The Legacy of Rev. Fr. Casto de Elera, OP (1852-1903): Foremost Dominican Scientist of the 19th Century*

Map of Spain highlighting Valladolid

Rev. Fr. Casto de Elera, OP's journey in initial religious formation began in the town of Mayorga de Campos, Valladolid, Spain, where he was born on September 1, 1852. His early commitment to religious life unfolded when, at just 15 years old, he entered the Dominican Order. On September 12, 1867, he donned the Dominican habit for the first time, marking the beginning of his Novitiate at the Convent-College of Santo Domingo in Ocaña, Spain. However, his path was not without its challenges; after ten months in the Novitiate, he fell ill and was advised to return home to recover.

Despite this setback, Fr. de Elera’s commitment to his vocation remained resolute. Following two years of recovery, he returned to religious life, resuming his Novitiate on September 18, 1869, by taking the Dominican habit once again. His perseverance bore fruit, as he made his simple profession of vows on December 17, 1870, a significant milestone in his journey of commitment to the Dominican Order. His dedication culminated in his solemn profession on January 17, 1874, in the same convent, marking his full and final commitment to the Order. This period of initial religious formation reflects Fr. de Elera’s enduring resilience and unwavering dedication to his spiritual calling, even in the face of adversity.

Convento de Santo Domingo de Guzmán (Ocaña)

Arrival in the Philippines and Priestly Ordination

Fr. de Elera, OP arrived in the Philippines as an ordained deacon and a dedicated student of Theology, then in his second year of studies. His ordination to the priesthood took place in San Carlos, Pangasinan, on March 12, 1876, when he was 24 years old. Typically, the Church mandates that candidates for ordination to the priesthood be at least 25, with a six-month interval between the diaconate and priesthood. However, due to his evident commitment and the specific needs of the mission in the Philippines, Fr. Elera received a special dispensation. This exception was granted at the request of the Dominican Provincial, reflecting both the trust placed in Fr. Elera’s capabilities and the pressing demand for ordained priests in the growing Dominican mission in the Philippines.

While actively serving in his priestly role, Fr. Elera continued to pursue his theological studies. Alongside his studies, he took on the role of teacher in Secondary Education at the Colegio de San Juan de Letrán in Manila, an institution dedicated to the intellectual and moral formation of young men. His work at Letrán demonstrated his dual commitment to both academic rigor and pastoral service. In 1878, he advanced to a new position at the Universidad de Santo Tomás (UST) in Intramuros, where he furthered his influence in education and religious instruction. This transfer signaled his growing role within the Dominican Order and his commitment to the educational and spiritual development of the local community.

Main Entrance of the Colegio de San Juan de Letrán (ca. 1880)

Mission in Abra

Fr. de Elera, OP’s mission in Abra began on October 29, 1879, when he was granted permission to serve as chaplain to a military expedition tasked with supporting an extensive clearing operation in the mountainous region of Northern Luzón. This expedition aimed to forge a pathway into the Cagayan Valley, a strategic move intended to promote development, expand missionary work, and establish a secure route for both religious and administrative purposes in the region. As chaplain, Fr. Elera’s role was multifaceted: he provided spiritual support and guidance to the soldiers, conducted sacraments, and ministered to their moral and emotional needs amid the harsh conditions of the mountainous terrain.

The mission was physically demanding and posed significant health risks due to the remote location, unpredictable weather, and exposure to tropical diseases. Unfortunately, during this arduous expedition, Fr. Elera contracted a serious illness. His condition forced him to return to Manila, where he could access medical care and recuperate. This experience highlights both his resilience and his commitment to the missionary cause, even at the expense of his own well-being. His involvement in the Abra mission exemplifies the dedication of Dominican missionaries who braved the frontier regions of the Philippines, extending the reach of both the Church and its educational, social, and spiritual influence into remote areas.

Map of the Provinces of the Cordillera

Professorial and Provincial Assignments

Fr. Casto de Elera, OP’s career advanced significantly in 1880, marking the beginning of his extensive service as both an educator and an administrator. That year, he was appointed professor of Philosophy and was awarded his doctorate, recognizing his academic prowess and dedication to theological and philosophical scholarship. His accomplishments were further acknowledged with his appointment as Vice-Rector of the Colegio de San Juan de Letrán, where he guided both the academic and spiritual growth of students while managing the institution’s operations.

In 1881, he returned to the Universidad de Santo Tomás (UST) to serve as a professor of Natural History, a field in which he excelled and continued to teach for many years. His deep understanding of the natural sciences reflected the Dominican commitment to integrating faith with reason, emphasizing scientific study as a means of appreciating creation.

Fr. de Elera’s influence extended beyond academia into the leadership of the Dominican Order. In 1886, he was appointed secretary of the ‘Diffinitorium’ of the Provincial Chapter of the Dominican Province of the Holy Rosary. This body was responsible for significant administrative and legislative decisions within the province, indicating the trust placed in Fr. de Elera's organizational and clerical skills. His administrative roles continued with his appointment as provincial secretary in 1887, positioning him at the heart of the province’s governance and communication.

Additionally, from 1890 to 1895, he served as director of the Venerable Orden Tercera (Third Order of St. Dominic), which involved overseeing the spiritual formation and activities of Dominican laity dedicated to living out the order’s charisms in their daily lives. This role required pastoral sensitivity and leadership, as he guided lay members in embodying Dominican spirituality and mission. Through these various positions, Fr. de Elera demonstrated a deep commitment to the Dominican Order’s educational and spiritual missions, leaving a lasting impact on the communities he served.

Plaza Santo Tomás, 1910 (The Benavides Monument facing the University of Santo Tomás building in Intramuros, Manila)

His Monumental Work

Natural History was indeed Fr. de Elera’s primary area of specialization, where he captivated both students and fellow experts with his extensive knowledge. In 19th-century Philippines, finding someone with expertise comparable to Fr. de Elera’s in Natural History was challenging, as his erudition in the field was widely respected and almost unmatched.

At the start of the academic year 1884-1885, following the Misa de Apertura (Opening Mass or Mass of the Holy Spirit), Fr. de Elera delivered the traditional Discurso de Apertura (Opening Discourse). His topic was the Catálogo Sistemático de toda Fauna de Filipinas (Systematic Catalog of all Fauna of the Philippines), based on his comprehensive three-volume work. This monumental catalog earned him a diploma of merit at the Philippine Regional Exhibition in Manila in 1895. In addition to this significant work, Fr. de Elera later authored Contribución a la Fauna de Filipinas (Contribution to the Fauna of the Philippines) in 1915. He also wrote a 500-page manuscript of sermons, showcasing his scholarly range.

Fr. de Elera was instrumental in organizing and enhancing the UST Natural History Museum according to contemporary scientific standards. He enriched the museum’s collection with new acquisitions, sending hunters and researchers into remote provinces to gather specimens. He also established connections with directors of foreign museums, engaging in correspondences and exchanges that brought a diverse array of specimens to UST. His efforts ultimately resulted in an admirable and comprehensive collection that significantly advanced the university’s role in scientific study.

The UST Museum of Arts and Sciences, originally founded in 1871 by Fr. Ramón Martínez Vigil, OP, a fellow Natural History professor, was greatly expanded through Fr. de Elera’s work. He took on the painstaking task of scientifically classifying and cataloging the museum’s collections, especially in natural sciences. He dedicated endless hours to this meticulous and labor-intensive endeavor, approaching it with great joy and commitment. Despite the monumental scale of this work, which would typically require a dedicated team, he carried it out single-handedly, drawing profound inspiration from his faith and mission.

UST Museum at the Third Floor of the UST Main Building (2020)

Return to Spain and His Creator

Due to his assiduous labors, Fr. de Elera's health significantly deteriorated, necessitating his return to Spain in hopes of recuperating in the familiar and serene ambiance of his homeland. Unfortunately, the medical attention he received did not yield the desired results, and he passed away unexpectedly in his hometown on 29 August 1903, just three days shy of his 51st birthday. This timing is poignant, as it mirrors the age at which our Holy Father St. Dominic de Guzmán, who tirelessly served the Church, received the glory of heaven. Fr. de Elera was both a dedicated priest and a distinguished scientist, consistently attentive to his priestly obligations while pursuing his scientific endeavors.

Antonio Luna poses with a microscope at the Institut Pasteur in Paris (ca. 1890).

De Elera and Luna

Furthermore, Fr. de Elera rendered spiritual assistance to all those whom he encountered in his life especially his students. Fr. de Elera was a professor of Antonio Luna when he was still a student in UST. Luna later earned his Doctorate in Pharmacy from Spain and took his post-doctoral studies in the Pasteur Institute, France. Prof. Regalado José has this to say about the exchange of letters between Fr. de Elera and Antonio Luna: “Fr. de Elera’s response to Antonio Luna’s letter is remarkable in many ways. The Dominican answered it the same day he received it. He addressed his former student in the formal third person (usted), and not in the familiar second person (tú), quite unlike the arrogant manner with which many of Rizal’s contemporaries associated with the friars. Fr. de Elera’s tone was conciliatory, not condemnatory. He also ended on a positive, upbeat exhortation.”

UST Museum (2018)

THE UST MUSEUM OF NATURAL SCIENCE TODAY

The UST Museum of Natural Science, rooted in the pioneering efforts of Fr. Casto de Elera, OP, has evolved into a historical and scientific institution that preserves invaluable artifacts of Philippine natural history. Originally founded in 1871 and later moved to its current site in the UST Main Building in Sampaloc, Manila before the Second World War, the museum houses one of the oldest natural history collections in the Philippines, encompassing minerals, botanical samples, and zoological specimens.

In 1988, the museum’s botanical collection, including over 8,200 herbarium specimens stored in eight cases, was transferred to the UST Research Center for the Natural Sciences, located on the fourth floor of the UST Hospital’s Clinical Division. Since then, the UST Herbarium has grown with contributions from UST Research Center for Natural and Applied Sciences (RCNAS) research initiatives, where both graduate and undergraduate students participate in gathering new specimens. With the opening of the Thomas Aquinas Research Complex in 2001, the herbarium found a modernized home, ensuring the preservation and expansion of the collection in alignment with contemporary scientific standards.

Today, the UST Museum proudly maintains Fr. de Elera’s original collection, estimated at over 10,000 specimens, comprising minerals, botanical samples, and a vast array of zoological specimens—many of which remain untouched in public displays since the 1800s. In November 2014, the university celebrated Fr. de Elera’s contributions through an exhibit titled The Spineless Collections of Fr. Casto de Elera, OP: Reliving the Past, which highlighted preserved specimens of corals, crustaceans, worms, and mollusks. Coordinated by Prof. Rey Donne Papa, then a biology professor and now Dean of the UST College of Science, the exhibit was a collaborative effort between the Graduate School, the UST Museum, and the College of Science, offering a glimpse into the Dominican friar’s profound impact on natural science.

In 2020, further honoring Fr. de Elera’s legacy, Dean Rey Donne Papa proposed officially naming the building used for zoology classes as the Fr. Casto de Elera OP Building. This dedication reflects Fr. de Elera’s enduring influence as a trailblazing Dominican scientist of the 1800s, whose work laid the foundation for natural science education and research at UST. The UST Museum of Natural Science continues to be a testament to his visionary efforts, bridging the history of Philippine biodiversity with modern scientific inquiry.

Sources:

Actas del Capitulo Provincial de la Provincia Dominicana de la Nuestra Señora del Santísimo Rosario, año 1906. 

Bantug, José, “Museo de Sto. Tomás como Centro de Cultura,” Hispanidad 1:9 (1940), pp. 34-36.

José, Regalado, “A Letter of Antonio Luna to his UST Professor,” The Antoninus Journal, no. 1, UST Graduate School, 2018.

Neira, Eladio, OP, Hilario Ocio, OP, and Gregorio Arnáiz, OP, Misioneros Dominicos en el Extremo Oriente 1836-1940 (Vol. 2), Manila: Orientalia Dominicana, 2000, pp. 180-181.

11 August 2020