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]

I604-1605]

CHIRINO'S RELATION

carry out the plan until the preceding year [i.e.,
600oo], when, with the divine favor, a seminary was
begun, which chose as its patron the glorious St.
Joseph. The institution was placed in charge of two
members of the Society, a father and a brother. On
the day of its foundation were assembled the royal
Audiencia, [those who direct] the vacant Bishopric,
the religious orders, and many other people of rank
in this city. The collegians were clad in mantles of
husi, which is a thin fabric like picote,23 inclining
toward violet, with insignia of red braid extending to
the feet. They went out at the gate of the college to
receive the royal Audiencia, and soon afterward in
the chapel the archdeacon of Manila said the first
mass, the acolytes being two of the above-mentioned
collegians, Don Pedro Tello de Guzman, nephew of
the president, and Don Antonio de Morga, son of Don
Antonio de Morga, auditor of the royal Audiencia.
At the conclusion of mass, two other collegians made
harangues, giving an account of what was intended
in the foundation of this college; wherewith they
were well satisfied, and pleased with the work which
the Society had undertaken. The collegians at the
foundation of the institution were thirteen. That
number has continued to increase until it has reached
23 Picote: a sort of silken fabric, very lustrous, used for garments. Jusi (husi) is thus described in the U. S. Philippine Commission's Report, 1900, iv, pp. 55, 56: "The especial product of
Philippine looms, especially those from the towns of Caloocan and
Iloilo, is jusi. These Philippine jusis, celebrated for their lightness, beauty, and delicate patterns, are made from silk alone, or
more commonly with the warp of cotton or pineapple fiber and the
woof of silk. Pieces are made to suit the buyer. These pieces are
usually 30 or more yards in length, and from three-quarters of a
yard to a yard in width, and beautifully bordered in colors. This
beautiful cloth, which varies in price from 50 cents to $I a yard,
compares favorably with fabrics of European manufacture."