Colegio de San Juan de Letran - Bataan

Colegio de San Juan de Letran emerged from the fusion of two similar institutions both located in Intramuros. The first was founded in 1620 by Don Juan Geronimo Guerrero, a retired Spanish Officer, who transformed his hermitage home into an orphanage called the Colegio de Ninos Huerfanos de San Juan de Letran. Its purpose was to educate and to mold orphans into good Christian citizens. The name San Juan de Letran was inspired from the major Basilica of St. John Lateran in Rome, mother of all Christian churches. Early in the history of the College, its chapel was granted many of the privileges enjoyed by the major Basilica. Saint John the Baptist for whom the Basilica is named, is also the patron saint of the College. In a span of more than three centuries, Letran produced alumni who became the builders of the Filipino nation. The names of Manuel Quezon, Sergio Osmena, Apolinario Mabini, Marcelo del Pilar, Padre Mariano Gomez, Francisco Balagtas, Emilio Aguinaldo, and many other...