Chapter V

Ministries of the Society of Jesus in these Filipinas Islands

After the preaching of the apostle of the Orient, St. Francis Xavier, in these archipelagos, as far as the island of Mindanao and Japon (as has been related already in its place), before the Spaniards were established in these islands, the first fathers of the Society of Jesus reached these islands by way of the west or by the Western Indias, coming with the first bishop of the islands, his Excellency Don Fray Domingo de Salazar, of the Order of Preachers--the city of Manila having been already founded, and that colony established in some fashion--in September of the year 1581. The first founders were the fathers Antonio Sedeno and Alonso Sanchez, together with the lay-brother, Nicholas Gallardo, the student brother, Gaspar de Toledo--a legitimate brother to the illustrious doctor, Father Francisco Suarez--having died on the voyage. For some years those fathers remained without any ministry to the natives which they could permanently carry on, busied only in preaching, hearing confessions, and aiding in what necessity or obedience ordered them. Their first dwelling was in the convent of the seraphic father St. Francis, until they obtained a house of their own in the suburbs of Manila, in the location called Aguio--whence, as facilities and opportunity came, they moved, and established themselves inside the city, in the year 1591. There the Society has the chief residence of St. Ignatius, and a fine church where they exercise to great and continual crowds all the ministries peculiar to their institute. In that residence, there is a pontifical and royal university, of which we shall speak later, together with a royal college of San Jose, [69] and the college of the fathers, established near the royal gate of the city, in which are taught all useful learning and arts, commencing with grammar.

In the province of Tondo they have the residence [_colegio_] of Santa Cruz, lately admitted as such, which is jointly a ministry of Sangleys, mestizos, and natives; the village and ministry of San Miguel, on the river brink; and about one legua above, the residence and novitiate of San Pedro Macati, with a ministry of natives. In the mountains, the village and capital of Antipolo, with the village and ministry of Bosoboso, where the natives of two mountain missions, called San Isidro and Pamaan, are settled together, whose administration was [there] inconvenient, but who are now better governed and cared for. In the plains, the fathers administer the village of Taytay, with a visita near by, called Santa Catalina; and the ministry of Cainta, with a visita of creoles called Dayap. Besides, they have the village and ministry of Mariquina, of mestizos, Sangleys, and natives; and that of San Mateo, the village and capital of the residence of Silan and of Indang. In Cavite there is a residence of the Society of Jesus, and in its jurisdiction the village and ministry of Cavite el Viejo [_i.e._, "Old Cavite"]; in that of Mariveles, the residence of Maragondon; in the province of Mindoro, the island of Marinduque, with the villages and ministries of Boac, Santa Cruz de Napo, and Gasan.

In the bishopric and jurisdiction of Cebu they have a residence in the city; the ministry of the village of Mandaui and Liloan; in the island of Bohol, the ministries of Inabangan and Talibon, where is located the residence [_residencia_] of Bohol with the villages and ministries of Loboc, Baclayon, Dauis, Malabohoc, Tagbilaran (a new village), and another on the bar of the river of Loboc, also new, named Santisima Trinidad [_i.e._, "Most Holy Trinity"]; and, on the opposite coast of the island, the village and ministry of Hagna. In the island of Mindanao, the presidio of Zamboanga, where residence has been begun, with a ministry, whose rector is the chaplain of that presidio; those of Bagonbayan, Dumalon, Siocon, Cabatangan, Caldera, Polombato, and Siraguay. In the northern part of the same island the residence [_residencia_] and ministries of Dapitan, Iligan, Layavan, Langaran, Lubungan, Disacan, Talingan, and various visitas and missions on those same coasts and the bay of Pangue.

In the island of Negros, the ministries of Ilog, Cabancalan (with the mission of Buyonan), Himamaylan, Cavayan, and the mission of Sipalay. In the village of Iloilo and the jurisdiction of Oton there is a residence, whose rector is the chaplain of that presidio (as is he of Zamboanga), and the ministry of Molo; and lastly, by concession of his Excellency Master Don Protasio Cabezas, the curacy of the town of Arevalo, with the Parian, was given to the Society. In the island of Samar, the capital and ministries of Catbalogan, Paranas, Humavas, Calviga, Boac, Bangajon, Tinagog, Calvayog; in Capul, the ministry of Abac; on the opposite coast in the province of Ibabao, the capital and ministries of Palapag, Lavan, Gatubig, Catarman, Bobon, Sulat, Tubig, and Borongan; on the south coast of the same island, the ministries of Guiguan, Balanguigan, Basey, and Lalaviton. In the island and jurisdiction of Leyte, the villages and ministries of Carigara, Barugo, Jaro, Alangalang, and Leite; and on the opposite coast, the residence [_residencia_] and capital of Hilongos, and the ministries of Palonpon, Poro, Ogmuc, Baybay, Maasin, Sogor, Liloan, Cavalian, and Hinondayan; in the north of the same island, the residence [_residencia_] of Banigo, with the capital of Palo, Tanavan, Dulac, and Abuyog; inland, Damagi and Burabuen. In the Marianas Islands (the jurisdiction of a governor for his Majesty in temporal affairs, and, in the spiritual, of the bishopric of Cebu), the ministries and capital of Agana--where there is a residence of the Society, with a seminary of Indian natives--Agat, Merizo, Pago, Guajan, Inarajan, Umata, Rota, and Saipan.

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