ch have no communication with Cebu. Those islands ought
to be assigned to the archbishopric of Manila, with which capital is
their only communication. Even in this case, authority ought to be
conceded to their ecclesiastical superior, with chrism consecrated
by the archbishop, over all the Christians who live there.

"As soon as the writer was consecrated in Manila, he set out to
visit his bishopric. I visited the island of Romblon, and the three
provinces of the island of Panay, confirming in those islands 102,636
persons; the island of Negros and half of Cebu, in which two districts
1 confirmed 23,800, as I inform your Majesty by a separate letter. I
have employed one-half year in this first visit, without the loss of
a second of time, taking advantage of the good season.

"I am intending to conclude the visit for the half of this island
during the monsoon of the coming year; and to continue my visit
to the islands of Bojol, Leyte, Samar, Surigao, and Misamis. But
notwithstanding the efforts of the bishop, and his desire to fulfil
his obligations, he cannot visit Zamboanga or Calamianes, and much less
the Marianas islands--so many souls remaining without the sacrament of
the confirmation and benediction of their bishop, as it is impossible
to visit them.

"With what conscience, Sire, will you abandon him who dares to
call out before your Majesty's throne, asking you, as so Catholic
[a sovereign], and as the patron of all the churches of the Indias,
to remedy this evil? The bishop of Cebu finds no other remedy than
the creation of another bishopric, and the division into two parts of
this most extensive diocese, as he has already declared. Consequently
he proposes it, in order to lay the burden of his conscience on that
of your Majesty; and so that he may not have to give account for his
negligence to the Supreme Judge. If your Majesty considers it fitting
to approve this so useful and even so necessary proposition, your
bishop is of the opinion, as he has already intimated, that the see
of the new bishopric can be determined, and that it may be entitled
the bishopric of Panay or of Jaro--which is a well-populated village,
as I have said above. Its foundation and administration belongs to the
calced Augustinian fathers, as does that of almost all the villages
of that so fierce and fertile island. Your Majesty might show it the
favor to allow it to be entitled hereafter 'the Christian city.'

"Since the Augustinian