Society of Jesus
In this province of the Society of Jesus of Filipinas, there are at present ninety-two religious—forty-five priests, seven theological and four philosophical students, twenty-eight lay-brethren of long standing, and eight novices (counting students and lay-brethren).
They are distributed among two colleges, and one seminary of secular students, six residences under direct charge of the provincial, and one mission.
Manila
There are forty-three religious in Manila—sixteen priests, eleven students, eight lay-brethren, and eight novices—counting among the priests the father provincial and his associate, Father Valerío, who are now about to go on a visit, with one brother already counted; and Father Alonso de Humanes, who is now about to go to Roma with another brother of Manila; and counting also the three religious in the seminary of San Joseph. Consequently they attend not only to preaching to and confessing the Spanish in Manila, and the other duties usual in the professed houses; but also to the principal object, the studies of Latin, arts, and theology, and the training of novices. They have charge of the seminary for the secular students; and attend to the Indians of San Miguel and the others of the city, with frequent confessions and sermons.
Mission of Silan
One father and one brother—sometimes two fathers—generally reside in this mission [doctrina] in subordination to the college of Manila. The tributes of the village of Silan are about four hundred, and those of the village of Malabag, a visita, lying one-half legua away, about seventy tributes.
Octon
The mission [mision] of Octon has one father and one brother. The novitiate of San Pedro, which is being founded and instituted, has two brethren.
Residence of Antipolo
There are four fathers and three brethren in this residence. The villages of this residence where the fathers always officiate number three, and have three churches: Antipolo, with two visitas, namely, Santa Cruz and Mahayay; Taytay, with one visita, namely, Caynta; and the village of Santiago de la Cruz, which has no visita, but attracts savage Indians from the forests. The souls in confession of this residence number about five thousand, already well instructed Christians, and they give much occupation to the fathers.
The churches and tributes in charge of the fathers of the Society of Jesus in the province of Pintados are as follows.
Zebu
The college of Zebu has in charge an Indian village situated one legua from the city, which has eighty tributes. It has three fathers and three brethren, who are busily occupied with the Spanish inhabitants and soldiers, the Indians of the city and of the neighborhood, and the boys’ school. It needs many more laborers.
Residence of Dulac
Part of the island of Leyte and part of that of Ybabao—on that side where those two islands almost join—have four fathers and two brethren in charge. This [i.e., the waterway between the islands] has been a great convenience for conducting the instruction. This residence comprises a circuit of about thirty leguas or so. In that space it has in charge the following villages, each village having one church.
Residence of Carigara
This residence is likewise situated in the island of Leyte, and includes the adjacent islands of Poro and Panan. Although the principal part of it (namely, five villages) is included in a narrow circuit, the remaining part, because of the paucity of inhabitants, and their destruction by the Mindanaos, extends for sixty leguas—and more rather than less. Throughout its extent it has the following villages, each village having its church.
| Tributes | |
| Village of Carigara, with about three hundred and sixty tributes. | 360 |
| Village of Barugo, with one hundred and eighty tributes. | 180 |
| Village of Alangalan, with four hundred tributes. | 400 |
| Village of Xaro, with three hundred and fifty tributes. | 350 |
| Village of Leyte, with two hundred and twenty tributes. | 220 |
| Village of Ogmuc, with one hundred and sixty tributes. | 160 |
| Village of the island of Camotes, called Poro, with one hundred and fifty tributes. | 150 |
| Village of Baybay, with one hundred and eighty tributes. | 180 |
| Village of Canamucan, with one hundred and twenty tributes. | 120 |
| Village of Ymasava, with forty tributes. | 40 |
| Village of Cabalian, with one hundred and fifty tributes. | 150 |
| Village of Panaon, with fifty tributes. | 50 |
| Village of Nonangan, with sixty tributes. | 60 |
| 2,420 tributes and 13 churches. |
Consequently, the said residence has in charge thirteen churches in which are instructed two thousand four hundred and twenty tributes; these are administered by four priests, aided by two brethren.
Residence of Tinagon
This residence is located in the island of Ybabao and includes the islets of Cavayan and Capul. Twelve villages with their churches are instructed in it. They are as follows, lying within a distance of twenty leguas.
Consequently this residence embraces twelve churches, in which two thousand eight hundred and twenty-three tributes are instructed by four priests of our Society, aided by two brethren.
Residence of Cabo de Spirita Santo, or Palapac
This residence extends for forty leguas more rather than less—within the island of Ybabao, and includes the two adjacent islets of Lavan and Biri. The following villages are instructed in it, and each village has its own church.
Consequently this residence embraces thirteen churches, in which two thousand nine hundred and fifty tributes are instructed by four priests of our Society, aided by two brethren.
Residence of Bohol
Only this island of Bohol, which is forty leguas in circumference, and the islet of Bacacay belong to the king, our sovereign, in all the territory in charge of the Society. The Society has likewise charge of the islet of Panglao and that of Siquior, or Isla de Fuegos [“Island of Fires”]. This residence includes the following villages and their churches.
Consequently this residence instructs two thousand two hundred tributes, of which two thousand and fifty belong to the king, our sovereign. Four fathers and two brethren minister to all of them.
As your Lordship ordered, the Society of Jesus presents this paper, in which are recorded faithfully its ministers, the villages where they are stationed, the churches, tributes, and extent of its field. From it two things are apparent: the first, how necessary is a greater union and settlement of the Indians, in such form as your Highness may judge best; the second, that the need of help by a great number of new ministers is extreme. For where there are four priests, ten are regularly needed, because the indicated number of tributes corresponds to a very much greater number of souls, either now confessing or being catechised for baptism as is apparent from the report of a residence that accompanies this present.
Therefore I entreat your Highness to petition his Majesty the king, our sovereign, to send a considerable number of fathers of the Society of Jesus from Europe—at least about fifty, considering that it is many years since any have been asked for, and on this occasion a procurator is going for that purpose. It will, moreover, be important for his Majesty to issue there very urgent orders, so that the superiors in Europe may not be illiberal and refuse to furnish ministers. If he considers the pacification of Mindanao, and, besides that, if we should have to provide Maluco with ministers from here with the new government which is coming, it is necessary to provide beforehand for an increase in the number of workers. I hope for all the above from the great foresight of your Highness, with grace and justice.
Gregorio Lopez