icolas. 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 graduates; and it is the head of a
very religious province of Discalced, who have more than fifty convents
(which will soon be enumerated), in which they religiously administer
the sacraments to one hundred and thirty thousand Christians.

90. This province during the first fourteen years was a custodia,
subject to the province of San Joseph; and it was governed by
four custodians, up to the year 1591. It was then erected into
a province, and its first provincial elected; this was father
Fray de Jesus, a Catalan from the province of San Joseph, a most
accomplished religious. From then until this year of 662 there have
been twenty-three provincials. This province has the following
convents, most of which have very substantial buildings of hewn
stone, and handsome churches well adorned with altars, reredoses,
and ornaments, with much silver--and with singers, organs, and other
musi