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We, the nobility of the three visitas,
Palanyag, Las Piñas, and San Nicolas, who have affixed signatures here [and] those who know how
to write, and those who do not know have entrusted to others who know how to write
to sign on their behalf, humbly give our utmost
respect to our most reverend father provincial
on the occasion of his visit to the convent and church of our town.
We declare that shame and trouble have filled our
minds on the recent tumult of which everyone has been aware and which
His Reverence has also heard about. Those who claim to speak on behalf of the townsfolk of Palanyag
and yet are ignorant claim that we, too, are involved
in the said tumult, which is why we have been compelled
to craft this document as an apologia, especially to disprove the allegations
that we, the people of Palanyag, are displeased with our former fathers and masters,
the Augustinian priests, and that we are supposedly appealing to the most illustrious archbishop to assign
another clerical order to administer us.
We take exception to the said appeal and we do not share
the same sentiments with those who have made that appeal.
The priests of Saint Augustine have been our longtime fathers and masters,
whose gracious protection and care for us, their adoptive children,
have led us to see the light of having faith in
the Holy Trinity. They have been responsible for removing the blindfolds wrapped around our
dull minds, and through their zealous teaching of the doctrine,
the dull and short-sighted minds of us pitiful Tagalogs of Palanyag have been enveloped in a brilliant light.
For their efforts in administering us night and day,
we are bound to unconditionally repay them, and we recognize
this great debt of ours towards them. And apart from this, they have helped in saving the townsfolk
to the point that they have sacrificed their own well-being, and in such cases, they ask help
from their leader and provincial, who has indeed helped them and is one who truly cares. Thus,
to our master, our most reverend father provincial, we appeal and we plead to him
that we be exempted from the wrath and resentment towards those who do not know how to recognize
their indebtedness which we have elaborated above. What we request
is that we be given protection and mercy.
Don Juan Mamonong