_Of what the religious did in the islands, and how they baptized Tupas_
[During the conflict with the Portuguese, the fathers, as became
spiritual advisers, did their duty, and bore their full part. The
continual illness of Father Gamboa rendered necessary greater activity
on the part of Fathers Herrera and Rada. With great effort they
succeeded in baptizing the chief Tupas, well knowing the effect the
baptism of such a great chief would have upon the other natives, who
were completely in the power of their chiefs. With him was baptized
his son. The effect was immediate, and natives of Cebú and all the
neighboring islands requested baptism. The patache "San Juan" arrived
at the island from New Spain in 1569, with two more religious: Juan de
Alba, [35] who had spent more than thirty-three years in New Spain;
and Alonso Giménez, [36] "who quickly learned the language of these
islands." It was resolved to send one religious to New Spain "to look
after the affairs of the islands, and get colonists for them from the
many workmen in Nueva España." The lot fell to Father Diego de Herrera,
and he set sail, after having been elected as the first provincial of
the Philippines. Medina says: "The intention of the religious is not
known. For they had no order from the most reverend general to create a
provincial, and such an order was necessary. Their object is unknown,
but it is well known that the said father Fray Diego de Herrera was
despatched and arrived at Nueva España, bearing this title." His
mission in New Spain and Spain proved successful, and advantageous to
the islands; and he set sail again for the Philippines with a number
of religious. Of the three religious remaining in the islands, after
Father Herrera's departure--for Father Gamboa had already been sent
back on the "San Lúcas," because of his continual ill-health--Martín
de Rada remained in Cebú, Juan de Alba went to the Alaguer River in
Panay, and Alonso Jiménez to Ibalon. "There, in those ministries,
the religious were learning the language with the greatest assiduity,
in order to be able to preach and confess, and to teach the mysteries
of our faith."]