Philippines, had arrived. The problems which faced him were manifold,
particularly those of ecclesiastical jurisdiction, the treatment of the
natives by government administrators, and the means by which the gospel
could best be spread. A synod was called to resolve these points. One
matter of the utmost importance was the approval of standard Tagalog
texts, and Juan de la Concepcion gives the following account of what
transpired in this connection:


"His excellency presided at the meetings. At them the most
learned topics were discussed and the most learned persons
were present--the Dominican father Salvatierra, the most
outstanding scholars among the Augustinians and Franciscans,
the Jesuit fathers Sedeño and Sanchez, and the Licentiate
Don Diego Vasquez de Mercado as dean of the new cathedral. At
this convention or diocesan synod it was discussed whether the
Indians were to be ministered to in their native language, or
if they would be obliged to learn Spanish, and it was decided
to instruct them in their native tongue. The divine office,
the Doctrina Christiana, which Father Fr. Juan de Plasencia
had translated into the Tagalog language, was approved. His
work, the _Arte y Vocabuldrio Tagalo_, was judged most useful
because of the ease by which it permitted an understanding
and thorough knowledge of so foreign a language." [78]


The already quoted account of Santa Inés continues with a similar
description of the Synod, and says that when the problem of teaching
the natives was brought up only Plasencia could resolve it.