2008,
May 10.
Baguio Teachers Camp Centennial
Litho Offset.
Amstar Company, Inc. Perf. 14.
Se-tenant
Pairs
, Sheets of 40 (4 x 10)
Se-tenant Pairs (40,000)
7p
Old Structure of Baguio Teachers' Camp
7p
Thomasites
Designer and Graphic Artist: Corazon T. Loza
Design Coordinator: Dr. Ngo Tiong
Tak
First Day Covers: Manila, Baguio
City
BAGUIO TEACHERS CAMP - 100th
ANNIVERSARY
The advent of the American Thomasites in August of 1901 was
instrumental in the introduction of the new era of public education
in the archipelago. Motivated by the highest ideals with utmost
desire to assist in building a new nation in this part of the world
and a thousand young American men and women, who were trained and
educated in some of the best academes in the United States,
established a modern public school system which undoubtedly has
contributed remarkable impact on the lives of the greatest number of
Filipinos. Coined after the name of the U.S. Army Transport Thomas
that carried them to the Philippines, the American Thomasites were a
group of 540 American teachers and some of their family members who
first came to propagate public education in the country. In 1902
though this number of American teachers was increased to a total of
1,074.
The American Thomasites were sent throughout the archipelago where
they worked with zeal and passion for the progress of a nation of
numerous ethnic groups, languages, religions and completely diverse
cultural traditions and customary practices. Amidst floods,
typhoons, tropical diseases and the lack of transportation
facilities, they faced the challenges of their work and showed a
pioneering spirit that has become an inspiration for many of
Filipinos who have directly benefited from their mission.
Rather than providing higher education to a select few, the American
Thomasites, inspired by the principle of propagating education and
literacy to the greatest number were convinced that education to
become genuine and truly beneficial must afford safeguard and
protection to the ideals of democracy.