The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume 43, 1670-1700 Explorations by early navigators, descriptions of the islands and their peoples, their history and records of the Catholic missions, as related in contemporaneous books and manuscripts, showing the political, economic, commercial and religious conditions of those islands from their earliest relations with European nations to the close of the nineteenth century

The volume chronicles the Dominican Order’s expansion across the Philippine islands in the late seventeenth century, tracing how fresh waves of Spanish missionaries reshaped the spiritual and everyday lives of local communities. It details the rivalry with the Recollects, the political leverage of Archbishop Felipe Pardo, and the strategic role of soldiers who escorted fledgling villages into what the friars deemed a “civilized” existence. Through vivid anecdotes—such as a priest who read a man’s pulse to expose murderers—and glimpses of agricultural training, the narrative paints a picture of both devotion and domination.

A substantial appendix turns the focus toward the diverse peoples of Mindanao and the lingering folk beliefs in places like Nueva Ecija, inviting readers to compare these customs with early colonial accounts. The text balances ecclesiastical ambition with ethnographic curiosity, revealing how children became the first bridge between missionaries and resistant adults. While the Dominicans celebrate modest successes, the work also hints at the persistent undercurrents of indigenous worship that continued to challenge their efforts.