As the inhabitants of the island of Ibabao are scattered along the coast and shores of the sea, it has been necessary to despatch thither, on missions, three fathers and three brethren, during most of the year, who instruct the people with the excellent results that are wont to accrue from such missions.  In these the harvest has been very large, the divine grace corresponding to the earnest desires of those fathers, and with their labors and perils.  Nearly all the time they are journeying by sea, sailing along the coast of this and other adjacent islands, and crossing from one to another, never without danger.  They have become fishermen of souls, casting their nets for the heavenly catch—­from these journeys returning to Tinagon, where, as we have said, is the house of their residence.  This residence cares for fourteen villages, large and small.  During the year, there have been baptized therein three thousand six hundred and eighty persons, most of them adults.  Father Alonso de Umanes, superior of the residence, Father Manuel Martinez, and Father Juan de San Lucar formed six principal missions, each father with his companion being assigned to certain villages.  Father Alonso de Umanes writes that in the first mission two hundred and sixty-nine persons were converted to Christianity, eighty of whom were children, and the rest adults.

In this mission two small and isolated islands were visited, concerning which Father Juan de San Lucar writes to the father-visitor, as follows:  “Knowing the satisfaction which your Reverence receives when we render to you an account of our missions, I will now tell you of the last one which I made in the two little islets of Maripipi and Limancauayan, which for more than two years had not been visited by any priest.  The people were most eager to have some father to instruct them; and when they knew that Brother Francisco Martin and I were going to them, they made a great feast, and adorned with branches of trees the streets of the village, and the shore as far as the church.  The boys and girls came forth, singing the doctrine and bearing a cross, which was to me a most gratifying reception.  Afterward, in the church, I thanked them with tears for the affection which they showed us.  From the time of our arrival until we departed from those islands, they were continually bringing us gifts from the products of the land, such as wax, rice, and bananas, and other articles of more value.  When I undertook to make a list of those who sought baptism, they asked me not to do so, since all those who were not converted (who were very few) desired to become Christians; so I did as they wished.  The old men, who elsewhere are usually obdurate and stubborn, and answer that they are now too old to learn the doctrine and begin a new manner of life, here used this very same argument to induce me to baptize them, saying:  ’Father, consider that we are already old, and soon shall end our lives; do not let us die without baptism, since we are so anxious to be Christians.’  With this good disposition on their part, I began to preach to them, and our Lord was pleased that they should all become Christians.  They not orly learned the doctrine, but discussed together the sermons and instructions in the church and in their houses; indeed, so concerned were they about this matter that they seemed to pay no attention to anything else.