El P. Ignacio Mercado (1648-1698) y las plantas medicinales filipinas

Abstract

The present work is the most complete research ever done about the life and work of Fr. Ignacio Mercado (1648-1698) Augustinian friar from the Philippines, that was a pioneer in the study of the medical virtues of several hundred of Filipino plants. After placing him in the socio political, ecclesial and Augustinian context, are presented other authors –some that preceded him, some contemporaries that were also interested in the same topic. Later on, we can see the scientific education of Fr. Mercado and the ideological and practical sources of documentation used by him, and also his missionary work in different parts of the island of Luzon. The centre of the research is a detailed study of the text and the 206 designs done by himself, for his work Declaration of the virtues of the trees and plants that are in this book. Those plants were used as remedies for many different sickneses. He also offers gastronomic, commercial, economic and ethnographic information.At the end can be found and evaluation of the text and the paintings of Fr. Mercado. The text is completed with 72 illustrations in colour.