Saturday, January 19, 2008
The Babaylan of Cebu
"They worship their ancestors and the Devil, whom they invoke through their priests (who are usually women). Legazpi administers justice to all, protects the natives from wrong, and treats them with kindness and liberality. The head chief's niece is baptized, and soon afterward marries one of Legazpi's ship-men, a Greek; and other natives also are converted." - Account from the Expedition of Miguel Lopez de Legaspi 1564-68
