Location: Manila North Cemetery, Main Avenue, Santa Cruz, Manila
Category: Personages
Type: Memorial
Status: Level II – Historical marker
Marker date: 21 August 1995
Installed by: National Historical Institute (NHI)
Marker text:
IN MEMORIAM – THOMASITES
DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF THE AMERICAN SCHOOL TEACHERS WHOSE MORTAL REMAINS LIE BENEATH THIS HALLOWED GROUND KNOWN AS THE AMERICAN LITTLE TEACHERS PLOT AND THOSE OTHERS WHO REST IN UNKNOWN AND UNMARKED GRAVES IN VARIOUS PARTS OF THE COUNTRY, AS A TOKEN OF THE FILIPINO PEOPLES ESTEEM OF THEIR DEDICATIONS AND SELF-SACRIFICES.
THE FIRST GROUP OF AMERICAN TEACHERS NUMBERING ABOUT 48 ARRIVED IN THE PHILIPPINES ON BOARD THE SS SHERIDAN IN JULY 1901. THE SUCCEEDING 540 EDUCATORS ARRIVED ON AUGUST 21, 1901 ON SS THOMAS LEAVING BEHIND THEIR HOMES AND FAMILY AND WORKED TIRELESSLY FOR THE EDUCATION OF THE FILIPINO PEOPLE AND THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM IN THE COUNTRY.