August 2, 1577: the first Franciscan mission arrived in Manila

On August 2, 1577, the first religious of the order of Saint Francis entered Manila. They were led by father fray Pedro de Alfaro who was accompanied by seventeen religious, sons of the province of San Joseph, of the discalced religious. Thirteen of them were priests, two were choristers and two lay-brothers. Six died on the voyage from Spain to Mexico but they were joined by six more in Mexico.