The Thomasites Remembered

On Aug. 21, 1901, five hundred forty American teachers from all over the US, with varying educational backgrounds, arrived in the Philippines on board the US Army Transport Thomas, from which ship the teachers derived their name Thomasites.

Shortly before then, President William McKinley had decided to colonize the Philippines–contrary to Gen. George Dewey’s promise to Aguinaldo to help him free the country from the Spanish yoke. Subsequently, McKinley sent the Thomasites to the Philippines to establish the public school system. Earlier, a number of American teachers had already arrived on the Sheridan and other ships.

The teachers had come for various reasons: some from a sense of mission; others, from a sense of adventure; still others, to seek employment. Teaching in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, the Thomasites introduced long-lasting changes in our educational, social, religious and political systems; after these changes, life was never the same again.

A full-scale, year-long centennial celebration honoring the Thomasites has been organized by the US Embassy, the American Studies Association and the Phil-Am Educational Foundation. Events have included a commemorative ceremony at the Manila North Cemetery (honoring the Thomasites buried here), an international conference at Ateneo U, an art exhibition by playwright-artist Tony Perez; a Thomasites Descendants’ Association Dinner at which well-known personalities–e.g. tenor Frankie Aseniero, film director-actor Behn Cervantes, UP Prof. Judy Ick–were discovered to be direct descendants of certain Thomasites.

Among the continuing activities was the publication of a log book which records the Thomasites’ long journey to the Philippines. The logbook recounts that during the trip, questions were passed around for the teachers to answer.

Here is a sample card filled out: Name? C.J. Russel. When and by whom appointed? Satan. Married or single? Twice. Have you any relatives on the Islands? Natives.

Another card reads in part: Grammar? None. High? None. Normal? None. Post Graduate Course? None. Special Training: Sewing? Wild oats. Cooking? Hot Tamales. Drawing? Wagons. Music? Hot Time. Agricultural School Work? Working a Pony.

Doubtless, the Thomasites also brought to the Philippines the American sense of humor.