The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume XXIII, 1629-30 | Page 4

missionaries whom he was bringing to the islands,
their ship being wrecked when near Manila. The Augustinians, seeing
their inability to cultivate so great a mission-field, invite other orders to
come to their aid. Accordingly, the discalced Franciscans arrive in the
islands in 1577, the Jesuits in 1580, the Dominicans in 1581. Medina
enumerates the missions and colleges conducted by the latter orders, at
the same time warmly commending their educational work and their
pious zeal. The Dominicans are in charge of the Sangleys, of whose
sharp dealings with the Spaniards Medina complains. Among the
mission-fields ceded to the Dominicans by the Augustinians are the
provinces of Pangasinán and Cagayan; in the latter, the natives
frequently revolt against the Spaniards.
Medina extols the magnificence of the churches in Manila, and the
liberality displayed by the faithful in adorning them. This is noted by
foreigners who come to the city, notably the Japanese. The converts of
that nation have witnessed nobly their zeal and holy devotion, for more
than nine hundred have been martyred in Japan for the truth. In 1575,
two Augustinians go to China with letters from the governor of the
Philippines, hoping to begin a mission in that country. In this attempt
they are not successful, but they return with much information
regarding China, which until then had been mainly a terra incognita.
The city of Manila has made steady progress, and the religious orders
are erecting stone buildings for their convents. At first, they had built
their houses of wood, in the native style, which is described by our
writer. Many houses, both within and without the city, are now built of

stone; but the health of the city is not as good as when the people lived
in wooden houses.
In 1578 Fray Agustín de Alburquerque is elected provincial, and at
once begins to extend the missions of his order--especially in
Pampanga, of which province some description is given. This province,
once so populous, has lost many of its men by conscription for the
Spanish forts, being sent away even to Maluco. It is often raided by the
head-hunting tribes of the interior--something which cannot be checked,
especially on account of the heedlessness and lack of foresight inherent
in the character of the Indians. They are lazy, deficient in public spirit,
and have no initiative; what they accomplish is only under the vigilance
and urging of the missionary or the alcalde-mayor. The Panay convent
is near the Spanish fort at Arevalo, and the fathers have the privilege of
treatment by the surgeon there--"who, without being able to distinguish
his right hand, bleeds and purges, so that in a brief time the sick man is
laid in his grave." The creoles of Nueva España die early, and "do not
reach their majority."
In 1581, Fray Andrés de Aguirre is elected provincial of Filipinas: his
many virtues and achievements are extolled by our writer. Medina here
takes occasion to advocate the policy of gathering the Indians into
reductions and there teaching them the civilized ways of Europeans. He
makes interesting observations on the character and temperament of the
natives; and complains of the opposition encountered by the
missionaries from the Spaniards, "by whose hands the devil wages
warfare against the ministry; consequently the religious tire themselves
out, and the devil reaps what harvest he wills." But the Spaniards
oppress the Indians; and, "if it were not for the protection of the
religious, there would not now be an Indian, or any settlement."
Moreover, it is the religious who are taming those wild peoples, and
reducing them to subjection to the Spanish crown. All these points are
illustrated by anecdotes and citations from actual experience. Under
Aguirre's rule as provincial, some extensions of missions are made.
Among these is Bantayan--since that time abandoned by the
Augustinians, as Medina records, and almost depopulated by the raids
of Moro pirates. An attempt is made to remove its inhabitants to

settlements in Cebú Island; but they refuse to leave their homes.
Medina recounts numerous instances of cruel and oppressive treatment
of the Indians by the Spaniards, and of insolence and opposition on the
part of the latter to the missionaries and their work. With this, he also
urges that the religious be allowed to inflict punishments upon the
natives, when the latter are disobedient or commit misdeeds. In this
argument Medina makes a curious admission, especially as he writes
after missionaries had labored sixty-five years in the islands--saying of
the Indians: "For they detest, as a rule, church matters--to such an
extent, that they would even pay two tributes to be free from the church.
They love their old beliefs and revelries so strongly that they would
lose their souls for them. Without any fear, how would they attend to
their duties?" The missionaries