[The first part of this document is taken from the second half
of chapter xviii, of book iii, pp. 414-418, of Colin's Labor
evangélica.] [19]
353 [i.e., 153]. A few months after the foundation of the congregation,
[20] a beginning was given to the college and seminary of San Joseph,
which was not less desired by the principal citizens of Manila than
was the congregation. It had been discussed already before this, and
Governor Don Luis Perez Dasmariñas had enacted, on the fifteenth of
the month of August one thousand five hundred and ninety-five, an act
in regard to it, in obedience to and in execution of a royal decree
of one thousand five hundred and eighty-five, in which his Majesty
commands Doctor Santiago de Vera, his governor in these islands, or
the person in whose charge should be their government, to ascertain
in what manner a college and seminary, where the sons of the Spanish
inhabitants of these islands, under the care and management of the
fathers of the Society, can be instructed in virtue and letters,
may be instituted. Although the act was given out from that time by
the governor, at the advice of Doctor Don Antonio de Morga, lieutenant
general and assessor of the governor, on account of difficulties which
always exist in whatever depends on the royal treasury, that work
was suspended until the arrival of the father visitor, Diego Garcia,
[21] with his ardent desire of putting into execution all the means for
the service of God and the greater welfare of his neighbors. From the
mountains of Antipolo, where he was, he charged Father Pedro Chirino,
rector of the college of Manila, independently of the said act, to
treat with Governor Don Francisco Tello, the auditors of the royal
Audiencia (which had been reëstablished in these islands), and the two
cabildos (ecclesiastical and secular), in regard to this matter. [22]
The father found them all not only kind but desirous of its execution,
for some of them had sons or nephews without the necessary education,
for lack of the college.
154. Having seen the readiness and desire of all, the father
visitor ordered some houses near our college to be made ready for
that purpose. He appointed Father Luis Gomez [23] rector of the
future college, and ordered him to choose some picked students
as collegiates, and gowns and becas of the color now used to be
prepared. He ordered the necessary licenses of the ordinary and
of the secular government to be obtained; and that after they had
been obtained, a beginning should really be made to the college and
seminary with the fitting solemnity. It was to be named after San
Joseph, on account of the special devotion that he had for that holy
patriarch. The rector appointed exerted himself and, by virtue of his
efforts, obtained the licenses from Governor Don Francisco Tello,
and from the provisor judge and vicar-general of the archbishopric
which was then vacant. Both licenses were dated August twenty-five,
one thousand six hundred and one. Inasmuch as everything was now
ready, a day was appointed for the erection of said college in due
form. The governor and royal Audiencia, the provisor and vicar-general,
some capitulars, the secular cabildo, the orders, and many others of
the best people assembled in the chapel of the houses which had been
prepared for the habitation and dwelling of the collegiates. Gowns and
becas were given to Don Pedro de Tello, nephew of the governor; to Don
Antonio de Morga, son of the senior auditor of that name; and other
sons of the principal citizens up to the number of thirteen. Mass was
celebrated by the archdeacon of the cathedral, Don Francisco Gomez de
Arellano, who afterwards became dean. The new collegiates recited two
prayers, one in Latin and the other in Spanish verses, in which with
elegance, gravity, and in a pleasing manner, they declared the reason
for the undertaking and the end of the new foundation, and the profit
which could be promised to the community from it. They were received
with general applause. Then many persons went through the house, and
admired the neatness and fitness of the lodgings, beds, and desks,
and the good order in everything. The number of the collegiates soon
increased to twenty, which for a beginning and in a country so new
and which professes rather the military and mercantile life than that
of letters, was not to be esteemed lightly. After having made the
foundation in the said form, the father visitor came to visit the
new college, and with his presence, authority, and prudence, they
attained great prestige. He gave the collegiates rules, and a method
of living, proportionate to the profession of students. He made for
them and for the rector and masters the necessary statutes, so that
they might be kept in the future, as was done. By means of that in
a few years students were seen to graduate from this college very
advanced in letters and fit for offices and benefices; and others,
sensible and devout, who, touched by God, entered the religious life.
155. The support of the collegiates during that time was obtained by
themselves with a certain sum of money which each one of them gave, and
which, administered by the procurator of the college, was sufficient
for their sustenance and decent support. Some fixed income for the
support of the rector and teachers, and succor for some students
of quality and ability, who by the poverty of their parents could
not meet their expenses with the sum which was charged, was greatly
desired. Our Lord provided that by means of the Christian and noble
governor of Mindanao, Estevan Rodriguez de Figueroa, who (as we have
remarked above) had already founded and endowed the principal college
of the Society in Manila. Being so favorable to the good work, he, when
making his will as he embarked in Oton for the conquest of Mindanao,
in which he named his daughters as his heirs, in case of their death
before they reached a competent age, made a pupillary substitution in
favor of this college and seminary. He ordered that in such an event,
the property of either one of his two daughters should pass to the
Society of Manila for the purpose of building a house, and founding a
college and seminary for the education of youth. That event happened,
for the younger of his two daughters named Doña Juana died at a very
tender age, being drowned with her uncle Andres Duarte, a "twenty-four"
of Xerez, in the wreck of the ship "San Antonio." Therefore, by
virtue of the clause of the will of the said governor, the college of
San Joseph inherited the possession which belonged to it. With that
property this college and seminary of San Joseph was instituted and
founded anew with public ecclesiastical and secular authority, on
February twenty-eight, one thousand six hundred and ten, as appears
from the act of its foundation which reads as follows.
156. "In the city of Manila, February twenty-eight, one thousand
six hundred and ten, in the college of the Society of Jesus of this
said city, before the treasurer, Don Luis de Herrera Sandoval:
the provisor and vicar-general of this archbishopric, apostolic
commissary, subdelegate-general of the Holy Crusade in these islands,
Father Gregorio Lopez, provincial of the said college of the Society
of Jesus, made a presentation of the acts contained in the four
preliminary leaves of this book, signed by his name, and sealed with
the seal of his office. That signature appears to be that of said
father provincial. I, the present secretary, attest that I know him. He
also presented the original licenses of the cantor, Santiago de Castro,
former provisor and vicar-general of this archbishopric, and of Don
Francisco Tello, former governor and captain-general of these islands,
copies of which are inserted in these acts. Said licenses are for the
foundation of the said college of San Joseph of this city of Manila,
as is contained in them more minutely. I attest that I have seen said
original licenses and that they are conserved in the archives of the
said Society. One of them is countersigned by Geronimo de Alcaraz,
former notary-public of this archbishopric, and the other by Gaspar de
Acebo, former government secretary of these islands. The said father
provincial declared that by virtue of the clause of the will of Captain
Estevan Rodriguez de Figueroa, deceased, which is contained in the
said acts, where he appears to be the patron of said college of San
Joseph, he appointed and presented as collegiates of said college,
Don Felipe de Figueroa, son of Don Lorenco de Figueroa and Doña Ana
de Salazar, his wife; Gabriel de Santillan, son of Captain Ventura de
Santillan and Doña Flora de Aguilar, his wife; and Gabriel Venegas,
son of Don Goncalo Flores and Doña Juana Bautista, his wife: all
inhabitants of this city, so that as such appointed collegiates they
might be supported by the said income of the said college, according
to the clause of its institution, as appears from the appointment
above, which was dated in this city on St. Bernard's day, August
twenty of the former year, one thousand six hundred. Although the
said appointment is valid, legal, and sufficient, as it was made by
the patron whom the said testator appoints, for greater validity he
declared that he again presented--and he did present--the said three
collegiates above named. And for greater solemnity of this act, as it
was the first, the said provisor and vicar-general begged that his
judicial authority be interposed and renewed, and that the license
of said Santiago de Castro, his predecessor, be confirmed. The said
provisor and vicar-general, having also read the said acts and original
licenses, declared that, so far as it concerns him, he approved--and he
did approve--the appointment made of the said Don Felipe de Figueroa,
Gabriel de Santillan, and Gabriel Venegas; and he declared that he
confirmed--and he did confirm--the said license of the said Santiago
de Castro, his predecessor, and said that he again gave it--and he
did give it--for the college founded with an income. For that effect,
for greater validity, the said father provincial, in the presence
of the said provisor and of me, the said secretary, delivered the
three said collegiates to Father Pedro de Velasco, appointed rector
of the said college. The latter received them as said collegiates of
said college, so that they might be supported by it. All the above
was done in my presence, and that of the witnesses who were present,
brothers Diego de Sarsuela, Juan de Larrea, and Martin de Lisarde of
the said Society; and the said father provincial, the said provisor;
and the said Father Pedro de Velasco affixed their signatures to it
before me, Pedro de Roxas, secretary and notary-public."
157. Before making this second institution of the college, account had
been given to his Majesty in his royal Council of the Indias, of the
legacy and bequest of Governor Estevan Rodriguez, and the possession
by the Society in Manila of the property of Doña Juana de Figueroa,
and permission was petitioned to bring from Mexico to Manila the money
belonging to the said bequest, since it had to serve for the foundation
of the college for the public welfare and profit of the islands. His
Majesty, considering himself as greatly served by it, had ordered his
royal decree despatched in accordance with this. In order that one may
see the esteem of the Council for that work, that decree faithfully
copied from its original will be placed here. It is as follows.
158. "The King. Don Luis de Velasco, my viceroy, governor, and
captain-general of Nueva-España, or the person or persons, in whose
charge may be the government of that country: On the part of Diego
Cordova, of the Society of Jesus, and its procurator of the Indias,
I have been informed that Governor Estevan Rodriguez de Figueroa,
when he went to accomplish the conquest of the island of Mindanao in
the Filipinas, where his enemies killed him, made a will under whose
disposition he died, by which, desiring that the youth [of Filipinas]
be occupied in virtue, he ordered that if either of his daughters
should die while a minor, a college seminary should be founded in the
city of Manila with the portion of the inheritance which belonged
to such deceased girl, so that the sons of inhabitants of the said
islands might study therein; and he left as patron of it the provincial
of the Society of Jesus of those islands. Inasmuch as the younger
daughter has died while a minor, the possession of that inheritance
which fell to her was given to the said Society. Consequently, the
said college seminary is to be founded in the said city of Manila
with that inheritance. There is very great need of that college in
that city for study, and for the rearing of ministers of the holy
gospel. The property with which the said seminary is to be founded
is in that city of Mexico, where it is advisable that it be placed
at interest for its conservation and maintenance, inasmuch as there
is nothing in which to invest it in the said islands. He petitions
me that, in consideration of the great fruit which will be attained
in those islands from that foundation, and in consideration of the
many good services of said governor, I grant the concession of giving
the license so that the proceeds from the property which is in that
said city for the foundation and support of the said seminary, be
allowed to pass thence to the said islands freely, notwithstanding the
prohibition, with a sworn certification of the procurator of the said
Society of Jesus of the said islands, to the effect that what thus
passes is the gain or proceeds of the property of the said seminary,
as there is nothing in the islands in which the said money can be
invested as abovesaid. The members of my Council of the Assembly of
the Indias having examined it, and having considered the abovesaid,
I have considered it fitting to have this my decree issued. I command
you thereby that, in each one of two years you allow to pass from that
city to the said islands the sum which shall appear necessary to you
for the said effect from the said property, if it does not exceed
six hundred ducados; and that that sum be included in the quantity
which I have given permission to be sent from that kingdom to the
said Filipinas Islands, notwithstanding any order to the contrary,
which for this time and in regard to this matter I dispense with. The
said two years you shall send me a minutely detailed account of the
value of the said property, and the district where it is invested
and in what, and the amount of the proceeds thereof each year, and
what it is advisable to enact concerning the whole matter. That, with
your opinion you shall send to the said my Council of the Assembly,
so that after examining it the advisable measures may be taken. Given
in Valladolid, September thirteen, one thousand six hundred and eight.