SIDE STORY: A life of a normal teenager in Butuan Part 1

--- Arjun Anand Sharman's POV ---

--- 15th of March 1897 ----

The breeze of fresh air coming in from the window beside me touches my face, making me feel more relaxed and refreshed in today's heat. I am currently sitting in my classroom, surrounded by classmates engaged in conversations. My friends are beside me, talking, but I've lost track of their discussion.

We are all waiting for our last teacher of the morning to arrive so that our class can begin. Our school is known as Imperyong Unibersidad sang Santo Tomas in the Butuanon language, or in English, the Imperial University of Santo Tomas. This institution was established during the Spanish colonization on this island within the fortified city of Intramuros.

According to the history of this institution, the foundation of the university is attributed to Fray Miguel de Benavides, the third archbishop of Manila in the Catholic Church. Upon his death on July 26, 1605, Benavides bequeathed his library and personal property, valued at ₱1,500 (the currency used at that time), to be used as the seed fund for the establishment of an institution of higher learning.

Two days before his death, he made a testament in the presence of Fr. Domingo de Nieva and Fr. Bernardo de Santa Catalina, who became the executors of his last will. In June 1606, Bishop Diego de Soria wrote a letter to King Philip III of Spain, informing him of the plans to establish a colegio (college). He also requested authorization for the colegio to grant academic degrees, similar to the Colegio de Santo Tomas in Ávila, Spain.

In 1609, permission to open the college was requested from King Philip III of Spain, but it only reached Manila in 1611. The university was officially founded on April 28, 1611, with the act of foundation being signed by Frays Baltasar Fort, Bernardo Navarro, and Francisco Minayo. Bernardo de Santa Catalina carried out Benavides's wishes and secured a building near the Dominican church and convent in the walled city of Intramuros in Manila for the college.

UST followed the example of universities in Spain, such as the University of Salamanca, and in Spanish America, such as the Royal and Pontifical University of Mexico, to become a model for the university. UST was initially called the College of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary (Spanish: Colegio de Nuestra Señora del Santísimo Rosario) and was later renamed Colegio de Santo Tomas in 1619, in honor of the Dominican theologian, St. Thomas Aquinas.

On November 20, 1645, Pope Innocent X issued the papal bull "In Supremo Apostolatus," which elevated the Colegio de Santo Tomas to a university and placed it under papal authority.

Under the rule of Rani Mary, also known as St. Mary, a war was declared on Spanish-Philippines in 1669 to reclaim the lands that were considered rightfully theirs. This conflict lasted until 1699, making it a 30-year war of reconquest. During this period, they succeeded in regaining control of the Islands of Luzon and Visayas, while also acquiring the Islands of Guam, Mariana Islands, and Palau Islands.

Following the successful reconquest, the Catholic Church maintained authority over the University of Santo Tomas, as well as other Catholic schools and churches for a few more years. Eventually, this authority was forcibly removed during the Catholic Cleansing, which took place after a rebellion staged by priests and nuns who attempted to install a Catholic ruler on the throne. This uprising occurred a few years after the nation had established Aylashanism as a replacement for the Catholic faith.

Subsequently, the authority over the University of Santo Tomas and other institutions and churches was transferred to the Council of Palawan, which supervised all sectarian schools in the empire. During the declaration of the Rajahanate into an Empire by Emperor Charan I, the name of the institution was changed from the University of Santo Tomas to the "Imperyong Unibersidad sang Santo Tomas" (Imperial University of Santo Tomas).

The first Archbishop of the Temple of Maynila, previously known as Manila Cathedral, Archbishop Parth of Maynila, was appointed as the first chancellor of the Imperial University of Santo Tomas. Bishop Ramesh of San Agustine Temple, or Templo sang San Agustine, was chosen as the rector of the Imperial University of Santo Tomas.

Today, the Imperyong Unibersidad sang Santo Tomas is renowned as a hub of education on the island of Luzon. It has become the preferred institution for nobles who seek education and do not wish to attend the Riverbanks Imperial Institution.

This university offers a wide range of courses, from theology to medicine. Even the famous father of the empire's modern medicine once studied at Imperyong Unibersidad sang Santo Tomas, where he took a preparatory course in law. Many other influential figures in the society have also received their education at this institution.

Prominent individuals, such as the current Prime Minister, Emilio Aguinaldo, the visiting medical professor of both the Riverbanks Imperial Institution and Imperyong Unibersidad sang Santo Tomas (who also heads the Ministry of Virology under the Ministry of Health), Doctor José Protacio Rizal, as well as members of the House of Lords and House of Commons, are alumni of this institution.

These individuals have made significant contributions to the nation in various fields, including medicine, economics, government affairs, and their service to the Imperial Family. Someday, it may be your turn to make a substantial contribution to the beloved nation.

Well, anyways, I am, by the way, Arjun Anand Sharman. My parents own a huge construction company on this island. We are one of the providers of construction materials for both government and private construction businesses. I happen to be the fourth child of my parents; we are only five children in total.

Currently, I am pursuing a bachelor's degree in architecture. I chose this path because I enjoy drawing and exploring the architectural designs of both the empire and the colonial influences brought by the Spaniards. However, I won't be able to inherit the family business as it will pass down to my eldest brother, while my other siblings and I will only receive a share.

I consider myself fortunate to have gained admission to this institution. It reminds me of the various classifications of schools in the empire, which my sister, who works at the Imperial Academy for Women in Maynila, mentioned.

You see, schools in the empire are divided into nine types: Imperial Schools, public schools, private schools, religious schools, boarding schools, charitable schools, specialized schools, seminaries and convents, and military and naval schools. These schools make up the total number of educational institutions in the empire, which I believe is just under 41,286 schools, if my memory serves me right.

These classifications follow the Spanish Empire's style in their education system.

Despite the variety of school classifications and institutions, they all fall under the jurisdiction and watchful gaze of the Ministry of Education. The Ministry dictates the curriculum that each institution must teach their students.

The only exception is the schools for priests and nuns, which are under the umbrella of the Council of Palawan or the Catholic Church in the empire, although very few of these institutions remain. These schools focus solely on teaching aspiring priests and nuns to be proper servants of the Temple of Butuan or the Catholic Faith.

But, back to reality, our professor is quite late for today's class, to say the least. Nevertheless, he manages to engage us with an entertaining and attention-catching lesson.

Today's subject is Imperial History 3, a mandatory course in college that every student must take, regardless of their major. This subject spans all four years of college, starting from our first year.

In Imperial History 1 during the first year, we delve into the history of our nation during the Clan Era, which we learned about two years ago. It was an interesting subject to discuss, even though we had studied it in high school. The conflicts among clan leaders during that time make me wonder if they truly desired power or if they were simply following the wishes of their elders.

It's just sad to say that only a few artifacts from this era have been preserved and remain for people to see. Most of them are housed in the capital museum, while other minor artifacts are distributed to other major museums in the empire. The majority of the artifacts of the Rajputra Clan remain in the possession of the museum or the Imperial Family.

Among all the artifacts, the two most captivating pieces are the ceremonial sword of the Hanuman Clan and the ornate headdress or circlet crown worn by the Clan Leader of the Rajputra Clan.

The ceremonial sword of the Hanuman Clan is a magnificent creation made from pure gold and adorned with locally sourced pearls and precious gemstones. Legend has it that this sword was employed during significant ceremonies, invoking the divine assistance of the gods in battle and during the plowing and harvest seasons.

On the other hand, the ceremonial crown of the Clan Leader of the Rajputra Clan is a work of art in pure gold, featuring small openings, believed to be where feathers from a chicken were once inserted. These openings symbolize the Clan Leader's elevated status as the leader of the entire region.

Our study of Imperial History 2, our subject from the previous year, delves into the history of our nation from the Rajahnate era, with a particular focus on the monarchs of that period. The lessons commence with the early days of the Rajahnate era, during the reign of Rajah Shaja, the founder of the Imperial Clan of Shaja, and extend to the reign of Rajah Aakesh II, also known as Aakesh the lustful, who had 80 wives and concubines during his princely years, only to meet his end at the hands of his eldest son, Emperor Charan I.

In addition to this, the subject covers religious history and its influence on our society, although in somewhat broad strokes. The power struggles within the Imperial Clan for control of the entire realm are discussed. The Spanish invasion and their eventual expulsion from our land are also explored.

The course even delves into the purging of Catholics and the destruction of Spanish structures throughout the Islands of Luzon and Visayas during their rule.

The only remaining structure today that bears the influence of the Spaniards is a compound known as Intramuros, where my school is located, along with other significant buildings. This area retains its Spanish architectural design due to a petition made by the then Prince Rajendra Chatterjee, who is now known as Emperor Charan I, to his grandfather, Rajah Siagu X.

Speaking of Intramuros, this fortified compound houses numerous important buildings in the City of Maynila. In fact, Intramuros is almost like a city within itself, containing nearly everything one could need. It is encircled by stone walls, boasting six gates and seven bastions, providing protection to this day. These gates, from Kuta Santiago (Fort Santiago) moving clockwise, are Ganghaan ning Sulayman (Gate of Sulayman), Ganghaan ning Lakandula (Gate of Lakandula), Ganghaan ning Maynila (Gate of Maynila), Maharlika nga Ganghaan (Royal Gate), Ganghaan ning Arhaan III (Gate of Arhaan III), and Ganghaan ning Nalini (Gate of Nalini).

In Intramuros, several bastions are dedicated to martyrs of the Aylashanism faith, honoring their unwavering dedication to the Temple. These bastions include Kuta ni San Namdev (Bastion of Saint Namdev), Kuta ni San Surdas (Bastion of Saint Surdas), Kuta ni San Mirabai (Bastion of Saint Mirabai), Kuta ni San Valmiki (Bastion of Saint Valmiki), Kuta ni San Tulsidas (Bastion of Saint Tulsidas), Kuta ni San Eknath (Bastion of Saint Eknath), and Kuta ni San Kabir Das (Bastion of Saint Kabir Das).

These bastions, along with the gates, are remnants of a brutal siege by the forces of Rajah Siagu X against the remaining Spanish and pro-Spanish Butuanons in the Rajahnate at the time. The battle was so fierce and devastating that it turned the surrounding river red and even damaged some fortress buildings.

Upon the triumphant entry of Rajah Siagu X's forces into the fortress, a massacre ensued as they slaughtered Spanish court members and those who had betrayed the people of Butuan. Only those sheltered within the churches, such as priests, nuns, women, and children, survived. Others faced gruesome fates, including decapitation, impalement, hanging, and, in the most extreme cases, a form of punishment involving forced separation.

Much like the grand Imperial City of Sooraj, Intramuros' roads are paved with stones that bear witness to the oppression imposed by the Spaniards on the local people. These stones also tell the story of the Spaniards' downfall at the hands of those they had regarded as barbarians.

The suffering and injustices experienced by the Butuanons under Spanish rule inspired Dr. Rizal to create some of his most renowned works, including books, poetry, and plays, before he retired and assumed the roles of head of the Ministry of Virology and the Imperial Physician of the Imperial Family. Two of his most famous works, "Noli Me Tángere" and "El Filibusterismo," received numerous awards from the empire's literary community. It's even rumored that Imperial Crown Prince Siagu Alexie enjoys reading these books in his leisure time.

Intramuros is also home to two palaces with surviving Spanish architectural designs: the Mariwala Palyasan (Mariwala Palace) of the Imperial Family and the Stone Manor owned by the Harshad Clan, another branch of the Imperial Clan and former rulers of Maynila before the mayoral succession.

While the Mariwala Palace is now managed by the Imperial Heritage, a government-established organization that preserves, maintains, and manages this property. The Stone Manor remains under the control of the Harshad Clan, as it serves as their ancestral residence. Both palaces are in good condition and are used by members of the respective families. The Mariwala Palace is open to the public when not in use by the Imperial Family, but access to the Stone Manor is rare as it is a private residence.

Currently, the Mariwala Palace is not open to visitors as it hosts Imperial Princess Haimi, Marchioness of Siargao Island, Viscountess of Siargao, and Baroness of Dapa, along with her two children, Lord Daksh Tuburan (10) of Siargao and Lady Kaahini Tuburan (13) of Siargao, who are vacationing there.

Intriguingly, two significant Aylashan Temples are situated in Intramuros: the Templo sang Maynila (Temple of Maynila) and the Templo sang San Agustin (Temple of San Agustin). These two Aylashan churches bear Spanish architectural designs because they were originally Catholic churches that were confiscated and never returned during a period of cleansing.

The Temple of Maynila now serves as the seat of the Archbishop of Maynila, a member of the Council of Palawan. The Temple of San Agustin functions as the seat of the Bishop of San Agustin and serves as the right-hand institution to the Archbishop of Maynila. Despite their differences in roles, the land allocated to the Temple of San Agustin is considerably larger, primarily because it is responsible for training priests and nuns, a responsibility not shared by the Temple of Maynila.

The fortress also houses four schools and universities that offer classes from elementary to college. These institutions are the Imperyong Unibersidad sang Santo Tomas (Imperial University of Santo Tomas), Kolehiyo sang San Juan (San Juan College/College of San Juan), Unibersidad sang Dakbayan sang Maynila (University of the City of Maynila), and lastly, Kolehiyo sang Santa Potenciana (College of Saint Potenciana), which is the only all-girls school in Intramuros.

Imperial University of Santo Tomas is the largest of these four schools. The main reason for this is that this institution received the Imperial Decree from Emperor Charan I, elevating its status from a normal university or college to an Imperial University.

The fortress also houses churches, charity buildings, and order buildings of the Catholic faith in the empire, where the majority of its followers reside. Basically, the once-dominant religion in our nation is reduced to almost nonexistent outside this fortified compound.

The seat of the City Mayor and other government buildings are also located inside the fortress. Additionally, there is a fire station and police station to maintain the safety and security of the people inside, especially when members of the Imperial Family visit the Palace.

Residential houses are also present in the fortress. These residential houses are owned by the public, and all of them are residing here. Most of them have rarely been outside the fortress as it already offers everything they need in life, especially with the market in the area.

My family and I are among the fortunate individuals who own an entire house inside this fortress. We consider ourselves lucky, not only because of our proximity to goods but also because of our proximity to the palace of the Imperial Family. Our family is deeply loyal to the Imperial Family, as they are one of the reasons why we are in our current position today.

They have helped our ancestors financially, giving my great-great-grandfather a gold reward for saving one member of the Imperial Family from an assassin, even though it cost the life of my great-great-grandfather's younger brother. This reward helped our family rise from humble beginnings to a prominent position. In response, our family, on my father's side, decided to serve the Imperial Family through business, as courtiers, or in the military.

My older sister became one of the junior court ladies in the Imperial Complex, while one of my older brothers currently serves in the military. We are people of honor who uphold our family's commitments and history.

Regarding History 3, according to my seniors, it focuses on the history of our nation with an emphasis on religious aspects and their impact on our development as a people. This course doesn't solely concentrate on Aylashanism faith but starts with the Clan era, which practiced the Hindu faith, moves through the Buddhist faith, and covers the Catholic faith.

The most interesting part of this lesson, as per my seniors in architecture, is that it also delves into the effect of religion on the development of architectural styles in our nation. It traces the evolution from the Hindu architectural style to the influences we received from Chinese and Buddhist styles, eventually settling into an architectural design that combines elements of Buddhism, Chinese architecture, and our native style. These three styles complement each other, resulting in an architectural style that is almost identical to Chinese architecture.

"Good morning, everyone," a voice suddenly entered my ears, bringing me back to reality after a minute of daydreaming while gazing at the tree outside our classroom. When I turned to look, it was my professor for today's class, Doctor Arun Khatri, my professor in Imperial History.

"Good morning, Doctor Khatri," we all stood and bowed our heads in a show of respect, acknowledging him as our teacher. This was a traditional way of greeting that had been practiced long before the formalization of education in our nation, rooted in the values of respect and familial piety that are integral to Butuanon culture.

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Author's note: Thank you for the continual support. This is a bonus chapter as I might only be able to update 1 chapter next week because of my assistantship. Thank you once again everyone!

1- In this world, Tagalog language develops under the Butuanon language. While the Butuanon language loans some words to Mandarin, Sanskrit, and Spanish, as during the 16th to 17th Century, Butuanon language is undergoing its major language vocabulary expansion.

2- Further Information regarding the schools categories and ranking will be posted on the following days.

3- Names are also continuously being change so stay updated guys. Thanks.