The Little Flower of Jesus Academy was the precursor of the University of San Carlos' basic education department. It was located one kilometer away along Mabini Street from it's main building on P. Del Rosario Street. The Little Flower of Jesus Academy survived the ravages of time, a revolution, a world war, but fell prey to modernization.
During the reign of Julio Cardinal Rosales in 1967, the compound of the Little Flower of Jesus Academy was demolished. During his reign as Cardinal, several colonial structures were demolished with or without his permission; history has shown that he was not too keen on heritage conservation, under his reign, Cebu bore witness to the obliteration of Cebu's cultural and religious history with the demolition of centuries old buildings and structures administered or under the jurisdiction of the Archdiocese.
Like most well-to-do residences of the time, the Academy had an Aljibe or a cistern for drinking water. This storage for water is also called cisterna. It is usually below ground and its walls are covered with masonry or brick vault, well-built and whitewashed. Canals fill it with rainwater through a filtration system. Water first passes through a chamber called purificador (water purifier), which functions as a filter and where impurities are trapped. These chambers are located a few meters from the cistern and, at times, is confused for its outlet. These cisterns are crucial because they guaranteed survival during an extended blockade or drought.
(a closer look at the aljibe)
During the reign of Julio Cardinal Rosales in 1967, the compound of the Little Flower of Jesus Academy was demolished. During his reign as Cardinal, several colonial structures were demolished with or without his permission; history has shown that he was not too keen on heritage conservation, under his reign, Cebu bore witness to the obliteration of Cebu's cultural and religious history with the demolition of centuries old buildings and structures administered or under the jurisdiction of the Archdiocese.
(Little Flower of Jesus Academy with the tourelle-type aljibe or cistern at the side)
Like most well-to-do residences of the time, the Academy had an Aljibe or a cistern for drinking water. This storage for water is also called cisterna. It is usually below ground and its walls are covered with masonry or brick vault, well-built and whitewashed. Canals fill it with rainwater through a filtration system. Water first passes through a chamber called purificador (water purifier), which functions as a filter and where impurities are trapped. These chambers are located a few meters from the cistern and, at times, is confused for its outlet. These cisterns are crucial because they guaranteed survival during an extended blockade or drought.
(a closer look at the aljibe)