The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume 38, 1674-1683: 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, commercial and religious conditions of those islands from their earliest relations with European nations to the close of the nineteenth century
History
The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume 38, 1674-1683: 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, commercial and religious conditions of those islands from their earliest relations with European nations to the close of the nineteenth century
Demarcation line of Alexander VI; Missions -- Philippines; Philippines -- Discovery and exploration; Philippines -- History -- Sources
[As related by Diaz in his Conquistas, pp. 640-644.] At the time when
this conflagration [99]--which threatened to destroy what Spanish
constancy had gained in these islands during a hundred and ten
years--had just been extinguished, another and new one began to burn
in the province of Ogtong in Pintados; and, if timely measures had
not been taken to check it, this one would have caused greater ravages
than the previous rebellions in the provinces of Pampanga, Pangasinán,
and Ilocos. This entire province is in charge of our religious. We
have in it eight convents and doctrinas--Antique, Guimbal, Tigbauan,
Ogtong, Jaro, Dumangas, Laglag, and Pasig [100]--which belong to
the jurisdiction of the alcalde-mayor who resides in Iloilo, where
there is a good supply of artillery, with two companies of Spaniards,
and one of Pampangos. This province and that of Panay are united in
one island, yielding a great abundance of rice; it is the Sicilia
of Filipinas for its fertility, and also resembles that island in
its extent, and in having three promontories such as gave it the
name Trinacria. This island is called Panay, so even its name suits
it; for in it there grows so great an abundance of rice, which is
the bread of this country. It contains two provinces, governed by
two alcaldes-mayor--that of Iloilo, already mentioned, and that of
Panay; the latter rules over nine large villages. Of these, six are
in charge of the order of our father St. Augustine--Capiz, Panay,
Batan, Mambusao, Dumalag, and Dumarao; [101] two are administered
by secular priests, Aclán and Ibahay; and the island of Romblón
is a doctrina of the discalced religious [i.e., Recollects] of our
father St. Augustine. [Diaz here refers to the description of Panay
and the Augustinian houses therein which is given by Medina, and to
the foundation of their convent at Laglag. [102]] This ministry and
doctrina comprises five visitas and dependent churches: two on the
river that is called Araut, named Sibucao and Sumandig; and three
in the mountains, Misi, Camantugan, and Malonor. These were a cruel
and rude people, and greatly addicted to superstitions and heathen
rites on account of living so separated from intercourse with the
gospel ministers--who throughout the year share, in their turn,
in the instruction and administration of these visitas. It cost
the first religious many hardships to tame these mountaineers and
instruct them in the holy faith; for what they gained with the utmost
toil in a week was dissipated during the absence of the religious
from their ministry. The village of Malonor always had disguised
babaylanes--which is the same as "priests of the demon," by whose
direction the sacrifices which they made proceeded. They offered up
swine, birds, and various kinds of food produced by the ground; and
held solemn drinking-feasts--the main purpose of the universal enemy
[of souls], since from this vice resulted many acts of lewdness and
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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