Pius V conceded the above-mentioned exemption to the regulars
because they were employed in the conversion of the Indians, and so
that they might proceed in their apostolic missions. That reason is
clearly expressed in the bull; consequently, whenever it is found to
exist, the orders ought to be maintained in the possession of that
grace so long as it is not annulled by express revocation. Hence it
is that, until the present, the bishops have not attempted to subject
the missionaries who are laboring to allure the heathen to our holy
faith and withdraw them from the darkness of their infidelity; for in
order to effect those ends they acknowledge in its force the privilege
of St. Pius V. I agree then that all the missions held by our holy
reformed branch in the said islands ought to be considered as active
missions, where the religious, although as parish priests they minister
spiritually to those already converted, exercise also the arduous
employ of missionaries, as the villages are surrounded by infidels,
whose conversion they secure by the most diligent efforts. Therefore,
the parishes of our jurisdiction ought to be considered not as villages
of converts [doctrinas] already formed, where the only care is to
administer the holy sacraments, but as new conquests where the flock
of Christ is continually increased by apostolic attempts.

738. There are at present one hundred and five villages (besides
those called active missions, which do not enter into this account)
at present in the charge of our holy discalced branch, and they
lie in more than twenty islands. In the principal island of Luzon,
where the city of Manila is located, the order administers fifteen
villages; in that of Mindanao, the second in size, thirty-four;
in that of Paragua and others of the Calamianes, twelve; in that of
Mindoro, twenty-four; in that of Romblon and its outlying islands,
eleven; and in that of Masbate and its intermediate islands, nine. It
is seldom that one of those villages has no infidel inhabitants;
and the religious are kept quite busy in converting them. For
beginning with the island of Luzon and the mountains of Zambales,
the villages of Marivelez, Cabcaben, Moron, and Bagac are surrounded
by blacks who are there called "de Monte" [i.e., "of the mountain"]
[33] who are being constantly converted to our holy faith, for they
are of a very peaceful disposition. Subic is a new conquest, where
various Indians are settling who wande