The leading events in the city of Santissimo Nombre de Jesus. Chapter
XXXXI.


As a result of the favors bestowed upon the six resident members of the
Society by the right reverend bishop of Sebu, Don Fray Pedro de Agurto,
a religious of the Order of St. Augustine (who entered this year
into his church and erected it into a cathedral), the fruits of our
ministries were at this time most abundant and prosperous. As I have
already stated, these were exercised among the various nationalities
who inhabit that city, or who resort thither from various regions for
their business and traffic. Likewise, at the instance of his lordship,
a school of Latin was opened in our college for his servants and
clergy, who were joined by the sons of some of the citizens. This
school was not only a common and general benefit, but also very useful
as a retreat and aid for those who in the school for children were
already advanced in reading, writing, and reckoning. Although many
of the boys remained in the lower school as pupils, a considerable
number of students began the study of grammar with the new master,
Father Francisco Vicente Puche, who as an initiation to the studies,
and as a welcome to the bishop, gave with his students a two-hours'
dramatic representation in the cathedral, in honor of his Lordship,
which proved most agreeable, learned, dignified, and devout, and gave
extraordinary pleasure to all the citizens, who had never before seen
such a thing in their city.

There were two Indian peoples among whom we were especially laboring
at that time: one the Bissayans, who are the natives of that country,