The Philippine Islands, 1493-1803; explorations by early navigators, descriptions of the islands and their peoples, their history and records of the Catholic missions, as related in contemporaneous books and manuscripts, showing the political, economic, commericial and religious conditions of those islands from their earliest relations with European nations to the beginning of the nineteenth century; [Vol. 1, no. 13]

I604-I605]

CHIRINO'S RELATION

121

The shot was heard a long distance on land, but those
in the shallop could not hear it, although they listened attentively and' observed the fire and smoke;
they continued, therefore, their search for a more
suitable landing. Thereupon the men on the ship
cut the anchor, and hoisted sail, aiming to get as far
out into the sea as possible. At that moment a miracle
occurred; the wind suddenly became favorable, shifting three or four points, so that they were able to steer
the vessel to the only place which was secure and
sheltered, where the shallop's crew had already found
bottom and a place for anchorage. At the same time
Captain Francisco Cadena- a Venetian, and an expert in nautical affairs - without knowing of the commander's petition, said with great surprise: "This is
a great miracle; for just when we hoisted sail the
wind shifted four points, so that we who thought ourselves lost may now hope to be saved." This unexpected shift in the wind was also observed by the
chief pilot and other seamen.
The commander, Don Antonio de Ribera, beholding this change and good fortune, and recognizing
God's mercy toward them at the very hour of ten
which he had appointed, twice repeated with extraordinary tenderness and devotion what he had that
morning sought from our Lord - through the intercession, as they piously believed, of our blessed
Father Ignatius. Soon afterward he related the same
incident, in his stern-cabin, to some Augustinian and
Franciscan fathers, with many tears and great devotion; and those religious fathers, full of admiration,
rendered thanks to the Lord that He had chosen thus
to honor His servant Ignatius, by displaying in that
hour of peril his great holiness and merits. On reach-.. *......
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