.

In chapter viii, Assis, going back somewhat, gives a resume of the
sufferings of the Recollects between the years 1640-1668. These
sufferings and persecutions come mainly from the Moros, who by their
continual raids make themselves the scourge of all the Philippine
mission villages; and such is the boldness of those pirates that
they do not even hesitate to carry on their operations in sight of
Manila itself. Added to the terrors of the Moros is also the active
injury inflicted by the Dutch, those heretics allying themselves
even with the Moros to cause injury to the true Catholic faith. The
peace between Spain and Holland comes as a most welcome relief to the
colony. The Recollect villages and missions being in the very midst
of the Moro territory are the worst afflicted by that scourge. Their
pitiful petitions for aid fall on deaf ears, for at Manila, self
interest rules, and trade is the syren of the hour, not religion. The
Recollects, too, are not without their martyrs for the faith as the
result of Moro persecutions, while others succumb to the hardships
of the missionary labors.

The work among the Zambals is again taken up by our author in the
year 1670. The inhabitants of that district are a fierce people,
those in the mountains being more so than those dwelling along the
coast and on the plains, where they have had intercourse with other
natives and with Spaniards. The mountain population contains many
apostates and heathens, while many Negritos wander homeless and in
utter barbarous condition through their fastnesses. Although all those
people are hostile among themselves, they unite against the Spaniards,
for their common hatred to the latter draws them together. All the
orders have had a share in the reduction of those fierce people,
but the Recollects with the greatest success. The fierceness of
the people leads the Recollects to employ gentle means, and thus
by adapting themselves to the genius of their flock they gain many
converts--the most abundant being during the years 1668-1671, when
the provincial Cristobal de Santa Monica appoints nine religious for
the work. As a result of their labors 2,000 people are reduced to
a Christian and settled life, and others also adopt the faith. The
new villages of Iba (formerly called Paynaven), Subic, and Morong
are formed from the converts, while all the old villages increase in
population. Two new convents are established--one in Paynaven, and the
other in B