by Republic Act No. 3039.

The motion for reconsideration is vigorously opposed by plaintiff-appellee Province of Zamboanga del Norte, which contends that the evidence sought to be filed by the appellant City is not newly discovered evidence and is, therefore, inadmissible at this stage of the proceedings. Alternatively, the appellee Province of Zamboanga contends that the 26 lots are vacant, or that the buildings existing thereon were constructed in bad faith; and that the said Province has additional evidence to show that most of these properties are not actually devoted to public use or governmental purposes.1awphil.nęt

Considering that both contending parties are actually subdivisions of one entity, the Republic of the Philippines, so that public interest is involved and demands that the issues presented be determined speedily without regard to technicalities, the Court resolved that, in the interest of justice and equity, its main decision and that of the court below be reconsidered and set aside, in so far as they affect the twenty-six lots heretofore enumerated, and the monetary indemnities awarded. Instead, the records are ordered remanded to the court of origin for a new trial, wherein the parties shall be given opportunity to adduce and submit any evidence in their possession to show whether or not the 26 lots aforesaid were or were not actually devoted to public use or governmental purposes prior to the enactment of Republic Act No. 3039. Thereafter, the Court of First Instance shall decide the issues anew, taking into account the evidence submitted by the parties and the principles of law laid down by this Supreme Court in its main decision of the present case, dated 28 March 1968.

So ordered. No costs.

Concepcion, C.J., Makalintal, Zaldivar, Sanchez, Castro, Fernando, Capistrano, Teehankee and Barredo, JJ., concur.

Dizon, J., took no part.

Footnotes

1See 22 SCRA 1334.

2"This could not be considered as forming part of the appurtenant grounds of the Burleigh school sites since the records here and in the Bureau of Lands show that this lot is set apart from the other Burleigh lots."

The Lawphil Project - Arellano Law Foundation

 

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