Nicanor "Nick" Baptista Reyes Sr. (born Nicanor Reyes Icasiano; January 2, 1894 – February 9, 1945) was a Filipino educator. He was the founder and first president of the Far Eastern University in Manila, Philippines.[1]

Nicanor Reyes Sr.
Portrait of Reyes done by Fernando Amorsolo
Born2 January 1894
Manila, Philippines
Died9 February 1945(1945-02-09) (aged 51)
NationalityFilipino
EducationUniversity of the Philippines (A.B., 1915)
New York University Stern School of Business (B.A., 1917)
Columbia University (M.B.A., Ph. D.)
OccupationEducator
Known forFounder of Far Eastern University
TitleHead, Department of Economics, University of the Philippines
President, Far Eastern University (1934 - 1945)
SpouseAmparo De Leon Mendoza-Reyes
Children5

Biography edit

Nicanor Reyes was born to Francisco Reyes and Macaria Baptista in Trozo, Manila.[2][3]

He earned an A.B. in 1915 from the University of the Philippines, a bachelor's degree in Commercial Science from New York University in 1917, and a Master of Arts degree in Business Administration from Columbia University the following year. He received his Ph.D. in Accountancy from Columbia - the first Filipino to do so, which was also the first degree of its kind to be awarded by Columbia.[4][5]

Reyes was married to Amparo de Leon Mendoza and had five children.[5]

Death edit

Towards the end of the Pacific War, during the Battle of Manila, the retreating Japanese forces killed Reyes and members of his family: his wife, and two youngest children on February 9, 1945 at their residence along Taft Avenue. Their remains are buried at the Manila Memorial Park.[citation needed]

Legacy edit

  • In 1970, the FEU Institute of Medicine, School of Medical Technology, and FEU Hospital were converted into a non-stock, non-profit educational foundation, the FEU - Nicanor Reyes Medical Foundation.[6]
  • In 1994, in commemoration of his birth centennial, FEU Diliman was established.[7]
  • Morayta Street in Sampaloc, Manila wherein the university is situated has been renamed after him.[8]

References edit

  1. ^ "FEU Chronicles Bravery in Building an Academic Legacy". Philippine Primer. February 16, 2018.
  2. ^ "Filipinas Heritage Library | Biblio". www.filipinaslibrary.org.ph. Retrieved 2021-04-27.
  3. ^ "The Far Eastern University". www.feu-alumni.com. Retrieved 2021-04-27.
  4. ^ Anything!, iCPA: I. Can Pass. "3 Admirable Filipino CPAs Any Aspiring Accountant Should Know About | College Life". iCPA. Retrieved 2021-05-10.
  5. ^ a b Be Brave: The Story of Far Eastern University, archived from the original on 2021-12-21, retrieved 2021-05-10
  6. ^ "History | FEU-NRMF". www.feu-nrmf.ph. Retrieved 2021-07-27.
  7. ^ "FEU Diliman". feudiliman.edu.ph. Retrieved 2021-05-10.
  8. ^ Inquirer, Philippine Daily (2014-01-20). "Did you know: Miguel Morayta". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved 2021-05-10.