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]

649- 666] DESCRIPTION OF FILIPINAS

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88. The discalced fathers of St. Augustine entered Manila in the year 606, at which time they
built a large convent, that of San Nicolas. It is the
head of a very religious province which contains
eleven other convents. Four are in the archbishopric- San Juan, San Sebastian, Cabite, and 'Bolinao; and seven in that of Zebu - Romblon, Paragua,
Zebu, Siargao, Bacilan, Tangda, and Catel. There
are three in the province of Caraga in the island of
Mindanao (where they have had four martyrs).
All their convents are of very strict observance, and
devoted to an apostolical administration of the sacraments. They have had some martyrs in Xapon, and
always have members who are well versed in all
branches of learning. Their first superior was
father Fray Juan de San Geronimo, who directed
twelve others, his companions, the founders and
apostles of this province.
89. The order of our father St. Francis entered
Filipinas in the year 1577, when fifteen religious
arrived at Manila, all apostolic men. Of these, six
came from the province of San Joseph, two from
that of Santiago, one from La Concepcion, another
from Mechoacan, and five from the province of
Santo Evangelio in Mexico. The superior of all
was father Fray Pedro de Alfaro, of the province
of Santiago (incorporated into that of San Joseph).
On the second of August in the same year was
founded the convent of Manila, with the title of
Santa Maria de Los Angeles; their first guardian was
father Fray Pedro de Ayera, a man in every respect
remarkable. He was provincial of Mechoacan, and
bishop-elect; and he was provisor and ecclesiastical
judge of Filipinas. This convent usually has more
than thirty religious - novices, students, and grad