He joined the first group of Dominicans going to Manila in 1587, proceeding with them on to China where he hoped to expand the local Catholic church. He was later exiled, and established a hospital for the Chinese in Binondo, Manila, before becoming the head of his order. He accompanied Bishop Domingo de Salazar, the first bishop of Manila, to Spain to defend the native Filipinos against Spanish oppression.[1]
Bishop
He was appointed as the first bishop of Nueva Segovia and was consecrated in Mexico in 1597.[3] Along with Juan Cobo, he authored the Doctrina Christiana in Chinese, one of the earliest books printed in the Philippines.[4] He arrived in Nueva Segovia in 1599 but was, after three years, appointed as the Archbishop of Manila on October 7, 1602. His installation in Manila was financed by King Philip III himself, for Benavides was extremely poor. On September 9, 1603, he directed the Franciscans to oversee the Japanese staying in the Philippines.[citation needed] In the same year, he warned the government about the nascent revolt of the Chinese population although he was also criticized for inciting it with his sermons.[1]
His library and personal property worth ₱1,500 were donated for the establishment of an institution of higher learning, now known as the University of Santo Tomas.[1]
^See the edition by Jesús Gayo Aragón, O.P. Doctrina Christiana: primer libro impreso en Filipinas, facsímile del ejemplar existente en la Biblioteca Vaticana. Manila: Real y Pontificia Universidad de Santo Tomás de Manila, 1951.
