THE expansion of the Jesuit missions to the village of Tunga, an interior village
of Leyte, and the neigboring island of Panamao, the ancient name of Biliran,
appears to have been memorable to the Jesuit chronicler Chirino for the events
that triggered them.
Tunga
in the pre-Jesuit years was a sanctuary for thieves, murderers, ‘witches’ and
women of ill repute. Separated by thick forests and marshes from its
neighboring villages, the colonial authorities found it difficult to go after
them. There were 12 criminals who were roaming in bands in the mountains and
trails. The only persons who could
soothe the rising anger in the parties concerned, reconcile their differences
and restore friendly relations between them were the Jesuit missionaries. The
matter had to be settled immediately for the island of Leyte as the people were
well-nigh in a state of insurrection, and the bandits were in their heyday. [i]
Fortunately,
the missionaries were able to convince them to amend their ways, and in no time
‘they were asking for protection, pardon and penance,’ except for one who was
accused of killing Humbas. Wrote Mateo
Sanchez: ‘He was the beginning, and as it were, the source of all this
disturbance. …In truth, it will be very difficult for him to effect a
reconciliation with the parties concerned and obtain a pardon, on account of
their rank and wealth; for the murdered man (whose name was Humbas) was one of
the most noted and valiant Indians in the island, and always had been, and was
at that time, governor of the village of Ogyao.’[ii]
So the missionaries approached one of the sons
of the murdered man, Don Philipe Tipon, a baptized Christian, ‘an excellent
man, greatly attached to us and well instructed, and informed in the Christian
religion.’ The Jesuit Sanchez promised to reconcile the conflicting parties and
settle the affair in a peaceful manner. Thus started the mission in the
interior village of Tunga.[iii]
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