The success of Filipino-Chinese businesses can be attributed to several factors, with a strong emphasis placed on school education, which is deeply rooted in their cultural heritage.
The first local Chinese school, Tiong Se Academy, was founded on April 15, 1899. Over the next century, Filipino Chinese established more than 300 schools. Today, 148 of these institutions remain operational, 16 of which have a remarkable history exceeding a century.
Filipino-Chinese schools typically offer a range of educational levels, from kindergarten and elementary school to junior and senior high school.
Prior to 1975, Filipino Chinese schools operated under a dual academic system, with two distinct sets of courses. These schools offered both English and Chinese sections. Students attended Chinese courses predominantly in the morning sessions, while English courses replaced them in the afternoon.
Presidential Executive Order No. 176, issued in 1973, mandated all Filipino Chinese schools to adopt English and Tagalog as their primary languages of instruction. Since 1976, Chinese language instruction became an elective, limited to a maximum of 100 minutes per day.
The implementation of this executive order marked the end of the dual academic system and the full integration of Filipino Chinese schools into the Philippine educational framework. To comply with government regulations, most Filipino Chinese schools offer a maximum of two hours of Chinese language instruction daily, in addition to the mainstream courses mandated by the Department of Education.
All Filipino Chinese schools operate solely through fundraising efforts within the local Chinese community. Despite receiving no government financial support, these schools significantly contribute to the development of national talent and play a vital role in nation-building.
Filipino Chinese schools are regarded as valuable assets within the Philippine education system. A growing consensus suggests that the Philippine government should allocate more resources and support for Chinese education, reflecting the rising demand and recognition of its importance in the educational landscape.
Among the top Filipino-Chinese schools are Tiong Se Academy, established in 1899; Chiang Kai-shek College, the largest Chinese Filipino school in terms of student count; Philippine Cultural College, founded in 1923, the oldest Chinese-Filipino secondary school in the country; Manila Patriotic School, established in 1912; Angeles Lip Lin School which offers a Mandarin program from nursery to high school; and St. Jude Catholic School which integrates Chinese-Filipino heritage into its curriculum.
Xavier School, a Jesuit institution, offers a blend of Chinese and Filipino cultural elements, while Paco Citizen Academy Foundation is a non-profit Filipino-Chinese institution.
