Miguel de benavides biography examples

This article is available in Spanish.

A student who enters the University of Santo Tomas Library will notice that its name has a clear Hispanic resonance — that of Miguel de Benavides y Añoza from Carrion, who was precisely the university’s founder.

But who was he, and why did he travel half the world away?

Early Life

Miguel de Benavides was born around 1550 to a noble family in the now minuscule “city” — since it holds such a title — of Carrión de los Condes (Palencia).

In 1567, he entered the convent of San Pablo, in Valladolid, as a postulant in the Dominican Order. In the said convent, he received the habit of a Dominican and made his profession.

Bishop Benavides also led by personal example – he carried out his duties and responsibilities inimitably.

Archbishop Benavides founded the University of Santo Tomas in Manila in , making it the oldest university in the Philippines and in Asia.

FIDEL VILLARROEL was born in Tejerina (Leon, Spain) on March l8, He took up secondary studies at the Dominican schools of La Mejorada.

A private, Catholic research university in Manila, Philippines.

A religious man of exceptional virtue and knowledge, he served as Confessor and Preacher to the Spaniards in Manila () and later took charge.

He later began studying Arts. During these years, he distinguished himself for his great talent and capacity for theology, as well as for his attitude as a Dominican religious. Later, he moved to the University College of San Gregorio, in the same city of Valladolid, to perfect his studies of Philosophy