Santos Gómez Marañón, provincial agustino y obispo de Cebú (Filipinas)

Abstract

The study of the person of Fray Santos Gómez Marañón offers abundant information in the sphere of the history of the Order of Saint Augustin in the Philippines and in that of the Diocese of Cebú. Both are very valuable in turn for understanding multiple aspects of Philippine history. In this essay are studied his actions as provincial (1825-1829) and as bishop of the diocese of Cebú (1829-1840), the largest in the Philippines. The time of Gómez Marañón as provincial represented the transition from a period of decline of the Order in the parishes and missions towards a progressive restoration of the 1830s.As bishop of Cebú he promoted interesting actions in the field of assistance, in the promotion of the seminary and the instruction of his clergy, and in the construction of the cathedral and the episcopal palace. Other actions, such as the active contribution to the religious restoration of the Order of Saint Augustine, produced tensions with the powerful community of mixed-race Chinese in Cebu.