The Letter of Fray

Domingo Salazar

to the King of Spain MANILA

June 24, 1590

- Student of the “School of Salamanca” which was a group of university-based theologians renowned for their work on moral philosophy and legal thought.

- Arrived in Manila in 1581

- Served as the First Bishop of the Philippines

1st Paragraph:

• Five decrees of your Majesty came to me this year of ninety in the ship “Santiago”.

• After pursuing the contents of the said decrees, I can truly not restrain my surprise that there can be men in the world who dare to say and declare things which are not certainly proved to be truth.

• Such persons may properly be called destroyers of their countries.

• This commonwealth is subjected to many hardships and misfortunes.

• This letter will appear by my reply to each decree—not as an excuse for myself, as I consider myself to be very rightly judged elsewhere; but in order to satisfy your Majesty, as I shall proceed to relate.

First decree:Treats of the confessions of the conquerors that they being constrained to make restitution in solidum [entire sum: whole].

Fray Salazar:From investigations which I have had made regarding those persons who inflicted the injuries, I am assured that the sum collected as restitution do not amount to the hundredth part of the valuation of the damages.

Second Decree:

Orders that when Sangleys [Chinese] wish to baptized, their hair shall not be cutoff.

Fray Salazar:I would not decide to have their cut off, if it were not so necessary not to do so would be to endanger greatly the faith and the persons with whom I dealt with.

Third decree:States that there are many ecclesiastics [priests or members of the clergy] in the bishopric who trade and carry on traffic, to the great scandal of and bad example to both Spaniards and Indians.

Fray Salazar:More than 1 and ½ years before this decree came, I had taken measures to correct the excess which might result, having ordered that no ecclesiastic should carry on traffic.

Fourth Decree:Commands Salazar to take the place belonging to him – regarding to the issue of boundary of power and position between him and the President of Audencia [royal court of justice].

Fray Salazar:This order means that I take the same place which I took then, as that is the proper place belonging to bishop, without giving any cause whatever to Audienca to feel injured, as places are very distinct from each other.

Fifth decree:

Commands Salazar to end the issue about the Audiencia’s accusation that he did not permit a report to be made in regards to the cases of fuerca [indicates violence to law, done by ecclesiastical judges] and he seize the writs and records of proceedings from the notary so that they cannot be issued.

The accusation was based on: (Salazar)

1. When they erased my name from the mass of the Audencia, and substituted their own names.

2. When, in an investigation, they claimed the right to examined the proceedings, I refused to give up the records in one instance because therein very secret matters touching the office of Inquisition, of which I was then in charge.

Fray Salazar: • I even urge the notary to give a

report and I am so far from what has been said to the contrary, that I assure your Majesty that I much regretted the suppression of the Audiencia.

• In the case touching the honor of clergy [religious leaders], I could not comply, for it would been impossible to do so without very grave damage to my office.

• It was not right to exhibit the guilt of others, as they did not feel that their sentences were unjust.

• Both then and now I have felt much aggrieved by the injustice done me by the Audiencia.

University of MakatiSocial Sciences Department

Presented by: I-A Educ (Group Mabini)

Abainza, Jerrom E. Anda, Jazzel C. Bautista, Regina T. Boco, Resa M. Cruz, Kristine G. Danao, Carlos Jr. B. Mendiola, Rosie C. Pacalundo, Reema M. Rotia, Joy Cindy M. Sanggalang, Mark Ryan B. Tacaisan, Arvelyn D. Wenceslao, Debnie May F.

Soc Sci 1 Professor:

Prof. Tessie Tapiador – Sagadraca

~ END ~

THANK YOU!