Diego de Santa Maria was a Dominican friar, who was a co-founder of the College of Saint John of Lateran in Manila.

DIEGO DE SANTA MARIA

Diego de Santa Maria, arrived in Manila, from Spain via Mexico possibly in May 1632 . De Santa Maria took pity on the poor and abandoned boys of Manila and gave them shelter in a room adjacent to his office, taught them the rudiments in human knowledge and religion.

Diego‘s ministry consisted of feeding and clothing the poor orphans of the city. But he was first and foremost a teacher. Besides the faith, Diego taught the children writing and mathematics. Diego called this community of orphan boys the Colegio de ninos huerfanos de San Pedro y San Pablo.

In 1640 Diego was asked to take charge of the Colegio de ninos huerfanos de San Juan de Letran (established by Don Juan Geronimo Geuerrero, but who by then was growing old). The merger of two similar institutions took place and later became known as the College of Saint John of Lateran.

???

to 1655