learned several of
the Visayan tongues, especially the Cebuan, "the principal Visayan
tongue." In that language he translated the catechism, which was
printed at Manila in 1730; compiled an explanation of the Christian
Doctrine, which was printed in 1730; and composed a vocabulary in
the Cebuan tongue, and another in the dialects spoken in Cagayan and
Tagaloan. In addition he left two volumes of sermons in the vernacular
of the country. He served as prior for six years in the convent of
Billig, Mindanao; six years in Cagayan, and various times at the
island of Romblon, and finally in Siargao. In 1680 he was elected
provincial, and served his term so faithfully and well, visiting
and working assiduously, that he was reelected in 1686 against his
will. But he was destined not to fill that office again for death
took him May 19, 1686. After his first term he served in the island
of Romblon. He was a most zealous missionary. The remainder of the
chapter and chapter vii following do not deal with Philippine affairs.]

CHAPTER VIII

Our missionaries illumine the islands of Masbate with the
preaching. The fourteenth general chapter is held. Two excellent
religious die in the province of Aragon.

The year 1688

Sec. I

Our province of Philipinas takes charge of the spiritual administration
of three islands, namely, Masbate, Ticao, and Burias, with no little
luster to the Catholic religion.

... 1108. In the great archipelago of San Lazaro, as one enters
the Philipinas from Marianas, the islands of Luzon, Mindoro, Panai,
Zebu, and Leyte form among themselves an almost perfect circle which
has a circumference along the beaches from the center of about two
hundred leguas encircling the above-named islands, which are very
near one another. Within this circumference, toward the part of
Mindoro and Panay, are located the islands of Romblon, and toward
the part of Leyte those of Masbate, Ticao and Burias, which belong
to the bishopric of Nueva Caceres in ecclesiastical matters, and
to the alcaldeship of Albay in political matters. Masbate, which
is the chief island, is sixty leguas southwest of Manila. It lies
in a latitude of about sixty degrees, has a circumference of fifty
leguas, a length of nineteen, and a breadth of five or six. [57]
The island of Ticao is about nine leguas long, four and one-half
wide, and about twenty-three leguas in circumference. [58] That of
Burias has a circumference of twenty-six leg