diced b Jos e S. Arc a, - non

Some values essential to the primitive ideal appear to have been keptfaithfully through the centuries, like, for example, care for the sick,communal poverty, preference for the humbler social groups, the "people,"as we say today. It is true less emphasis is now placed on personal witness,but at the same time, one notices a growth in the cultural level of themissionaries. Unfortunately, none of these factors is quantifiable andtherefore not worth the effort insisting on them.Because of possible defects of certain individuals, and there were anumber of them certainly, it would also be good to indicate the exceptional,human and religious qualities of more members of the Franciscan order in thePhilippines. Just to cite an example in the history of the country which we areconcerned with, there is one Franciscan friar whom we ought to rank amongthe best, Fray Felix Huerta."` Fray Felix was not only a full-bodied man, butan excellent religious, a first-class historian, a tireless advocate to uplift thesocial situation of the Filipinos, and, at the same time, a Franciscanrecognized for his humility. What right does anyone have to say FrayDamaso is the Franciscan prototype, and not Fray Felix Huerta? Bothbelonged to the same Franciscan order!But let us leave aside apologies. The Philippine Province of SaintGregory, just like the other religious orders in the Philippines and elsewhere,naturally needed reforms, not only in their organization, but also in theirpersonal spiritual lives and apostolic tasks.'"It has been repeated ad nauseam that the regular clergy, the friars, in thePhilippines pressured and frequently coerced the civil authorities in order tomaintain their centuries-old privileges both in relation to the secular clergyand the Spanish government. Of course, there are enough proofs to supportthe statement. But no less certain is it that, viewing history from anotherperspective, the Church, and in this case, the Franciscan order, was not justcontrolled, but at least in many aspects rather subjected and exploited by thepowers of the state.The Franciscans in the second half of the nineteenth century lived to agreat degree on the mercy of the state which subsidized their seminaries,financed the missionaries traveling to the Philippine missions, and supportedthem in their respective parishes. But in return they paid very dearly, in thefrequent curtailment of their freedom to live the internal life of the orderaccording to their own spiritual charism. Felix Huerta, who more than oncesuffered under this constraint, says this:168We have to submit to the supreme government the capitular register [the acts ofnomination] for its approval after consulting, when convenient, the three