The very devout and pious gentleman Don Bernardino del Castillo Ribera y Maldonado was so good a benefactor to our discalced that his generosity, which could not be satisfied within the circuit of the walls of Manila, desired that we should make an experiment about one-half legua from them.  There as he had an estate which occupied all that site, called Calumpan, to the boundaries of a little village named Sampolog, and in its midst a well-built bit of a house, he made an entire gift of it, so that a monastery might be built, in which the religious could live retired, and, free from the excitement of the city, give themselves up with more quietness to prayer.  Father Fray Rodrigo de San Miguel—­whose heroic labors will give us considerable of which to write—­took possession of the estate, and remodeled the said house in the form of a convent.  The aforesaid master-of-camp and castellan of the fort, Don Bernardino, was of great help, and it was completed in time.  The said village of Sampolog was assigned to the care of the religious, so that the more than three hundred souls that it contained should be instructed and taught there by them.

The comfort of the site was increased, so that the provincials have chosen it as their place of habitation, because of the quiet that is enjoyed there, as well as for its pleasantness, which serves as a just recreation to the continual fatigue that their government brings with it.  One would believe that God looked on that house with pleasure, for, during the cruel rising of the Sangleys, or Chinese, it suffered no considerable damage, although they set fire to it in various parts with the desire of leaving not even a memory of it.  We piously believe that the queen of the angels, our Lady, defended it, as being her dwelling; for a very holy image is revered there, under the title of Carmen.  Although that image is small in stature, it is a great and perennial spring of prodigies and favors, which she performs for those who invoke her.  Our religious took it from Nueva Espana, and even in that very navigation she was able to make herself known by her miracles.

Don Juan Velez, dean of that cathedral, was very devoted to our discalced Recollects.  Upon finding himself in the last extremity of life, to which a very severe illness brought him, he requested that that holy image, which had been but recently taken there, be carried to his house.  So lively was his faith, accompanied by the prayers of the religious, that he immediately received entire health on account of so celestial a visit.  As a thank-offering for that favor, the pious prebendary made one of the most famous feasts that have been in that city.  He founded a brotherhood, with so many brethren that they exceed four thousand.  Consequently, that most holy image is daily frequented with vows, presents, and novenas, thank-offerings of the many who are daily favored by that queen of the skies.

Finally, in this year of our narration was sent the sixth mission of religious, which the father procurator, Fray Francisco de la Madre de Dios, arranged in Espana for those islands; and he obtained by his great energy authority from the Catholic monarch to take twelve religious there to increase the number of the laborers in the vineyard of the Lord.