Monsignor Domingo de Salazar, O.P.

Today in Philippine History (Philatelic Edition):

DECEMBER 4, 1594

Monsignor Domingo de Salazar, O.P., the first Bishop of Manila died. He was responsible for the construction of the Manila Cathedral on December 21, 1581 by virtue of Pope Gregory XIII’s Papal Bull as suffragan of Mexico. 

He was born in La Rioja, in the village of La Bastida in Spain in 1512, and joined the Dominican Monastery of San Esteban in Salamanca. He was sent to Mexico and received the degree of Master in Theology and was appointed to the professor's chair. 

For 40 years, he worked as a missionary in Nueva España (Mexico). King Philip of Spain sent his name to the pope to be the Bishop of the Philippines and was confirmed by Pope Gregory XIII on February 6, 1579. 

Msgr. Salazar set out for the Philippines and arrived in 1581 together with two Jesuits, two secular priests, eight Franciscans, and a Dominican. 

He was fearless in the cause of the Filipinos especially against abusive encomenderos which earned for him the titles, the “intrepid Salazar” and the “Las Casas of the Philippines.”  

He held a synod with the pope’s approval, built a cathedral, opened a college, established a hospital and regulated the internal affairs of the diocese. 

He was almost eighty when he went to Spain to plead the cause of the natives with the king and his mission was successful. 

Various abuses were checked, three new dioceses were created, and Manila was elevated to a Metropolitan See with Salazar as its first archbishop. 

He died before receiving the Bull of his appointment and was buried in the Church of Santo Tomás, Madrid.

(Design, concept, stamps and research: Richard Allan B. Uy) All rights reserved

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