e, finds it
necessary to relate to your Majesty with the greatest frankness, that
it appears necessary for the greater service of God, the welfare of
souls, and [the service] of your royal person, to divide into two
bishoprics this so extensive and scattered diocese of Visayas--in
whose innumerable islands there are, in his judgment, more than one
million of Christian souls, notwithstanding that the census of the past
year shows no more than 858,510 souls. In addition to this there are
a multitude of infidels, whom it would not be difficult to civilize
and convert, were there two bishops among them who could take care of
their conversion in an efficient manner; for one bishop alone has too
much to look after in the conservation of so many Christians, without
other duties. There are three provinces in the island of Panay alone,
in which there are 54 parishes and many annexed villages, who have at
least 378,970 souls, besides the heathen. If there were a permanent
bishop in that island, their number would quickly be duplicated.

"The prelate could easily visit and confirm the distant provinces of
Calamianes and Zamboanga (whither no bishop has as yet gone, because
of their great distance from Cebu, and because it is necessary to
consume several months [in such a trip] by reason of the monsoons,
thus neglecting other things which require attention) from his
see, which could be established in the well-populated village of
Jaro. [118] The islands of Tablas, Sibuyan, Romblon, and Banton, and
the western part of the island of Negros, would belong also to this
new bishopric, and Christianity would be considerably increased. The
bishop of Cebu would not on that account remain with nothing to do;
for besides the island of this name, those of Bojol or Bohol, Leyte,
Samar, the laborious island of Surigao, Misamis, and the eastern part
of the island of Negros (where a mission is already established),
and various other smaller islands remain. Thus he retains charge of
at least 434,846 souls, besides an infinite number of heathen.

"The bishop of Cebu is addressing his king and sovereign with all
sincerity and frankness; and he can say no less to your Majesty
than that it is impossible for one bishop alone to visit and confirm
his people, and to discharge his other pastoral duties, in all the
numerous and intricate islands of Visayas, which have been in his
charge until the present--especially in the so distant Marianas
Islands, whi