St. Scholastica’s College Manila

Overview

St. Scholastica’s College is a Catholic women’s educational institution in Manila, Philippines, run by Benedictine nuns. For Betty Chan, St. Scholastica’s was her primary educational home from first grade during WWII through her bachelor’s degree in mathematics (1956), shaping both her academic abilities and Catholic faith.

Significance to Family

Betty’s Educational Journey

Elementary (1942-1945 - During WWII):

• Attended first and second grade during Japanese occupation
• Lived with Uncle Linda’s family on weekdays
• Took piano lessons
• Was taught Japanese by a nun (occupation requirement)
• Prepared for First Communion at Binondo, Manila Church
• Education continued despite war (remarkable)

High School (graduation 1952):

• Boarder at convent school
• Finished high school age 12 (no junior high in Philippines)
• Graduated 1952
• “Second Honorable Mention” - 4th in class of 70 students

College (1952-1956):

• Bachelor’s degree completed 1956
• Major: Mathematics
• Required Minor: “Home Culture” (nuns wanted graduates to become model housewives or nuns)
• Vice-President of graduating class (liked organizing parties)
• Two classmates graduated cum laude (Betty was not one of them)

Strict Convent Life (High School Boarding)

Daily Schedule:

• 5:00 AM wake up for church
• Silent, timed meals
• Classes
• Supervised library homework by nuns
• Evening prayers
• 9:00 PM lights out

Discipline:

• Nuns maintained strict control
• Religious observance required
• Limited freedom
• Preparation for either marriage or religious life

College Years

Academic:

• Mathematics major (unusual for women in 1950s Philippines)
• “Home Culture” minor required (cooking, domestic skills)
• Cooking classes included learning to kill chickens (students let them go, made mess)

Social:

• Vice-President of graduating class
• Loved organizing parties
• Got in trouble with dean for holding party with “slow drag” dancing
• More social than typical convent student

Results:

• Graduated 1956
• Father died same year
• Nuns gave her teaching job after graduation
• Mathematics degree led to career (not just housewife as nuns intended)

Catholic Formation

Religious Education

St. Scholastica’s provided:

• Daily Mass and prayers
• Catholic theology
• Nun role models
• Moral and ethical training
• Preparation for First Communion (elementary)

Betty’s Faith Development

• Devout Catholic throughout life
• “By the Grace of God” - constant refrain
• Mother’s prayer during war + nuns’ teaching = deep faith
• Choir director in retirement
• Taught English to choir members
• Faith sustained her through WWII, displacement, immigration

Educational Quality

Academic Rigor

• Betty graduated 4th in class of 70 (high school)
• Mathematics degree (rigorous program)
• Two classmates cum laude (competitive environment)
• Nuns maintained high standards

Career Preparation

Despite nuns wanting graduates to become housewives or nuns, Betty used her education:

• Teaching (immediately after graduation)
• Payroll Supervisor at Eastern Textile Factory, Manila
• Bakery manager in Taiwan
• Teaching in Taipei
• Choir director in Los Angeles

Mathematics degree was practical career credential, not just ornamental.

Historical Context

Catholic Education in Philippines

Spanish Colonial Legacy:

• Philippines heavily Catholic due to Spanish colonization
• Church controlled much education
• Women’s education often limited to religious schools
• Nuns ran most girls’ schools

Post-Independence:

• Philippines independent 1946
• Catholic schools continued strong presence
• St. Scholastica’s as prestigious women’s institution
• Served Chinese-Filipino and Filipino elite families

Education During WWII

Remarkable Continuity:

• St. Scholastica’s maintained operations during Japanese occupation
• Nuns required to teach Japanese language
• Betty attended grades 1-2 during war (1942-1945)
• Shows dedication to education despite chaos
• Nuns’ courage in maintaining school

Role in Betty’s Life

Foundation for Success

Academic Skills:

• Mathematics ability → Payroll Supervisor role
• Organizational skills → Vice-President of class, party planning
• Discipline → Strict schedule training
• Work ethic → 5 AM to 9 PM days

Catholic Values:

• Faith through trials
• “By the Grace of God” mentality
• Service to others
• Family values
• Education emphasis

Social Development:

• Despite strict environment, Betty was social
• Organized parties
• Had fun (“slow drag” dancing incident)
• Balance of duty and enjoyment

Marriage Within Year of Graduation

Timeline:

• 1956: Graduated college, father died
• 1957: Engaged and married to Jesse Chan (Chinese tradition: within 100 days of father’s death)
• 21 years old at marriage
• Education completed before marriage (unusual for era)

St. Scholastica’s gave Betty credential and confidence to be professional woman, not just wife.

Contrast to Jesse’s Education

Betty:

• Formal education through bachelor’s degree
• Single institution (St. Scholastica’s) from elementary through college
• Stable, structured environment
• Catholic convent education
• Graduated at 21 with degree

Jesse:

• Displaced education (Philippines → Hong Kong → Fujian → Shanghai)
• Finished high school but no college (sacrificed for brothers)
• Learned 7 languages through necessity
• Self-educated in business
• Night school for English in Manila

Both succeeded despite very different paths.

Legacy to Children

Educational Values Transmitted

Betty’s St. Scholastica’s experience influenced how she raised her children:

• Education priority - all four to elite universities
• Discipline - convent training applied to parenting
• Catholic faith - raised children with religious values
• Academic excellence - expected high performance
• Work ethic - 5 AM to 9 PM schedule modeled hard work

Results:

• Rose Chan Loui → Stanford → NYU Law
• Meg Chan Feitelberg → Stanford (Economics)
• John Louis Chan → University of Houston → Cranbrook Academy
• Michelle Chan Ng → Whittier College
• All received scholarships

”Tyrant Mother”

Betty described herself as “tyrant mother” when children were growing up:

• Strict discipline (learned from nuns)
• High expectations (academic excellence modeled)
• Structure and routine (convent schedule)
• But also loved organizing (Vice-President, parties)

Balance of strictness and joy - just like St. Scholastica’s education.

Research Questions

• Exact location of St. Scholastica’s College in Manila?
• When was it founded?
• Still operating today?
• Names of Betty’s teachers/nuns?
• Who were the two classmates who graduated cum laude?
• Name of dean who scolded Betty about “slow drag” dancing?
• Details about “Home Culture” curriculum?
• Uncle Linda - full name and relationship to Betty?
• Which church for First Communion? (Binondo Church?)
• Did Betty maintain contact with St. Scholastica’s alumnae?
• Tuition costs in 1950s?
• How did family afford convent boarding school?