of Simara, the ministry of the same name. In that of Tablas,
the ministries of Cabolotan, Oriongan, and Laloan. In that of Sibuyan,
those of Cavit, Catudyucan, with other visitas and missions. In the
island of Masbate, in the bishopric of Nueva Caceres, the ministries of
Mobo, Bulino, Palano, Abuyoan, Camasoso, Buracan, Limboan, Navangui,
and Baraga. In that of Burias, the village and ministry of the same
name, with some collections of huts. In that of Ticao, the village
of that name, and the port of San Jacinto, where the ships that sail
to Espana are provided with water and wood for the voyage.

Chapter VIII

Of the convents and hospitals of the reverend fathers of St. John
of God

The Order of St. John of God arrived at these islands in the
year 1641. Their religious founded their first hospital outside
the Manila walls, in the village of Bagonbayan. In the year 1656,
it was removed inside the city of Manila, as soon as there was an
opportunity for them in the place where they are at present--which
had before been a hospital begun by the reverend Franciscan fathers,
and aided by the alms given by the brothers of the Santamesa [72] and
other pious inhabitants. The hospital brethren had the Franciscans'
old church--which was of good appearance, although the hospital was
very dilapidated and threatened to fall--until the year 1726, when the
very reverend father Fray Antonio de Arce came to these islands, as
prelate and superior of the order. By his energy, economy, prudence,
and zeal, the church and hospital are now seen to be restored and
built anew from the foundations, in an elegant and tasteful manner,
as well as the convent and dwelling of the religious. Those works were
commenced in the year 1728, with the alms of the pious inhabitants
of the city of Manila; and in the year 1749, when I was in that city,
I saw them finished and completed.

In the village of San Roque, outside the Cavite walls, those same
religious had another hospital, the land of which was encroached upon
by the sea until they had to abandon it. In the said year 1749, when
I was also in that port, the religious had their sick in a private
house, in which they exercised their ministries, until God our Lord
provided them with a hospital by means of a benefactor who desired to
cooperate in a work of so great importance and mercy. Although they
had no hospital in Cebu, while I was there, there was one religious,
who had charge of the poor