Miguel de Benavides was part of the first group of Dominican missionaries who reached the Philippines in 1587 and became the Archbishop of Manila. He is attributed as the founder of the University of Santo Tomas.

MIGUEL DE BENAVIDES

Miguel de Benavides was born Varrion de los Condes (Palencia) and joined the Dominican Order in 1570. Miguel of Benavides sailed with the first band of Dominican missionaries in 1586 from Spain to Veracruz and reached the Philippines on 15 July 1587.

Bishop Domingo de Salazar, asked him and other Dominicans to take the pastoral care of the Chinese People in Manila and they built the hospital of San Gabriel for them.

De Benavides was chosen to govern the newly created Diocese of Nueva Segovia (now Vigan) as its First Bishop (1595-1601).

De Salazar was nominated Archbishop of Manila but he died in Madrid, before his appointment. (The first Archbishop to reach Manila was the Franciscan, Ignacio de Santibañez. He took possession of his see in 1598, but died three months later).

Three years later Miguel de Benavides was appointed on 23 February 1601 as the Archbishop of Manila.

Miguel de Benavides authored the Doctrina Christiana in Chinese, the first book printed in the Philippines.

Miguel de Benavides is attributed as the founder of the Colegio de Nuestra Senora del Santisimo Rosario, later renamed Colegio de Santo Tomas (now the University of Santo Tomas) because he was the first to give a fund in his will for the foundation and maintenance of the institution by bequeathing his library and goods.

c.1550

to 25 July 1615

Family Links

Miguel de Benavides, the Archbishop of Manila in conference with his executors Bernardo de Santa Catalina and Baltasar Fort about the foundation of a college in Manila. In the background the front of the university building.

(Note Scott, incorrectly indicates the stamp to depict the Pope)

Order of the Dominicans in the Philippines, 400th Anniversary

#1894 11 Nov 1987