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. 24]

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THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS

[Vol. 24

isfactory manner. But since there are so many different understandings in a province, all men cannot
judge of a thing by the same method, for every one
feels regarding it as his own judgment dictates.
Consequently, there was a following which tried to
elect father Fray Francisco Coronel, a man of vast
learning, and of whom very great hopes were entertained for the future. But that following never
could gain the full game, nor even check the other
faction. Thereupon they settled on a scheme which
did not succeed badly, and that was to cast their votes
for our father Fray Juan de Henao, who belonged
to the other faction, and had the father president on
his side. By this means, the election was conferred
upon the man who was least expected [to gain it].
One would believe that the Lord chose to give him
therein the dignity which He had taken from him
six years before - the reader will remember what we
have said about that.
At this time the fathers born in the Indias, although they were few, had obtained a bull from his
Holiness, so that between them and the fathers from
Castilla there should be alternation [in the celebration of Corpus Christi]. Its execution was committed to the archdean of Manila, Alonso Garcia,
a creole, who was much inclined to it. Accordingly
he proceeded without allowing any appeal or argument, although those presented by the Castilian
fathers were very cogent. Finally he proceeded to
extreme measures, by declaring the fathers excommunicated. Here the province refused to admit the
letters of excommunication. Finally, our father
Henao was elected in this contention, with father
Fray Esteban de Peralta acting as presiding officer