they have succeeded in making the churches
worthy the majesty of the Catholic worship--already having, besides,
suitable edifices for the residences of their missionaries.

[The order has the spiritual charge of the following villages: Subic,
with 761 1/2 tributes, and 2,749 souls; Castillejos, with 917 1/2
tributes, and 4,013 souls; San Marcelino, with 1,165 1/2 tributes,
and 4,847 souls; San Antonio, with 1,053 tributes, and 4,722 souls;
San Narciso, with 1,564 1/2 tributes, and 7,597 souls; San Felipe,
with 1,262 tributes, and 5,063 souls; Cabangaan, with 685 tributes,
and 2,584. souls; Iba, with 1,007 tributes, and 3,896 souls; Palauig,
with 761 tributes, and 3,380 souls; Botolan, with 1,374 tributes, and
5,200 souls; Masinloc, with 1,647 tributes, and 6,541 souls; Bolinao,
with 1,795 tributes, and 5,971 souls; Bani, with 1,036 1/2 tributes,
and 4,288 souls; Santa Cruz, with 1,753 1/2 tributes, and 7,366 souls;
Balincaguin, with 1,122 1/2 tributes, and 4,138 souls; Alaminos,
with 1,669 tributes, and 7,436 souls; Agno, with 1,271 tributes, and
4,971 souls; Dasol, with 781 tributes, and 2,697 souls; San Isidro,
with 597 tributes, and 2,337 souls; and Anda, with 833 tributes,
and 3,180 souls.]

Province of Cavite

Coincident with the time of their arrival at Manila, the discalced
Augustinians began to labor in the conversion of the infidels who
inhabit the provinces conterminous to the capital. They dedicated
themselves with apostolic zeal to the preaching of the gospel and
the administration of the sacraments, with their gaze directed
to the needs of the future. They paid attention to what would be
found by experience, in succeeding times, to be a convenience and
a necessity--namely, to have convents of the Observance in the most
important settlements of the archipelago, in order to give shelter to
the religious worn out in the tasks of preaching; while at the same
time those houses were to serve as the base for their premeditated
plan, to establish in these islands the corporation of which they
were members, in a perfectly organized condition.

They founded the convent of Cavite, by apostolic and royal authority,
in the year one thousand six hundred and sixteen. It was dedicated
to St. Nicholas of Tolentino, was constructed solidly, and was
spacious, with a church which was suitable for the functions of
worship. Cavite was a suitable point, because of its great commerce
and the foreigners who go there in th