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. 36]

I84

THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS

[Vol. 36

realize that sum, which amounts to huge figures, the
ministries contribute with some voluntary offerings,
and the province applies all its incomes and alms.
Compare this now with that alleged in the preceding
number, and it will be seen that in the said case it
would not be possible for the missionary religious to
attend to that necessity. For, even at present, they
have to live like beggars in order that they may assist,
taking from their necessary support what they give,
so that they may support that expense. On the other
hand, the province would not be able to employ its
incomes in this either, for it would have to use them
in establishing solidly the convents which are not
ministries. There are five of these, namely: in Manila, in Bagumbaya, in Cavite, in San Sebastian, and
the convent of La Concepcion in Zibui. Of that
number only the first has a community at present, for
the others can scarcely support two religious apiece.
But in the said case it would be indispensable, so that
the province might maintain itself as such, to place
communities in the convents and to apply to them the
incomes that it possesses; and on that account it could
not attend to the expenses of the missions.
745. But let us suppose that some funds existed
for those expenses. The trouble remains that the
religious of Espana would not consent to go to the
islands, if they were informed that they had to be
curas, and submit to the bishop in what they have
not professed. Thus has experience shown by what
has happened to our province, because no religious
went from these kingdoms from the year I692 until
that of I7I0, during which time Archbishop Camacho was attempting to bring about the subjection.
That is a precedent which induces the strong suspi