| Photo by Adam Nemeroff on Unsplash
Dr. Benito F. Reyes, the first president of the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) or the University of the City of Manila, drafted the academic curriculum of PLM, which was implemented during his term of office from 1967 until 1972.
He was a spiritualist and a follower of Theosophy under a formal organization called the Theosophical Society with a Philippine branch. It’s an old spiritual organization founded in New York in the 1800s with a worldwide following. With a universalist outlook, it spouses an open-minded inquiry into religion, philosophy, science, and the arts.
Dr. Reyes was surrounded by fellow Theosophists, which included his wife, some members of the school administration, and some faculty members. I was among PLM’s first students and recipients of its free education and was a student under Dr. Reyes’s college curriculum. His undeclared agenda was an education steeped in a neo-humanistic outlook and philosophy of life. It wasn’t a sinister plot, far from it, but an effort to temper our materialistic drive and balance it with compassion. He integrated classical Western and Eastern philosophies to guide his grand design.
His hidden plan was discernible from the university education he was offering. A philosopher himself, he envisioned an education that trained students in critical thinking, the cultivation of a moral sense, and, if I may add, a universalist outlook. Some Theosophical teachings and practices were noticeable, such as vegetarianism.
The PLM cafeteria used to offer meat substitutes on its menu. But his most discernible agenda was to mold our minds according to his conception of what an upright man is supposed to be. The first two years of our education were on logic and philosophy, ethics, arts, culture, and the humanities. He recruited like-minded people to work with him and implement his agenda, but there were no discussions among the student body about what he wanted to accomplish. He probably thought his ideas were above our heads. Some of us did oppose the courses we thought were irrelevant in pursuing a lucrative career after college.
“A philosopher himself, he envisioned an education that trained students in critical thinking, the cultivation of a moral sense, and, if I may add, a universalist outlook. … His his most discernible agenda was to mold our minds according to his conception of what an upright man is supposed to be.”
We were operating on a different wavelength than him regarding our short-term and ultimate goals; we were more concerned about landing good-paying jobs and getting our families out of poverty. It’s hard to philosophize with an empty stomach. I still believe that his efforts weren’t for naught, for down the road, when we were older and wiser, we saw the unique value of our education. Despite our social background, many became successful professionals with a good work ethic and high moral standards.
My edge over my schoolmates in discerning Dr. Reyes’s agenda was taking philosophy as a major, engaging in a spiritual quest, and dabbling in yoga, Theosophy, Eastern philosophy, and the writings of Jiddu Krishnamurti. We had professors who were Theosophists adept in Eastern Thought who further exposed us to esoteric teachings that regular college students were never exposed to. My academic training and personal experience helped me understand what he was up to.
Later in life, before he passed away, he established the World University of America in Ojai, California, where he retired. His university, judging from its name, was an attempt to continue his passion for educating young people according to his philosophy of life.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Dr. Fernando B. Perfas is an addiction specialist who has written several books and articles on the subject. He currently provides training and consulting services to various government and non-government drug treatment agencies regarding drug treatment and prevention approaches. He can be reached at fbperfas@gmail.com.
