Chapter 14 of 30 · 703 words · ~4 min read

Chapter III

Of the ministries of the reverend calced Augustinian fathers

The reverend calced Augustinian fathers, the first founders of these missions, have one convent in Manila, which is the head of all their province of Santisimo Nombre de Jesus, and of all the other parochial convents. In the province of Tondo, they have charge of the village of that name, Tambobo, Malate, Paranaque, Pasig, and Taguig, with various visitas annexed to them. On the river Pasig, they possess the convent and sanctuary of Guadalupe, where several devout religious live who have charge of the worship of the holy image. Further they have the ministry of San Pablo de los Montes, in the province of Taal and Balayan; the convents and ministries of Taal, Casay-say, Bauang, Batangas, Tanavan, Lipa, and Sala. In the province of Bulacan, they have the convent and ministry of that name, and those of Dapdap, Guiguinto, Bigaa, Angat, Baliuag, Quingua, Malolos, Paombong, Calumpit, and Haganoy. In the province of Pampanga, the convents and ministries of Bacolor, Macabebe, Sesmoan, Lubao, Vana, Minalin, Betis, Porac, Mexico, Arayat, Magalan, Tarlac, Gapan, Santor, together with some missions, and a new village called San Sebastian; and in addition, San Miguel de Mayumo, Candava, Cabagsa, and Apalit, with a mission of mountaineers.

In the bishopric of Santisimo Nombre de Jesus of Cebu there is a convent called Santo Nino in the same city [of Cebu] with its church newly built, where the vicar-provincial of all the Visayas Islands has his residence; and outside the walls the convent of Cebu el Viejo [_i.e._, "Old Cebu"], and the ministry of San Nicolas. In the same island are the convents and ministries of the villages of Argao, Bolhon, Cabcat, with several visitas; the ministry and convent of Opon in the island of Magtan, with the visitas of Olango, and Pangalanan, and others on the opposite coast of Cebu. The reverend calced Augustinian fathers made a cession of the villages and ministries of Bolhon, Opon, and Liloan to the fathers of the Society of Jesus, by their chapter of the year 1737; but afterward they recovered these, because of various just causes that they had for it, improved as to churches, houses, and silver ornaments--except that of Liloan, a small visita which remained in the possession of the Society, and was incorporated with the village of Mandaui, as it was near by. In the province of Panay are the convents and ministries of the capital city of Capiz, Batan, Mambusao, Dumalag, Dumarao, and Panay; in the province of Oton, in the same island, the convents and ministries of Magao, Antique, Bugason, Tigbauan, Cabutuan, Laglag, Pasi, Aanilao, Dumangas, the island of Guimaras, Jaro, Oton, and Guimbal, with several missions of wild people [_cimarrones_] in the mountains, apostates and their children, in which the care and zeal of the same fathers has been exercised since the year 1731, and in which the gain and profit of many souls is not wanting.

In the bishopric of Camarines they have the convent and ministry of the village of Tiaong, in the jurisdiction of the province of Tayabas. In the bishopric of Nueva Segovia or Cagayan, the province of Pangasinan, they have the convents and ministries of Agoo, Santo Tomas, and Aringay, with several missions of Igorrotes in the mountains; those of Bauar, Bona, Dalandan, and Cava, with another mission of mountaineers; and those of Bacnotan and San Juan, with another similar mission. In the province of Ilocos, they have the convent and ministry of Namagpacan, with that of Balauan and its missions, and those of Bangar and Tagurin, with another mission; those of Candon, Santa Lucia de Narbacan, Santa Cruz, Santa Catalina, and Bantay, with those of San Ildefonso and Nagsingal; that of Cabugao with Lapog; that of Sinait with Badoc; those of Panay, Batag, San Nicolas, Lecrat, and Dinglas, with that of Pirie; and various missions of Tinguianes and heathen in those mountains, where the same reverend fathers are commencing to form villages to the great advantage of those souls. They have that of Ilanag and that of Bangui, with other visitas and missions, and those of Bacarra and Vera. All of those ministries and convents are adjudged to the same reverend fathers.

##