h was the only one that our Society
then had in the Filipinas), of the five priests who had gone thither
only three remained. For, as we have said, Father Hernan Suarez urged
himself on to work until he died of sheer exhaustion--but certainly
with most abundant harvest, and having brought great consolation
to that commonwealth, where his loss was deeply felt, and his
memory was held for many years in great tenderness and affection by
all. Father Alonso Sanchez, although inclined by nature to retirement
and solitude, could not hide his light, since he was a man of great
courage and ability. His retirement was perpetually beset by bishop,
governor, royal ministers, prelates of the church, and regidors of
the commonwealth. Both within and without Manila, he was forever
busied in important affairs--whether concerning the welfare of souls,
the peace of men's consciences, the tranquillity and prosperity of
the commonwealth, or the service of his Majesty the Catholic king,
our sovereign. On this account not only did they send him on several
journeys to China and Malaca, but finally despatched him to Europe
upon like undertakings, where he was well known at the court of Espana
and afterwards at that of Roma. The three who were left behind did
not remain idle. Father Antonio Sedeno, in addition to his ordinary
occupation of preaching--in which he was so effective that he could
move stones by his eloquence--in his capacity as superior attended
to the temporal affairs of the residence and to the construction of
buildings. He was all the more busy in this latter occupation, from
the scarcity, at that time, of architects and builders in Manila;
for there were none at all. First he taught this art to the Indians,
and then to the Chinese; and he inspired the bishop to build the first
stone house ever erected in Manila. Encouraged by this example, they
continued to build others, until finally the city reached its present
greatness. At this time it is one of the most beautiful and delightful
cities in the Indias. Formerly the houses, though large and roomy,
were all constructed of wood or cane. In short the good father was
the architect of the city, and the people caused him no little labor
in inspecting, planning, and arranging its edifices; he aided them
out of pure charity and zeal for the advancement of the holy Church,
which he hoped would be very great in those regions. The first fort
constructed in Manila for the defense of the ci