rable hardships because of the roughness of the roads
and the bad climate of some regions." [40]

789. The discalced sons of St. Francis (minors for their humility,
but greatest [maximos] by the fires which they could cast from
themselves in order to burn up the world) arrived in Manila in the
year 1577. Thence like flying clouds, whose centers were filled with
very active volcanoes, they were scattered through various parts of
the islands. They were received with innumerable applauses of their
inhabitants, who regarded them as persons who despised the riches of
earth, and thought only of filling the vacant seats of glory. One of
the places where their zeal for the salvation of souls was predominant
was the land of Mindoro which had been ceded by the calced Augustinian
fathers. There, not being content with what had been reduced, they
extended the lights of the Catholic faith at the expense of great
efforts, in the direction of Pola and Calavite. Those who labored
most in those places to communicate the infinite blessing to souls
were fathers Fray Estevan Ortiz and Fray Juan de Porras, who were
great leaders among the first religious of the seraphic discalced
order who went to Philipinas. [41] But since the fire is kept up
in matter in proportion as it abounds in commensurate inclinations,
various fields having been discovered in other parts which were full
of combustible dry fuel most fitting to receive the heat of charity,
which gives light to the beautiful body of the faith; and seeing that
that rational fuel of Mindoro would not allow themselves to be burned
for their good, with the quickness that was desired: they thought
it advisable to abandon the little for the much, and to go first to
Ilocos and secondly to Camarines where they hoped for more abundant
fruits in return for their holy zeal.

790. In the year 1580 the religious of the holy Society of Jesus
arrived at the islands. They, in the manner of swift angels ennobling
and glorifying those hidden plains, expanded the habitation of Japhet,
in order that he might possess the famous tents of Shem. Immediately,
or very near the beginning, the superior detached excellent soldiers
of that spiritual troop for the island of Mindoro, so that they might
with the arms of the preaching destroy the altars dedicated to Belial
by giving roots to the healthgiving sign of the cross. They obtained
much; for after having penetrated the roughest mountains in search of
heathen