Matías Octavio, un agustino ilustrado en Filipinas

Abstract

Fr. Matías Octavio was an Augustinian assigned in the Philippines between 1762 and 1788. One of the most interesting roles of this friar was his dedication to promoting the cultivation of indigo from his parish in Tambobo (Manila). In this work he achieved an improvement in the product, which in subsequent years became a very important economic branch of the islands. In this article, two unpublished memorials by the friar on the industry, population, taxes and governmental monopolies of the Philippines are transcribed and studied.