When San Francisco saved Manila from earthquake

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Part of The American Chamber of Commerce Journal

Title: When San Francisco saved Manila from earthquake
Language: English
Source: The American Chamber of Commerce Journal Volume 7 (Issue No. 10) October 1927
Year: 1927
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Fulltext: THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL October, 1927* When San Francisco Saved Manila From Earthquake Fourth Paper Mission Trail Series: Ancient Power of Saints Z' Manila is well connected with the world in these days, both radio and cable would flash the news of any peril she might be in, and ships sailing 30 knots an hour would come to her relief, if necessary, from their business on the China coast; so that, as she is not sick, she is not the saintly metropolis she was of old, when there was no telegraph, no steamboat, and nothing but a single galleon a year from Mexico, which, waited for so frequently by the ships of those heretic nations, England and Holland, might never arrive in port. The Spanish colony indeed comprised but a handful of men, the friars, the civil officials and the troops, and besides the perils of attack by sea there was the constant danger of uprisings of the Indios or Chinese within the city itself. The citadel, or walled city, was the material reiuge; no Chinese, save he were baptized a Christian, was allowed to live there, and the native population as well was outside the walls. But the principal reliance was the God whose crucified son’s doctrine of salvation was being established in the Far East for the redemption of barbarian mankind. The saints never deserted the evangelists, though of course these holy men advised the secular authorities to keep their powder dry. It was an age of simple faith and primitive impulses. As the subject of this paper is the Franciscan friars, whose missions will be tabu lated in the November issue, let the reader glance into their monastery church in the walled city and observe what is venerated there. In this way he will best gain an accurate impression of the faith that entered into the building of these ancient and noble piles, a faith which most remarkably preserved Spain’s most remote and unprofitable colony and induced Philip II to swear, perhaps with some exaggeration not uncommon to the period, that he would give his kingdom in ransom for a single pagan soul. The Franciscan church in Intramuros was originally built of bamboo and nipa at the ex pense of Marshal Gabriel de Rivera and Captain Martin de la Rea. The monks took solemn possession of it in the same year, 1577, August 2, and dedicated it to Our Lady of the Angels, “having at the same time the extreme good fortune to be the first to maintain intact (que conservaron reservado) the august and most divine sacrament of the eucharist in these islands.’* In 1583 the original church and convent burned down and the same benefactors of the mission built another of wood and tile. “In 1602 it was built for the third time, at the expense of the indefatigable and singular piety of Marshal Rivera, who soon afterward assumed the habit and confessed the Franciscan faith in this prov ince. The church and the greater part of the convent was destroyed in 1739, ahd the edifice of masonry and timber pillars still existing was then built. On November 5 of that year the corner stone was laid by Sr. Brigadier D. Gaspar de la Torre y Ayala, of His Majesty’s council, gentleman of the royal camara, governor and captain general of these islands. “Building proceeded under the direction of Sr. D. Juan Manuel Perez de Tagle, Marquis de las Salinas, knight of Calatrava, and our special benefactor. Although the church is not large, it is much more spacious than those gener ally belonging to our order. In the earthquake of 1824 the tower was destroyed, and was after ward rebuilt; in the earthquake of June 3, 1863, a good deal of the roof and the southern wall of the main chapel were demolished. “The devotion felt by Manila and all the Philippines for the seraph of Assisi, and have felt from the beginning, is not to be explained by the easy credulity of the natives nor the impas sioned orations of holy men.” Here the old chronicler, Fray Felix Huerta, who wrote during the period when he was min ister to the lepers in San Lazaro hospital (a Franciscan charity 300 years old which will be treated with the rest in a future paper), tells how, in the uprising of the Chinese of the Parian October 3, 1603, St. Francis mounted the walls with a flaming sword in his hand to defend the city, as was established in the subsequent judicial investigation by the most respectable witnesses, “including even the enemy, especially 400 prisoners who, sentenced to death, were baptized, and each was given the name of Francisco in honor of such a singular portent.” Having been thus saved, they were shot. Francis was officially made the Seraphic Custodian of Manila, and patron and protector of the city, and his intervention on behalf of the colony is regularly celebrated unto this day. In Spanish days these annual rejoicings on October 3 were attended by the governor and captain general, the archbishop and both the secular and ecclesiastical councils as well as the supreme court. In 1692 the court for some reason, no doubt a quarrel between the church and state authorities, found it inconvenient to attend, but a protest was raised to the king, who compelled the court’s future attendance by his royal decree of December 17, 1694. This famous image of St. Francis is kept at the Santa Clara convent chapel, where it may be seen; but on October 4 yearly it is taken out of the chapel in solemn procession to the chapel of the Franciscans, protectors of the Claire nuns, Dominican and Franciscan friars partici pating in the ceremony and a Dominican, by interorder courtesy, preaching the sermon. After the ceremony in the church, the hospitality of the Franciscans is enjoyed and in the after noon another procession like the first returns the image to its sanctuary with the nuns. Another image of St. Francis worshiped at the Franciscan church is the first which was placed in the original building of bamboo and SDCDNY TRADE MARK MOTOR OILS IN RESPONDING TO ADVERTISEMENTS PLEASE MENTION THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL October, 1927 THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL 9 nipa. It also had its eminent part in the sal vation of Manila. In 1619 it was given to the Franciscans of Dilao (Paco) by Fray Pedro de San Pablo, then provincial of the Franciscans of the Philippines, for their processions. In 1630, another image having been donated for the processions, D. Alonso Cuyapit, the native principal of Dilao, took the first image to his house and erected an altar for it in one of the rooms which he converted into a private chapel. Earthquakes of the year 1645 continued from November 30 until December 4 and besides terrorizing the community threatened the destruction of the city and its mural defenses. St. Francis was moved with compassion. His image left the little altar in Cuyapit’s house and rested on a box at a window overlooking the stricken city. It was put back upon the altar, but it again removed itself to the window, where it displayed signs of anguish and wept copiously, according to reliable witnesses who testified in the usual judicial inquiry into these surprising miracles. So it did a third time, and a fourth. It bent upon its knees at the window, where its weeping and anguish at tracted such general notice as at last reached the ear of officialdom. The authorities im mediately decided to return the image to Manila, for which purpose a procession was ordered, and joined in gladly by all the people. The tremors of the earth ceased as soon as Christian feet in the holy march began treading its surface. The sky cleared and wind softened so that not one of the thousands of candles was blown out. The public emotion exceeded all bounds and the gratitude of householders for the intervention of the second crucified one was attested in the most astounding rejoicing. One must believe, because Father Huerta has it all from the contemporary records of the monastery. This happened December 4, 1645; and in the evening of December 4 this year Manilans will have the opportunity to observe the repetition of the ceremony and see the image borne along by the multitude. The image of Christ in the Sepulcher venerated at the Franciscan church dates from 1735 and was the gift of Captain D. Francisco Cosio y Mier to the monastery. The pious soldier declared that being desirous of presenting such an image to the church, he went into the forest to select wood proper for making it, and found a tree in the shape of a cross from which he deter mined to take it. Having obtained the wood, he was in despair about finding a sculptor skill ful enough to fashion the image, so he knelt and sought divine aid. When he arose, a strange Spaniard was standing near him who said he was from Granada. He gave this man welcome in his home, told him his difficulty, and the stranger, who was a carpenter—miraculously, one perceives—told him that the Lord commanded him to do the statue. Thereupon the carpenter asked for tools, which were all supplied him; and then he locked himself in a room converted into a workshop until the statue was finished. “He then requested me,” says Captain Cosio, "to bring him a confessor to administer the sacrament, because on the fifth day hence he would die. I did so, and he died on the fifth day as he had believed he would.” Such was the ancient faith of the islands. And why not today? Is it not in the books? Were not the witnesses unimpeachable? But, fifty years ago Spain went republican and revolu tionary, and heresy skeptical of the miraculous insinuated itself into the minds of men even in this colony, where present welfare rather than humble devotion in the hope of future rewards began to be talked about and desired. The friars rebuked it, but could not keep it away. The monarchy was soon restored and the mailed fist came down hard, but despite all another day had definitely dawned in the world; it was the era of science, and its light had reached the Philippines. It wants everything proved by mathematical rule and compass and not by judicial investigations, and the things of the spirit don’t always submit themselves to rules and compasses. The friars, puzzled, think it more than passing strange that men may live upon the very site of all these wondrous works and yet not believe in them; for they were certainly very real in their time. By faith ye can remove mountains. Some of the scientists are bold enough to say that in the degree man feels his helplessness he leans upon heaven, and as the modification of institutions and improve ment of tools add to his self reliance he grows proud and independent of heaven’s intervention. It may be. But what of the day, it must have been in 1623, when the Taycosama of Japan crucified the Central America New Abaca Field for United States NOTE.—The Philippines lose because of inanition, subsist in penury because determined seemingly . times and under all conditions to trust in the Lord without helping themselves. The president of the Chamber of Commerce, Captain H. L. Heath, demonstrated in a recent article published in this Journal that Sumatra has the jump on the Philippines in abac&: Sumatra produces first rate fiber better standardized by economical methods utilizing machinery to the utmost and hand labor to the least degree possible. He suggested that unless the Philippines undertake timely reforms, they will gradually forfeit preeminence in the manila hemp field which up to date constitutes a monopoly. But Senator Alegre and others were at once ready with the usual cold water with rainbows lurking in the bottom of the pool. No, the Philippines couldn’t change; no, there was really no cause for alarm. Well, neither as sumption is at all correct: the Philippines can change their farm methods in manila hemp as in any other crop: it is all a question of financing and executive interests getting together, the planters and their financial backers or bankers, and there is real cause for alarm about bigger-scale plantations of manila hemp outside the Phil ippines both in the East and West Indies. The Journal doesn’t care to repeat what the newspapers have been saying on the subject, but reproduces the latest report from Central America.—ED. Experimentation looking toward the estab lishment of abaca plantations in different sections of Central America are being carried on by the Department of Agriculture, according to a statement just issued. Fiber from the abaca plant, sometimes known as manila hemp, is largely used in making manila rope. The entire world’s supply of the fiber now comes from the Philippines, with the exception of a few hundred bales produced in Netherlands East Indies. A collection of approximately 1,400 selected plants were brought from the Philippines to the Canal Zone during the summer of 1925. Thus far the plants have made a satisfactory growth, but it will be necessary to continue experimental work for at least two years before it can be ejetermined whether or not it will be practicable to produce abaca on a commercial scale in tropical America, according to the statement. The full text of the statement follows: Assures Plentiful Supplies In order that United States may be assured a plentiful supply of rope at reasonable prices the United States Department of Agriculture is making an effort to establish plantations of abaca in different sections of Central America. Fiber from the abaca plant, sometimes known as manila hemp, is used largely in making manila twenty-three martyrs at Nagasaki and put the city to fire and sword because it had accepted Christ? San Pedro Bautista was among them, the Franciscan who had prepared himself for the sacrifice by mortifications and penance at the sanctuary of San Francisco del Monte; but there were Jesuits and Dominicans and Recollects too, and some were women. The oil painting of their martyrdom hangs in a little chapel at the Franciscan monastery. Pope Pio IX cano nized them all on June 8, 1862. All Spaniards in the islands are expected to revere their memory. Preparations for the hanging of the memorial in the chapel consumed six months and two million reales, and no such gorgeous ceremonies ever occurred in the islands before or since. They were the entire order of the day for nine consecutive days, a novenario, and honored by the highest officials. Delegations poured into Manila from all surrounding villages, each with their particular cross and standard. Three military companies led the march, and cannons volleyed and bells rang loud as the procession filed along the streets. At the cost of the city, the Very Noble and Ever Loyal City of Manila, a castle of powder was set up on the Plaza de Armas, now Plaza McKinley, and burned that first evening as a part of the brilliant illumina tions. And so on, day after day, the emotions of the people rising to greater and greater heights of enthusiasm. This was the Christian answer in the 17th century to the pagan crime. “The Ayuntamiento, upon the ecclesiastical author ization, nominated the martyrs patrons of the city May 20, 1631, promising to celebrate their fiesta every year and to contribute annually eight cirios and 24 candles, as is done to this day.” Huerta wrote in 1865. rope, and the entire world’s supply of the fiber now comes from the Philippines, with the ex ception of a few hundred bales produced in Netherlands India. More than one-third .of the fiber produced is used in the United States, and the present production is barely sufficient to meet the world demand. Many of the abaca growers are now planting coconuts in the fields that were formerly planted to abaca and two different plant diseases that have appeared during recent years have either damaged or entirely destroyed the abaca crop on limited areas. It has been apparent, in view of these conditions, that an effort should be made to establish the abaca industry in tropical regions other than the Philippines. Luzon Brokerage Co. Derham Building Port Area SPACE for RENT OFFICES Automobiles by Month General Merchandise Bonded Cargo Rates Reasonable Furnished on Application Tel. 2-24-21 Available now—should be in big demand soon! TAKE ADVANTAGE IN RESPONDING TO ADVERTISEMENTS PLEASE MENTION THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL