An Historical View of the Philippine Islands: Vol II (of 2)

Don Manuel de Leon, the new Governor of these islands, took possession on the 24th of September, 1669. The first act of his government was to declare that Señor Bonifaz, who had been Governor ad interim, had not been duly authorized, and though he confiscated his goods, he did not succeed in his attempt to imprison him, as the moment he gave up his government, he retired to the convent of the Franciscans. The Governor found the commerce of Manila at a very low ebb, as there were only two ships which sailed from the island, one from Cavite, and another from Lampon, and there was very little doing in the commerce with China. To remedy this, he sent to Macao Captain Losada and the Jesuit Mesina to revive it, and by the prudence of these two, and the disinterestedness of the Governor, such an extended commercial intercourse took place not only with China, but with the adjacent coasts, that these islands were filled with goods, which was of course highly beneficial to the royal coffers. On the 11th of April, 1677, the Governor, while at the nuptial ceremony of the Oidor Coloma, was taken suddenly ill in the church, and being removed to a house on the river side close by, he expired the same day.