Custom of the
Tagalogs
Juan de Plasencia
Juan Portocarrero
Born
to
the
illustrious
family
of
Portocarreros in Plasensia in the region of
Extremadura, Spain in the early 16th
century. He was one of the seven children of
Pedro Portocarrero, a captain of a Spanish
schooner.
Background of the
Author
Juan de Plasencia grew up during the period
known as the Siglo de Oro, a Golden Age
when arts and literature flourished in many
parts of Spain, among them his native
Extremadura.
✣
Fray Joan de Puerto Carrero, del convento
deVillanueva de la Serena. Was his real
name.
ARRIVAL IN THE
PHILIPPINES
✣
Fray Juan de Plasencia came together
with the first batch of Franciscan
missionaries in the Philippines.
✣
Arrived at a port in Cavite, a few
kilometers south
of Manila on the 2nd of July 1578.
Purpose: Relacion de las
Costumbres and
Instruccion
✣
To put an end to some
injustices being committed
against the natives by certain
government officials.
“The chronicler, Francis enemies, and so I can hardly
express the sadness I feel any time the news of such
incidents reach my ears or I myself am involved;
however, if one is to choose between enmity and
friendship and between peace and war, I believe enmity is
to be preferred. For considering the kind of persons most
of the alcaldes mayores are nowadays, nothing indicates
that friendship with them will help the missions in any
way. On the contrary, it will destroy them. Because, as I
have observed, you can hardly find one that is not blinded
and moved by greediness, thus destroying his own soul as
well as the lives and possessions of the poor Indians.”
Life in the Philippines
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