G.R. No. L-5592. December 21, 1953

The Republic of the Philippines through the Solicitor General is
appealing from a decision of the Court of First Instance of Cagayan,
granting the petition for naturalization of Uy Yu alias IGNACIO
UY SECHUN on the strength of the evidence presented by the applicant,
the Republic having adduced none is support of its opposition to the
application. The only basis for the appeal is that the minor child of
the applicant named ELPIDIO is attending the SAMANTABHADRA INSTITUTE, a
Chinese school located in Juan Luna, Manila and there is no proof that
said school has been duly recognized by the Government and that it is
teaching Philippine Government, History and Civics.

Examining the record we find that the applicant in his
testimony assured the court that before he enrolled his son Elpidio in
said school he made the necessary investigation and was assured that
said school was recognized by the Government, and so we agree with the
trial court’s finding about said government recognition. The Solicitor
General, however, further insists that mere recognition by the
Government of a private school is no proof that the subjects of
Philippine Government, History and Civics are taught in said recognized
school. We are of the opinion that under the present law, one of the
requirements of government recognition of a private school is that said
school has the minimum standard requirement of instruction required by
the Government, including the teaching of such subjects as Philippine
Government, History and Civics. Furthermore, to give us further
assurance of the correctness of this opinion, at least in the present
case, at our instance, the office of the Director of Private School went
over the record of the Samantabhadra Institute, and in his certificate
dated December 4, 1953, the Director states that Philippine Government,
History and Civics are prescribed as part of the curriculum of the
Institute.

In view of the foregoing, and finding the decision appealed
from to be in conformity with the law and the evidence, the same is
hereby affirmed. No costs.

Paras, C. J., Pablo, Bengzon, Padilla, Tuason, Reyes, Jugo,
Bautista Angelo and Labrador, JJ., concur.