1606. Although they were
the last evangelical workers, their apostolic zeal has extended in
rivalry to the first ones, and they have attained abundant results from
their labors, in the reduction of the most barbarous islanders, and
in the exemplary lives of their reformed religious. The first convent
in which they lived was the one now called San Juan de Bagongbayan,
outside the walls of the city of Manila. It was established with the
title of San Nicolas de Tolentino, which is still preserved (without
administration), with the veneration merited, not only by their primacy
but by the miraculous image of Nuestra Senora de la Salud [_i.e._, "our
Lady of health"] who is venerated there. Later, a convent was erected
in due form under the ancient advocacy of St. Nicholas of Tolentino,
that saint being today the titular of that most strict province. In
that convent, which is inside and near the walls of Manila, there
are generally maintained thirty or forty religious. They have the
reputation of being a community as well regulated as the best in
Castilla, and one in which have been known a great number of fathers
of holiness and learning. From that convent they go out to perform
their laborious ministrations in these islands. Their houses in this
archbishopric are as follows.

585. In the province of Tongdo, the convent of San Sebastian near
Manila, where the miraculous image of Nuestra Senora del Carmen
[_i.e._, "our Lady of Carmen"] is revered, and she has a Confraternity
of the holy Escapular, with very fervent devotion. There are three
hundred and thirty-six souls ministered to in that convent.

586. In the jurisdiction of Marivelez: in the villages of Marivelez,
Cabcaben, Bagac, Morong; and they have administration between Subic
and the point of Bolinao, which is the country of the Zambales. They
also have some missions in the mountains near by. In that district
they care for 8,550 souls.

587. All of the island of Mindoro is under the charge of those
religious, where in various villages, visitas, missions, and
settlements, they minister to 7,552 souls.

588. In the port of Cavite, they have another convent, a dwelling
for the religious without any administration of Indians.

[_In the margin_: "Total number of souls, 16,438."]

St. John of God

589. The hospital Order of St. John of God, although their institute
is the hospital and the treatment of bodies, have not a few times
served as medicine for souls, u