Doctrina Christiana

The Franciscans

Reading edition

But the most important record of his writings is contained in the description of the Synod called by Bishop Salazar in 1582. In March, 1581, [24] Domingo de Salazar, the first Bishop of Manila and the Philippines, had arrived. The problems which faced him were manifold, particularly those of ecclesiastical jurisdiction, the treatment of the natives by government administrators, and the means by which the gospel could best be spread. A synod was called to resolve these points. One matter of the utmost importance was the approval of standard Tagalog texts, and Juan de la Concepcion gives the following account of what transpired in this connection:

The already quoted account of Santa Inés continues with a similar description of the Synod, and says that when the problem of teaching the natives was brought up only Plasencia could resolve it.

Another reference to writers in the native tongues in an anonymous manuscript of 1649 introduces the names of other linguists:

Notes in this chapter

Note 1 · Juan Lopez, Quinta Parte de la Historia de San Domingo, Valladolid, 1621, ff. 246–51.Note 2 · “His excellency presided at the meetings. At them the most learned topics were discussed and the most learned persons were present—the Domin Note 3 · “Since, having seen his catechism and the translation which he had made in Tagalog of the grammar and dictionary, those who were at the Syno Note 4 · It must have been shortly after the handbooks of Plasencia received the seal of ecclesiastical approval that Salazar wrote the King speaking Note 5 · “The first missionaries left many writings in the Tagalog and Bicol languages, the best of which are those left by Fathers Fray Juan de Oliv Note 6 · Miguel de Talavera we have spoken of before. That he helped Plasencia in the compilation of his earliest works in Tagalog is clear, and to h Note 7 · Several authors, attempting to establish the priority of Quiñones’ dictionary, question the existence of one by Plasencia at the Synod of 15 Note 8 · The other two Franciscans listed by the anonymous historian of 1649 are elsewhere recorded as having written various works in Tagalog. To bo Note 9 · Before passing on to the Dominicans we shall mention briefly the linguists of the Society of Jesus. In the early days there were not many Je Note 10 · Chirino himself landed at Manila in 1590 shortly after Dasmariñas, and went almost immediately to Taytay where he learned Tagalog and was jo