Note 10 — Ecclesiastical Survey of the Philippines

Zúñiga says (Estadismo, Retana’s ed., i, p. 230): “The noted beaterío [i.e., a house in which reside devout women] of Santa Catalina ... founded by Doña Antonia Ezguerra in the year 1695; and General Escaño increased its revenues so that fifteen beatas and some servants could be maintained in it. The beatas must be Spanish women, assist in the choir, and take a vow of chastity.” Evidently these beatas were much like the Béguines (founded in Belgium in 1184, and still in existence).