Letran

Letran, officially the Colegio de San Juan de Letrán, is a private Catholic institution of higher education in the Philippines administered by the Dominican Order. The name Letrán is the Spanish form of the Italian Lateran, referring to Saint John Lateran in Rome. The main campus is in Intramuros, Manila, with a second campus in Calamba, Laguna, forming the Letran system.

Founded in 1620 by the Dominican Order in Manila, Letran began as a college offering philosophy and arts and later broadened its programs to include other fields of study. It has operated for centuries, enduring periods of upheaval and rebuilding after World War II, and expanding to serve a wider student population across campuses.

The Letran network provides secondary and tertiary programs across disciplines such as business, education, liberal arts, criminology, and accountancy. The Calamba campus was established to extend access to higher education in southern Luzon.

Letran is a founding member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in the Philippines. Its varsity teams compete as the Letran Knights and have a storied basketball tradition, winning multiple championships and contributing to Philippine sports.

As a Dominican-led institution, Letran emphasizes Catholic values and service. Its alumni include leaders in government, business, and the church. The school remains part of the Dominican educational network in the Philippines.