Volume 28 — Character and Influence of the Friars
Reading edition
[From Feodor Jagor’s Reisen in den Philippinen (Berlin, 1873), pp. 95–100.]
Notes in this chapter
Note 1 · A comparison of the English translation of Jagor (London, 1875) with the original text reveals the fact that the translation is inaccurate iNote 2 · Polángui is located in the province of Albay, on the right bank of the Inaya River, and eleven miles in a general southeast direction from LNote 3 · That is, “It is what hour your Majesty pleases.”Note 4 · At this point Jagor adds in Spanish in parenthesis: “Discalced minor religious of the regular and most strict observance of our holy father Note 5 · As many as 900 monasteries were suppressed in Spain by decree of June 21, 1835, and the rest were dissolved by the decree of October 11, of Note 6 · This passage is hopelessly confused in the English translation, and proves how entirely untrustworthy that translation is. The reading of thNote 7 · Historia de las islas ... y Reynos de la Gran China (Barcelona, 1601), chapter xi.Note 8 · Felix Renouard de St. Croix (cited by Jagor) says, in his Voyage commercial et politique mix Indes orientales, aux Iles Philippines, à la ChNote 9 · Jagor cites, in a footnote at this point, a portion of Le Gentil’s description of the power of the friars in the Philippines, which is to beNote 10 · Leg. ult., ¡, 266, §§ 87, 89.Note 11 · Probably Memorias históricas y estadísticas de Filipinas y particularmente de la grande isla de Luzón (imprint from Diario de Manila, 1850),Note 12 · See Recopilación de leyes de Indias, lib. ii, tit. xvi, ley liv (dated: Valladolid, April 29, 1549, Cárlos I and the queen of Bohemia; VallaNote 13 · By royal decree of July 17, 1754. (Cited by Jagor.)Note 14 · Renouard de St. Croix, ii, p. 124. (Cited by Jagor.)Note 15 · This note is as follows: “The obras pias are pious legacies, in which it was generally determined that two-thirds were to be loaned at interNote 16 · Ut supra, ii, p. 336. (Cited by Jagor.)Note 17 · The office of alcalde falls into three divisions—entrada [i.e., entrance], ascenso [i.e., promotion], and termino [i.e., limit] (royal orderNote 18 · The convents are large, magnificent buildings, whose curas at that time—for the most part, elderly men—were most hospitable and amiable. It Note 19 · The convents are large, magnificent buildings, whose curas at that time—for the most part, elderly men—were most hospitable and amiable. It Note 20 · If the traveler is on good terms with the cura, he will seldom have any trouble. I was once about to take a little journey with a parish priNote 21 · Most of the priests in the eastern provinces of Luzon and Samar consist of Franciscan friars,4 who are trained in special seminaries in SpaiNote 22 · Frequently the priests in the Philippines are upbraided about their gross licentiousness. [It is said that] the convent is full of beautifulNote 23 · As the alcaldes are allowed to stay in a province only three years, they never understand the language of the country; for they are very mucNote 24 · “Although certain outrageous offenses have given fitting reason for chapter x of the ordinances, wherein Governor Don Pedro de Arandia orderNote 25 · The former alcaldes who bought their posts, or obtained them through favor, and who had no previous training in official business, and oftenNote 26 · The alcaldes were governors and judges, commanders of the troops, and at the same time the only traders in their respective provinces.14 TheNote 27 · On the whole, the government is endeavoring to lessen the influence of the curas, in order to strengthen the civil authorities; but that wil