When the term of the three years of his government had expired, the day assigned by our rules for the celebration of the new provincial chapter in the Manila convent of San Pablo arrived, namely, May three, 1659. Father Fray Dionisio Suárez, senior definitor of the former chapter, presided. Our father Fray Diego de Ordás was elected for the second time as provincial, by universal accord; but with many objections on his side, for he made as many efforts as possible to escape the election. But the urging of all the capitulars--or, to speak more truly, the great prudence and religious zeal with which he had governed the first time when he was elected, in the year 1647--was opposed to his resistance. This province has always been very cautious in not handing over the helm of its government to new pilots, even when it has possessed such, skilled and experienced; for more often the election results with but little satisfaction if one trusts to appearances, which are wont to be costly to good government.... The system and composition of this province is very different from those of the others in Europa, and needs another kind of competency than what they demand; and so one learns by the road of experience, in which there is usually less error. There is no greater assurance for victory than having already conquered. [Some further reflections similar to the above follow.] As definitors were elected fathers Fray Pedro Mejia, Fray Pablo Maldonado, Fray Juan de Borja, and Fray José Duque. [98] The visitors elected were the father lecturer Fray Antonio Carrión [99] and Fray Isidro Rodríguez. [100] They enacted some very useful ordinances for the good government of the province, and the better prosecution of gospel preaching, to the observance of which great attention was paid during their triennium.
["All the ten years' term of the government of the prudent and magnanimous governor, Don Sabiniano Manrique de Lara, were a fatal period of troubles and disasters, such as these islands had never suffered, so great and continued were they." A eulogy and partial sketch of the governor follows. Losses of ships, men, and money, and the scanty reënforcements sent from Nueva España--only a hundred soldiers having arrived, while as many have died on the way--are dwelt on. "In addition to that, four galleons had been wrecked, which buried more than five hundred men in these seas--a loss which was the final blow to the prosperity of these islands.... One million pesos was all the aid that Don Sabiniano received in ten years, although in years when there were fewer demands on the treasury five hundred thousand were sent from Nueva España annually. And the least cost of the construction of a galleon is sixty thousand, and they are very frequently wrecked because of the turbulence of the seas." The author mentions a number of disastrous shipwrecks occurring at various times in the islands, describing especially that of the "Victoria" in 1660, which had been sent to Zamboanga and Ternate with reënforcements of men. That wreck occurs while sailing from Iloilo to Zamboanga, and all hands are lost--among them being three Jesuits, Father Francisco Roa, [101] the provincial of the Society, Father José Pimentel, [102] and the lay-brother, Lorenzo de Alba. [103] The chapter closes with the beginning of the insurrection of the Pampangos in 1660, "the most warlike and noble people in these islands, and near Manila."]