Around 600 teachers, called the Thomasites, first arrived in the country from America in August 1901 after the Philippine Commission passed Act No. 74, which established a highly centralized public school system in the country. Named after the steamer USS Thomas that brought them to the country, the teachers introduced a curriculum for basic education, which included English, grammar, reading, mathematics, geography, practical arts and athletics.—Schatzi Quodala, Inquirer Research