Christianity Goes to the

Philippines
Chapter 2
Schumacher, 1987, 12-21
 Pre-Hispanic Filipino
Religion
In 1521, Ferdinand Magellan, rather than the
expedition chaplain, Juan de Valderama takes the
initiative of preaching and having Cebuanos baptized.

Probably this might be a consequence of Alexander’s

bull delegating the Spanish monarch as his
representative in the colonies.

Did Magellan, whose voyage had royal sanction,

believe that such delegated authority had also been
transmitted to him?
 Pre-Hispanic Filipino
Religion
Early Spanish attitude to non-Catholic religion judges
it as the devil’s work.

Because animists worship the devil, their likha,

images of ancestral and nature spirits (anito) have to
be destroyed.

Later friar writers learn more about indigenous culture

and present Filipino religion with more sophistication.
 Pre-Hispanic Filipino
Religion
Missionary sources on Filipino religions distinguish
between the animists and the Muslim (followers of
Mohama)

Better data on indigenous religions are found in

Juan de Plasencia, OFM, Costumbres de los Tagalos
Ignacio Alzina, SJ, Historia de las islas e indios
Visayas (Vol. 3)

Archaeological discoveries related to religion are

available but how to interpret them is uncertain.
Archaeology and Religion
Archaeological finds are associated with death, found buried
underground or in caves and hill sides considered sacred
895-77 BCE: Manunggul Jar: Manunggul cave, Palawan
5 BCE – 225 CE: Maitum Anthropomorphic Jars: Maitum,
Saranggani
14th cent BCE: Banton Cloth: Grave goods in Banton Is, Romblon
Cordillera Fire Mummies: In caves in Bontoc
Batanes boat shaped burials: On hiillsides
Grave furniture:
Gold masks
Trade pottery from China and SEAsia
Beads, also from trade as far as Egypt.
Banto-on or Banton Cloth
Batanes Boat-shaped Burial
Batanes Boat-shaped Burial
Death Mask
Gold Death Mask from Oton, Iloilo
Cebu’s Death Mask
Gold Death Mask from Cebu
Gold Kinaree
Brahmin Gold Cord
Tagalog and Visayan Maharlika
Stone Likha
Bul-ul
Beginnings of Evangelization
Although Magellan had Cebuanos baptized with their
chieftain and leaders, the Catholic Faith does not take
root deeply.

1565: Cebuanos resist Miguel Lopez de Legazpi’s

attempt to land in Cebu. Bombardment from the
Spanish ships and the burning of the Cebuanos balay
of timber, bamboo and thatch makethem capitulate.

Legazpi brings Augustinian friars.

Frist Mass, Painted by Botong Francisco
First Baptism, painted by Vicente Manasala
Erecting a Cross, Symbol of
Possession
Magellan’s Cross
Magellan’s Cross
Magellan’s Cross
Protected by a 19th
century coral stone
octagonal cross is a
hardwood tindalo cross
said to encase the original
cross planted by
Magellan in Cebu 1521.

No historical or
archaeological study has
been made to verify this
widespread oral tradition.
Beginnings of Evangelization
The discovery of the image of the Sto. Niño inside a
box by the Basque soldier, Juan Camus, assured
Legazpi and his companions that Cebu’s conquista
was blessed by God.

The Sto. Niño is turned over to the Augustinians who

build a church of local material as well as a residence
for the first priory (friary) of Augustinians.

From 1565 to 1583, structures built by Spaniards use

materials and techniques of vernacular architecture.
Ferdinand and Isabel
Carlos I
Carlos I of Spain also
Charles V of the Holy
Roman Empire.

Carlos belonged to the

Hapsburg Dynasty of
German origin but whose
monarchs ruled the Iberian
Peninsula, Southern Italy
and Sicily (Dos Sicilias), the
Netherlands, Flanders
(Belgium) and Eastern
Europe
Alexander VI (Rodrigo Borja)
Julius II (Giuliano dela Rovere)
Finding the Santo Niño
The Basque soldier, Juan
Camus, finds the Sto.
Niño
Finding the Santo Niño
Sinulog
Celebrating the feast of
the Santo Niño on the
third Sunday in January,
devotees dance the
Sinulog.

Sinulog from “sulug” or

“sug” = water current.
Basilica Minore of the Sto. Niño,
Cebu
 Religious Orders in Ph
Following the preference of Carlos I to send religious
orders to the missions rather than secular clergy, the
Augustinians are followed by members of other
religious orders.

They arrived as travel companions (barcada, from Sp

barco = ship, boat). The Franciscans assigned barcada
numbers to those that crossed the Pacific to Manila.
Intramuros Map based on 1610 Muñoz
Map
 Augustinians, arrival 1565
1565: Augustinians arrive with Legazpi. They establish the first church
and priory in Cebu named Santissimo Nombre de Jesús, in honor of the
Sto. Niño. From Cebu, Augustinians establish missions in the whole
island in subsequent years. They expand to Mactan and Camotes Islands.

They follow the Spaniards as they travel north in search of a better site
for a capital, which had a good harbor and abundant supply of grain.

1569: Legazpi transfers the capital to Pan-ay on the island of Panay.

Augustinians follow and establish mission stations in Iloilo and Capiz.

1571: After hearing reports of a good harbor, discovered on an

exploratory mission by Juan de Salcedo, Legazpi’s nephew, the Spaniards
move to Manila. There the Augustinians found their second priory,
popularly known as San Agustín, along Calle Real.
Augustinians, arrival 1565
As the sole missionary group in Luzon for more than a decade, the
Augustinians fan out north to south in their apostolic endeavors.

In the south, they establish missions stations in Malate, Las Piñas

and Batangas.

Outside Intramuros, they establish stations in Tondo, Malabon and

Mandaluyong.

In the north, they establish stations in provinces of Bulacan,

Pampanga, Tarlac, Pangasinan and the Ilocos all the way up to
Ilocos Norte. NB: Tarlac is a late creation and was carved out of
villages of Pampanga and Pangasinan
San Agustín: The only colonial church that
survived World War II in Intramuros
Augustinian-built World Heritage Site
 Franciscans, arrival 1578
Franciscans do not establish schools and universities
as rhe Jesuits and Dominican do. Instead, their
apostolic effort it toward missions and parishes.

They establish their residence and church along the

eastern flank of Intramuros.

The Franciscans open a mission in Sta. Ana de Sapa.

Later they expand to present-day Rizal Province, then

composed of two jurisdictions: Pasig and Morong.
 Franciscans, arrival 1578
With the arrival of the Jesuits in 1581, the Franciscans
turn over their missions in Rizal of Antipolo, Taytay and
San Mateo to them, because they were opening missions
in Laguna and Bicol.

Pioneers Diego de Oropesa, OFM and Juan de

Plascencia, OFM open these missions.

Plascencia is a leading figure in this era. He documented

Tagalog society in Costumbre de los Tagalos. He is
believed to be the author of a draft of the Doctrina
Cristiana, published in 1593.
 Franciscans, arrival 1578
The Franciscans pioneered in the study of Tagalog
and published Vocabulario de la Lengua Tagala, the
works of Pedro de San Buenaventura, printed in the
Franciscan press at Pila, Laguna.

To the Franciscans is attributed the introduction of the

popular devotions of the Via Crucis or Stations of the
Cross and the Christmas creche. As custodians of the
Holy Land, the Franciscans are the only authorized
group that blessed a new Via. The creche or Belén is
an original creation by St. Francis of Assisi
Church of San Idelfonso, Tanay, Rizal

A Franciscan church built in the 18th century, Tanay’s

interior has a unique treasurer, a Stations of the Cross
or Via Crucis in bas relief.

The reliefs are attributed to a sculptor from Paete.

Station 7, “Jesus Falls the Second Time” in intriguing

because a priest looks intently at Jesus through dark
glasses.
Model of the Franciscan Twin Church of
Our Lady of the Angels and the VOT
Church of San Geronimo, Morong
The Baroque façade of
Morong church is rhe
work of Bartolome
Palatino of Paete,
Laguna.

He was commissione by
Franciscan Fray
Monasterio to design and
build this 19th century
façade.
 ADMU’s Lenten Via Crucis

The Via Crucis or Stations of fhe Cross originated in the Holy Lsnd where
pilgrims walked the Via Dolorosa. Franciscans spread the devotion.
Church of San Ildefonso, Tanay
Tanay’s Via Crucis
Stations 2 & 4
Stations 5 & 6
Station 7 & detail
Stations 8 & 9
Stations 10 & 11
Stations 12 & 14
San Buenaventura, Vocabulario, 1613

Pedro San Buenaventura

published this Tagalog —
Spanish dictionary in
Pila, Laguna, a
Franciscan mission.
 Jesuits, arrival 1581
1581: A small party of three Jesuits arrive with Domingo
de Salazar, first bishop of Manila. They establish a house
at Lagyo, an area between Ermita and Malate, roughly
where the Diamond Hotel on Roxas Blvd is located.

1583: Jesuits transfer their house and church inside

Intramuros after acquiring 14 house lots on rhe southern
flank of Intramuros, facing Bagumbayan.

1591: Franciscans cede Antipolo and surrounding

villages of Taytay and San Mareo to the Jesuits.
 Jesuits, arrival 1581
1581: A small party of three Jesuits arrive with Domingo de Salazar,
first bishop of Manila. They establish a house at Lagyo, an area
between Ermita and Malate, roughly where the Diamond Hotel on
Roxas Blvd is located.

1583: Jesuits transfer their house and church inside Intramuros after
acquiring 14 house lots on rhe southern flank of Intramuros, facing
Bagumbayan.

1591: Franciscans cede Antipolo and surrounding villages of Taytay

and San Mareo to the Jesuits.

Jesuits open a house at Suarga, Iloilo in rhe encomienda of a

principal benefactor, Esteban Rodriguez de Figueroa.
 Jesuits, arrival 1581
1595: Jesuits take charge of Samar and Leyte
The establish a central house in Cebu.
Colegio de San Ignacio is founded

1596: Jesuits take charge of Bohol.

The Two San Ignacios
First San Ignacio Church, Built 1626-32
Bastion de San Diego
 Dominicans, arrival 1587
Dominicans establish themselves in Intramuros at the northeast
corner of the city, a site presently occupied by San Juan de Letran
and the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI)

1611, 28 Apr: Universidád de Santo Tomás is established by Abp.

Miguel de Benavides, OP, third bishop of Manila. Its site is
presently occupied by BPI.

Dominicans open missions in Bataan, Zambales and the coastal

town of Pangasinan.

Dominicans establish missions in Cagayan Valley. Juan de

Villaverde opens a road linking Bulacan with Cagayan Valley and
the Ilocos. The Villaverde Trail is named after him.
18 Century Map of Manila
th

Detail: This redrawing of

an 18th century map of
Manila depicts the
Dominican compound in
Intrauros
Neogothic Santo Domingo
The Dominican mother
church in Intramuros
was designed by
European-trained, Felix
Roxas, who worked in
various revivalis styles
like Neogothic,
Neorenaissance and
Neoclassic,
 Santo Tomás in Intramuros
Destroyed by war,
Santo Tomás in
Intramuros was
never rebuilt.

At the far end is

the nave of the
Neogothic Church
of Santo Domingo.
Statue of Miguel de
Benavides
Often mistaken for Santo
Tomás de Aquino, this
statue of Abp. Benavides,
founder of UST, was moved
to UST’s Sampaloc campus
after World War II.

Benavides’ statue
surrounded by a wrought
iron fence was erected at the
Plazuela de Sto. Tomás
Villaverde Trail
 Recollects, arrival 1606
The Augustinian Recollect is a reformed branch of the
Augustinians. They follow a stricter ascetical regime,
characterized by bodily penance. One pervading form is to
wear shoes but sandals or go barefoot. Hence, the Recollects
aka Augustinos Descalzados (Shoeless Augustinans).

Arriving late, there are no lots left in Intramuros, so they build

their first priory outside the walls in the Tagalog town of
Bagumbayan, presently Luneta Park.

1606: The famous Señor Jesús Nazareno is housed in this

church until it is transferred to the Recollect church in
Intramuros.
 Recollects, arrival 1606
Later, Recollects acquire property on the southeast
corner of Intramuros, the lot presently occupied by
Manila Bulletin.

The Recollects go to islands inadequately served by

missionaries for lack of personnel, like the Romblon
island group, Mindoro, Palawan (Paragua), Negros.

1787: The Jesús Nazareno is given to Quiapo church,

under the diocesan clergy.
 Recollects, arrival 1606
1610: Mindanao is divided into a eastern and wesstern
zone. The Recollects are assigned to the east while the
Jesuits to the West. The division is set by an imaginary
straight line that run from Suluan Point, in Misamis
Oriental to Capo San Agustín in Davao del Sur.

The Recollect missions faced challenges of sea-borne

slave raiders and attacks of tribals from the inland.
They fortified their churches in places like, Culion,
Agutaya, and Taytay in Palawan; Linao in Butuan;
Cagayan de Oro in Misamis Oriental.
NS Jesús Nazareno
The Black Nazarene
came from Mexico.

It dark colored features is

natural because the wood
used for carving was a
type of ebony.
Recoletos: Church of San
Nicolás de Tolentino
Famous for the pipe
organ whose pipes run
the length of the nave,
built by Diego Cera,
OAR, the same builder as
the Las Pinas Bamboo
Organ.

On his feast, the

Recollects oven produced
the Pan de San Nicolás,
which was distributed to
the people,
Organization of the Church, 1579-1595

1579: Diocese of Manila is established with a

caretaker priest until bishop arrives. A church in honor
of the Immaculate Conception is built.

1581, Sept: Domingo de Salazar, OP arrives to take

charge of the diocese.

1583, Aug: Fire destroys Manila, with temporary

cathedral and bishop’s residence. Rebuilt in stone,
mortar, tiles and hardwood, with assistance of Chinese
artisans under Antonio Sedeño SJ
Beginnings of Evangelization
1594: Royal cedula of Philip II orders the division of
the Philippines intro zones of evangelization assigned
ro different religious orders.

1595: Cedula arrives in Manila and is implemented.

Also Manila is raised to an archdiocese with suffragan
dioceses: Cebu, Nueva Segovia (Lal-lo, Cagayan, in
the 18th century transferred to Vigan, Ilocos Sur) and
Caceres (Naga, Camarines Sur).
Organization of the Church, 1579-
1595
1595: Cedula assigns the following bishops:
Manila, raised to a Metropolitan Archdiocese: Abp.
Ignacio de Santibañez, OFM
Nueva Segovia: Miguel de Benavides, OP (later Abp. Of
Manila)
Cebu: Pedro de Agurto, OSA
Caceres: Luis Maldonado, OFM
FYI: No Jesuit was ever made bishop during the Spanish era as the Jesuit
Constitution forbade it. The first Jesuit bishop was José Clos of
Zamboanga (1910), then James T. Hayes of Cagayan de Oro (1930); both
during the American era.
Pedro Murillo Velarde Map
This 18th-century map is
considered the most
accurate Ph map in its
time. A large four-piece
map is the first printed. A
smaller map appears in Fr.
Murillo’s history of the
Jesuits in the Philippines.

The map was copied by

the French, Italian and the
British.
 Bishop & Archbishop of
Manila
Domingo de Salazar, OP Ignacio de Santibañez, OFM
 First Dominican Bishops of
Manila
Bp. Salazar is a disciple of
Miguel de Benavides, OP
Bartolome de las Casas, OP
and like his mentor defends
native rights vigorously.

Benavides is assigned bp of
Nueva Segovia in 1595. Then
the see is in Lal-lo, Cagayan.

He is tranferred to Manila and

establishes Santo Tomás, the
Dominican college later a
royal and pontifical
university.
Diocesan Seals or Coat of
Arms
RCAM Escudo Caceres Escudo
Model of 19 Century Manila th

Cathedral

19th century earthquakes toppled the detached bell tower but left the
façade unscathed
Diocesan Seals or Coat of
Arms
Cebu Escudo Nueva Segovia Escudo
Pedro de Agurto, OSA
The Augustinian, Bp. Agurto,
is the first bishop of Cebu.
Seeing the great need for
missionaries, he opens Cebu to
other religious, besides
Augustinians.
Cebu has the most extensive
jurisdiction because it
encompasses Mindanao and in
the 17th century the Marianas.