“En esta tierra todo es frialdad de espiritu”: Fray Miguel Garcia Serrano, arzobispo de Manila, OSA (1620-1629)

Abstract

The years of Fray Miguel García Serrano’s government at the head of the archbishopric of Manila (1620-1629) were arduous and difficult, having to face internal challenges, such as the promotion of the prebendaries and the succession in vacant sees, and external ones, mainly the visitations of the doctrinas or parishes, the question of the “alternative system” and the jurisdictional conflicts with the Royal Audiencia. It was not easy, despite the support of Governor Alonso Fajardo de Tenza (1618-24) and the fathers of the Society of Jesus. In this essay, I tackle the archbishop’s tenure from political and ecclesiastical microhistory, based primarily on primary sources and archival documents. The results show the complex nature of Church-State relations and the jurisdictional conflicts between colonial institutions in the Philippines in the 17th century.