The famous Magallanes discovered it in the year 1521. It has a circumference of less than one hundred leguas. Its inhabitants are called Pintados, because they have various designs on their bodies, which they make with iron and fire. They were formerly regarded as lords and chiefs of the other neighboring provinces, for they made themselves feared by their great valor. Adelantado Miguel Lopez de Legaspi gained it by force of arms from its king Tupas in the year 1575 [sic], and founded there the city of Nombre de Jesus, because an image of the most holy child Jesus, one-half vara tall, was found there in the house of an Indian. The Observantine fathers possess that image in a convent that was built in the same house and on the same site; it had before been owned and venerated by the heathen, and is today frequented by the Catholics, who find there relief for their needs. The city lies in the eastern part, and has a good port, while there are other ports found in the island. There, then, did the most pious bishop, Don Fray Pedro de Arce (of the order of our father St. Augustine, and a son of the most observant province of Castilla, and of the convent of Salamanca—where he professed in the year one thousand five hundred and seventy-nine, while father Fray Antonio Muñoz was prior), solicit our discalced to found a convent; for, although they had been the last in arriving at Filipinas, he hoped that they were not to be the last in the work of the vineyard of the Lord.
The bishop assigned the site in a chapel dedicated to the conception of our Lady, somewhat apart from the traffic of the city, so that, accordingly, the religious could give themselves more quietly to prayer. He adjudged them also the spiritual administration of an islet and small village called Maripipi, not very far from Zibù. About six hundred souls were instructed there by Ours with great care and vigilance. The erection of that convent was accomplished by father Fray Chrisostomo de la Ascension, who was its first prior. He erected a small building, that afterward was rebuilt because of an accidental fire, and extended so that now it is a very comfortable dwelling, well suited to purposes of devotion. That convent has a devout confraternity of Our Lady of Solitude [Nuestra Señora de la Soledad.] On Holy Thursday, a solemn procession is made after the ceremony of the descent of Christ from the tree of the cross. That procession, passing through the streets of the city, is a great edification and consolation to the faithful.
§ XIII
Foundation of the convent of San Sebastian outside of the walls of Manila in Filipinas
The very devout and pious gentleman Don Bernardino del Castillo Ribera y Maldonado was so good a benefactor to our discalced that his generosity, which could not be satisfied within the circuit of the walls of Manila, desired that we should make an experiment about one-half legua from them. There as he had an estate which occupied all that site, called Calumpan, to the boundaries of a little village named Sampolog, and in its midst a well-built bit of a house, he made an entire gift of it, so that a monastery might be built, in which the religious could live retired, and, free from the excitement of the city, give themselves up with more quietness to prayer. Father Fray Rodrigo de San Miguel—whose heroic labors will give us considerable of which to write—took possession of the estate, and remodeled the said house in the form of a convent. The aforesaid master-of-camp and castellan of the fort, Don Bernardino, was of great help, and it was completed in time. The said village of Sampolog was assigned to the care of the religious, so that the more than three hundred souls that it contained should be instructed and taught there by them.
The comfort of the site was increased, so that the provincials have chosen it as their place of habitation, because of the quiet that is enjoyed there, as well as for its pleasantness, which serves as a just recreation to the continual fatigue that their government brings with it. One would believe that God looked on that house with pleasure, for, during the cruel rising of the Sangleys, or Chinese, it suffered no considerable damage, although they set fire to it in various parts with the desire of leaving not even a memory of it. We piously believe that the queen of the angels, our Lady, defended it, as being her dwelling; for a very holy image is revered there, under the title of Carmen. Although that image is small in stature, it is a great and perennial spring of prodigies and favors, which she performs for those who invoke her. Our religious took it from Nueva España, and even in that very navigation she was able to make herself known by her miracles.
Don Juan Velez, dean of that cathedral, was very devoted to our discalced Recollects. Upon finding himself in the last extremity of life, to which a very severe illness brought him, he requested that that holy image, which had been but recently taken there, be carried to his house. So lively was his faith, accompanied by the prayers of the religious, that he immediately received entire health on account of so celestial a visit. As a thank-offering for that favor, the pious prebendary made one of the most famous feasts that have been in that city. He founded a brotherhood, with so many brethren that they exceed four thousand. Consequently, that most holy image is daily frequented with vows, presents, and novenas, thank-offerings of the many who are daily favored by that queen of the skies.
Finally, in this year of our narration was sent the sixth mission of religious, which the father procurator, Fray Francisco de la Madre de Dios, arranged in España for those islands; and he obtained by his great energy authority from the Catholic monarch to take twelve religious there to increase the number of the laborers in the vineyard of the Lord.
That year died father Fray Alonso Navarro, and father Fray Antonio Muñoz. Mention was made of the first in the first volume, decade i, chapter 6. Mention will be made of the second in this fourth decade of this volume, chapter 9, in the foundation of the convent of Panamà, § 9.