Chapter IV

Convents and ministries of the reverend Franciscan fathers, the third to be established

The reverend Franciscan fathers reached the Filipinas Islands in the year 1577. In Manila they have in their vigilant and watchful care, close to the convent, a costly and beautiful chapel of the tertiary order of penance, in charge of a religious who is commissary and visitor. There is also a convent of the nuns of St. Clare in the city, who are subject to and governed by the same religious. They also possess another convent called San Francisco del Monte, one legua from the city; and a hospital called San Lazaro, which they administer near the village of Dilao, which belongs to the province of Tondo; besides the villages and ministries of Sampaloc, Pandacan, and Santa Ana de Zapa. In the province of Bulacan, they have the convents and ministries of Polo, Meycauayan, and Bocaue, with several visitas. In the province of Laguna de Bay, they have in charge the ministries and convents of Morong, Baras, Tanay, Pililla, Mabitac, Cabosan, Siniloan, Pangil, Paquil, Paete, Longos, Lucban, Cavinti, Pagsanghan, Santa Cruz, Pila, and Mainit (where there is a hospital, called Los Banos, because of the warm sulphur-charged waters in those regions, for the cure of various ailments). In that same province are the ministries and convents of Nagcarlang, Lilio, and Mahayhay; and lastly, by cession of the Augustinian fathers, the villages of Bay, and Binangonan, with the ranch of Angono. In the mountains of Daractan, which extend from the lake of Bay to the east coast of the island of Luzon, they have several visitas and missions. In the province of Camarines, the convents and ministries of Naga, near the city of Nueva Caceres, the seat of the vicar-provincial, together with Canaman, Quipayo, Milaod, Minalambang, Bula, Bao, Naboa, Iraya, Buhi, Liban, Polangui, Oas, Liyao, Guinobatan, Camarines, Cagsaua, and Ligmanan. In the province of Tayabas, [the ministries and convents] of Pagbilao, Sariaya, Lucban, Gumaca, Atimonan, Mayobac, and Macalilon. The missions of Lupe and Ragay, in the mountains and along the coast of Bangon, and another mission called Santa Cruz, in the mountains of Manguirin. In that same province of Tayabas, in the mountains and along the coasts of the opposite shore, are the ministries of Binangonan, Polo, Baler, and Casiguran. In the province of Cagayan, the ministry of Palanan, with a mission of Aetas and Irayas of those mountains.

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