Bishop Domingo de Salazar: The Advent of the Mission of "Bridging Dialogue"

1. Bridging Contexts- In his letter to King Philip II, Bishop Domingo de Salazar had written about the primary concern of a conflict of interest. It is primary missionary effort of the Church to evangelize and make Christians the Chinese who were frequenting themselves for trade in the Philippines. The Chinese traders and those who were doing business in the Philippines were already there before the Spaniards came. In his letter, Bishop Domingo de Salazar related the poor situation of the Chinese because of the maltreatment of the Spanish government and rulers in the country. He initially said: “Without doubt it would break your Majesty’s heart if you could see them as they are, and how pitiable are their appearance and the things that they relate.” In his letter on June 20, 1582, he relayed his sentiments to the authorities in Spain saying: “Another day there came chiefs from other villages to say the same and much more. Today ten or twelve chiefs have come to see me from a province called Mauban, which belongs to your Majesty. They are all heathen, and told me that they had learned that I wrote to your Majesty in their behalf. They asked me to remember them also. I did not wish to admit more than what was said by those who came first, as it would make a disturbance in the land, should they all come here to complain. Your Majesty will be pleased to command that their case be considered, and provision made for them. I can do nothing, save to deplore it, and to beseech your Majesty for the remedy.”

2. Bridging Institutions- In his letter to King Philip II, Bishop Domingo de Salazar described the plight of the Filipinos due to the dominating abuses of the Spaniards which run contrary to the intentions of the Church. The Church had to be an institution of conversion, mercy, and community however, because of the injustices done by the Spaniards, many Filipinos and Chinese had subscribed to Islam. Meanwhile, many of the Filipinos had initiated to dialogue with the government and expressed their concerns which were pertinent to abuses. The Filipinos and Chinese as cultures began to bridge institutions through dialogue. This is remarkable at the course of the momentous evangelization process among Filipinos and Chinese. Bishop Domingo de Salazar described that: “there appeared certain Indians who spoke through Francisco Morantes and Andres de Cervantes, interpreters of the Moro tongue… As they were suffering so many injuries, grievances, and vexations, as is well-known to all, they humbly begged that he be so kind as to inform his Majesty thereof in detail, in order that his Majesty, after having learned of their afflictions, may be pleased to remedy them.”

3. Bridging Cultures- The evangelization of the Filipinos and the Chinese in the Philippines in the 16th century was an encounter between Western and Eastern civilizations. The advent of the Spaniards into the Philippines was a time of conquest and foreign domination over the people in the East. However, in the context of religious conversion, the Church intended to convert both Filipinos and Chinese to Christianity. It has to be understood that the intention was to make Catholic the whole Philippine nation. Both the Church and the Spanish government were not prepared to see both Eastern and Western cultures as complementary. As institutions coming from the West, the mode of conquest both political and religious drew lessons to the Bishop of Manila. Bishop Domingo de Salazar learned in a gradual manner to defend the local residents of the Philippines of their rights, dignity, and the sovereignty. The bishop said: “They were then asked what things they desired to be especially placed before his Majesty’s consideration, and to declare the same. They replied that the injuries which they suffer, and which ought to be redressed, are those inflicted by the alcaldes-mayor. Much trouble is caused them by these officials, as within three leagues there are four alcaldes-mayor and their officers, who inflict serious penalties for light offenses. They take at their own price the rice of the Indians, and afterward sell it at a very high rate, doing the same with all other articles of provisions and agricultural products. Furthermore, they oblige the Indians to act as their oarsmen, whenever they wish. If they return from an expedition which has lasted a month, they are told straightway to prepare for another, being paid nothing whatsoever; nevertheless, in every village assessments are levied upon the natives, for the payment of those who go on such service. If at any time they are paid, it is very little, and that very seldom.”

4. Bridging Church- The most significant legacy that Bishop Domingo de Salazar left as an imprint on the local church in the Philippines was the bridging activity of the Church. In the midst of a persecuted and mistreated cultures of Filipinos and Chinese, the bishop had pursued the importance of the Gospel to the people. The bishop sought the positive interests of the people and defended their rights and their life. The Church had to be present among the people and should be a defender of their cultures and their life. To intervene in order to search for the common good is the vocation of the Church. To speak out in favor of justice, equality and dignity is bridging the gap between the people and civil authorities. The intervened in favor of the people as he wrote: “Because of the many acts of oppression which they have suffered, many Indians have now abandoned Tondo, Capaymisilo, and other villages near this city of Manila. They have gone to live in other provinces, which has occasioned much damage and loss to the chiefs. Out of the three hundred Indians who were there, one hundred have gone away, and the said chiefs are obliged to pay the tribute for those who flee and die, and for their slaves and little boys. If they do not pay these, they are placed in the stocks and flogged. Others are tied to posts and kept there until they pay.”

5. Bridging Missions Overseas- Bishop Domingo de Salazar did not only intend to evangelize the Filipinos and resident local Chinese in the Philippines but to look beyond its shores. The frequent coming and the trading enterprises done by the Chinese in the Philippines with their sampans and products suggested that a bigger empire lies beyond the Philippines to which these Chinese came from. The local struggle of Christianizing the residents in the Philippines became also the challenge of a wider struggle to evangelize and do mission work in China.