Friars in Spanish Philippines

The Spanish friars were the crucial elements in the Westernization of the Philippines, and in spreading the Christian faith in that part of the world.

After the conquistadores brought the Filipinos under the rule of the Spanish crown, either by peaceful means of treaties and pacts or, alternatively, by war, Spain did send large standing armies to maintain its empire in the East.

The apostolic zeal of the missionaries followed the efforts of men such as Miguel López de Legazpi, and aided to consolidate the enterprise of Hispanicizing the Philippines.

[1] Commenting on the very small standing army that protected the Spanish government in the Philippines, an old viceroy of New Spain was quoted: "En cada fraile tenía el Rey en Filipinas un capitan general y un ejercito entero (In each friar in the Philippines the King had a captain general and a whole army").

He was also influential because of his knowledge of the native language and his ordinarily long stay in a town.