Miguel of Benavides
ca. 1550-25.07.1615
A brief history of the arrival
of the Dominicans on the Philippines.
A brief biography.
Miguel de Benavides was born ca 1550 in Varrión de los Condes (Palencia) and
joined the
Dominican Order in the
priory San Pablo of Valladolid 1570. He
studied at the Colegio de San Gregorio in Valladolid, received the priesthood
and was lector in his priory. After
the arrival in Manila of the Augustinians (1565), Franciscans (24.6. 1577) and
Jesuits (1581), Miguel of Benavides sailed
with
the first band of Dominican missionaries
in 1586 from Spain to Veracruz and reached the Philippines 15 July 1587
Bishop
Domingo de Salazar, O.P., the
first Bishop of the See of Manila (1578),
asked him and other Dominicans
to take the pastoral care
of the Chinese People in Manila. They built the
hospital of San Gabriel for them.
1590 de Benavides visited China and in 1591 he accompanied Bishop Dominic of Salazar to Spain, who pleads the cause of the Filipinos before the King. De Salazar was nominated ArchBishop of Manila, with suffragan sees at Cebu, Nueva cáceres, and Nueva Segovia (Vigan). To these were added the Diocese of Jaro, in 1865, and four other dioceses, in 1902.
Salazar died at Madrid, 4 Dec.1594, before receiving the Bulls of his appointment from the Pope. The first ArchBishop to reach Manila was the Franciscan, Ignacio de Santibañez. He took possession of his see in 1598, but died three months later.
After
three years Miguel de Benavides, O.P. the
first Bishop of Nueva
Segovia in Northern Luzon. was appointed on
23.2.1601 the ArchBishop of
Manila.
He was the founder of the Colegio de
Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario, later renamed
Colegio de Santo Tomás in
memory of the Dominican theologian,
Thomas Aquinas.
Miguel de Benavides died 26 July 1605.
Philately
Miguel de Benavides, O.P., since
23.2.1601
the ArchBishop
of
Manila.in conference with his
executors
Bernardo de Santa Catalina, O.P. and Baltasar
Fort,
O.P.
about the foundation of a
college
in Manila.
In the
background the front of the university
building.
Philippines 1987, Mi 1819, Sc 1894.
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