Zambales
were the calced Augustinian fathers. Because of the lack of the above
religious, the captain-general of these islands and their metropolitan
cabildo entreated the vicar-provincial of the Recollects to assign
religious for the spiritual cultivation of that unfilled vineyard. In
the year one thousand six hundred and nine, our laborers went to
Zambales, although visits had been made two years previously by those
who were laboring in the province of Bataan, in order to increase the
gospel seed. The meekness and resignation of the fathers in the midst
of so much wretchedness and hardship arrested the attention of those
barbarians; and the fathers succeeded in catechizing and converting
many through their gentleness and kind treatment, and reduced them
to settlements.

The Recollect fathers were charged with the spiritual administration
of this province until the year one thousand six hundred and
seventy-nine. In that year, being obliged to go to take charge of the
province of Mindoro, and to preach the holy gospel there, they were
forced to hand over the missions of Zambales--eleven in number--to
the Dominican fathers, who assumed charge of them.

After the lapse of some years, and without explanation of the causes
which could induce the above-mentioned Dominican fathers to cease
to give spiritual food to those Christian communities with their
accustomed zeal, it is a fact that the discalced Augustinians
again took charge of that province, by the month of October, one
thousand seven hundred and twelve; and again undertook the direction
and continuation of their spiritual conquests until the year one
thousand seven hundred and eighty-five, when they were compelled
once more to leave it, for lack of religious. The secular priests
assumed the missions, with the exception of the mission of Botolan,
which was retained by the Recollects until one thousand eight hundred
and fourteen. There was a residence for the missionaries in each
of the villages, and even in various visitas there were suitable
churches and convents of cut stone, when we left this province in
the last century. On assuming it anew in the year one thousand eight
hundred and thirty-six, the father provincial of the Recollects,
Fray Blas de las Mercedes, attested that only ruins and desolation
were found. Since that time they have labored without ceasing in the
beautifying and adorning of the house of God, restoring the old ruins
and building anew; until