S, or Crónica, througli nd religious institutions in

Although she found no :ts, materials pertaining to lect priests in the Marianas :hivist of the Augustinian

INTRODUCTION ind continues through late to be surnrnaries of events no entries for 1850, 1852, en made in the translation nological order; also long, i restructured and phrases

he Mariana Islands, also ished by the Micronesian bi-lingual edition includes an Area Research Center's

richly enhanced by the :d by Dr. Antonio García :sity of Córdoba, Spain. o Kurashina, RFT MARC support of the Spanish lleased to acknowledge the :re offered by members of irunal-Perry and William :e provided by the library, m especially pleased to

English text copy editor

The author. I n truth, we should refer to the authors of this chronicle, although the principal one was, without doubt, Father Aniceto Ibáñez del Carmen. This multiplicity of authors is verified by Father Francisco Resano, his successor as the priest of Agaña and vicar of Guam, and an enthusiastic keeper of the register until 1899. To him we owe the following bibliographic profile of Father Aniceto, written almost as a posthumous homage.

"On 20 December (1892), at approximately 9:15 p.m., the Very Reverend Father Aniceto Ibáñez, vicar and curate of this parish, died at this parish house. On the twenty-first, in the afternoon, he was buried in the cemetery at Pigo, in the center section behind the cross. This priest had been the curate and vicar of Agaña during a period of more than twenty years. He had resigned the parish and gone to Manila, but returned ten years later as curate and vicar, a post he served five years and nine months the last time. He died at the age of sixty-four years and several months. He was born in Andosilla, in the province of Navarra. In addition to having been the vicar and curate of Agaña, he was the priest of the port of Cavite for several years; also the rector of the Colegio de Monteagudo, in Navarra. He and another recollect priest accompanied the first expedition to the Carolines at the time of the German failure. He was well versed in the ecclesiastical sciences and spoke English and the Chamorro dialect with near perfection. He wrote several doctrinal books and a number of sermons in the latter dialect."

Additional information is found in the work of Gregorio de Santiago Vela, Ensayo de una biblioteca ibero-americana de la Orden de San Agustín, (Madrid, 1917, Vol. 111-Gl), which is based on Father

Chronicle of the Mariana Islands. Recording in the Agaña Parish Church 1846-1899. (Introduction to ...), Micronesian Area Research Center, Guam, 1998, pp XI-XIX.

Bonifacio Moral's Catálogo bio-bibliográlfico agustiniano. He was born 17 April 1828, in Andosilla, Navarra, and entered the Order of Augustinian Recollects at the Colegio de Monteagudo on 30 September 1849. He went to the Philippines in 1878, where he took charge of the Cavite parish. In 1882, having been named rector of the Colegio de Monteagudo, he returned to Spain. In 1883, he resigned and returned to the Philippines and, by 1884, he found himself serving the Cavite parish once again.

Because of the experience he had acquired during his first stay in Micronesia, his excellent knowledge of the Chamorro language and, to a lesser degree, the Carolinian, the Manila Government sought Father Ibáñez's collaboration, asking him to become part of an expedition to the Carolines, where he was to be appointed missionary and vicar provincial of Yap. This expedition firmly established Spain's presence in the Carolines, islands it occupied from that year (1885) until 1899. He

I fulfilled these assignments until April, 1886, when, once again, he returned to the Marianas in order to take charge of the Agaña parish and the provincial vicariate. He remained there until his death on 20 December 1892. His pastoral concerns led him to study the languages of his parishioners so thoroughly that he wrote and published severa1 works with practica1 ends in mind. Although Gregorio de Santiago Vela was not aware of Father Aniceto's Chronicle, at least, he did not mention it in his publication, he lists the priest's other works as follows:

Cartilla-Silabario Chamorro, prepared with the consent of Civil and Military Governor of the Marianas don Felipe María de la Corte, by Father Aniceto Ibáñez del Carmen, Rector of the Colegio de San Juan de Letrán, of the Marianas, 1860.

El verdadero cristiano instruido. Manila, Imprenta de Ramírez y Giraudier, 1863. The title page reads: "The True Christian. Instructed in what he should believe, how he should pray, accept, and act, together with other devotions worthy of being known. Written by Father Fray Aniceto Ibáñez del Carmen, parish priest of this City of Agaña, in the Marianas, 1862." It is presented in two colurnn, one in Spanish, the other in Chamorro.

Grámatica chamorra. This Chamorro grammar is a literal translation of one by don Luis Mata y Araujo. It is dedicated to the schools of the

xii

agustiniano. He was born id entered the Order of lteagudo on 30 September here he took charge of the I rector of the Colegio de , he resigned and returned iimself serving the Cavite

ed during his first stay in :hamorro language and, to 3overnment sought Father part of an expedition to the ionary and vicar provincial i Spain's presence in the ir (1885) until 1899. He ;6, when, once again, he ge of the Agaña parish and ,re until his death on 20 iim to study the languages rote and published severa1 Gregorio de Santiago Vela at least, he did not mention r works as follows: lith the consent of Civil and ipe María de la Corte, by the Colegio de San Juan de

,a, Imprenta de Ramírez y True Christian. Instructed y, accept, and act, together 1. Written by Father Fray this City of Agaña, in the

~lumn, one in Spanish, the

immar is a literal translation licated to the schools of the

Marianas by Father Fray Aniceto Ibáñez del Carmen, parish priest of Agaña, in the year 1864. Manila, Imprenta de Ramírez y Giraudier, 1865.

Diccionario español-chamorro. A Spanish-Chamorro dictionary, which Father Fray Aniceto Ibáñez del Carmen, parish priest of Agaña, dedicates to the schools of the Marianas. Manila, Imprenta de Ramírez y Giraudier, 1865. The text is in two columns.

Devoción a San Francisco de Borja, Patrón de Rota. This explains the sacraments and how to receive them with dignity. Devoción a San Dimas, el buen ladrón, Patrón de Merizo, with an explanation of the doctrine. Written by Father Fray Aniceto Ibáñez del Carmen, Augustinian Recollect and former curate and vicar of the Marianas. With the required licenses. Manila, Imprenta "Amigos del País", Calle Real, No. 14, Corner of Palacio Street, 1887.

The dates provided by Gregorio de Santiago Vela do not coincide with the opening date of the Chronicle. Santiago Vela states that Father Aniceto sailed from Spain for the Philippines in 1852, whereas the years covered by the Chronicle begin with 1843. It is possible that Father Aniceto compiled information prior to 1852 from other informants or that the register was kept by another writer between 1843 and 1852. Moreover, there is not always absolute agreement between the information recorded by Father Francisco Resano in his biographic sketch of Father Aniceto and that given by Gregorio de Santiago Vela. Even so, although the text does not state it specifically, it is possible to deduce that Father Francisco Resano was the author of the Chronicle between 1878 and 1884, during most of the time that Father Aniceto was away from Agaña, fulfilling commitments in the Philippines and the Carolines, as noted earlier. In effect, the entry for 1884 concludes with the statement that Father Francisco Resano sailed for Manila on the steamship San Quintín to seek a cure for an illness he was suffering. After Father Resano departed, the Agaña parish was administered, first by Father Isidoro Liberal (1885-86), later by Father Francisco Castillo (1886-87). The Chronicle's 1887 entry opens with the announcement that Father Aniceto Ibáñez had returned on the mail steamer Don Juan. In a note concerning his absence, the priest writes:

xiii

"After an absence of ten years, my vows have brought me again to my old position and to the same duties 1 had before 1 left due to illness. to wit: curate of Agaña, ecclesiastical judge and vicar forane, vicar provincial, and military chaplain. On the twenty-sixth, the Don Juan sailed for Manila with my predecessor, Father Francisco Castillo, aboard. 1 shall continue as 1 did previously, commenting on noteworthy happenings . " 1

There are no references in the Chronicle to his departure from Agaña in 1878, but there is no entry for 1879, and the annual reports from 1880 to 1887 are shorter than Father Aniceto's. The year 1884 was the exception: a more extensive commentary was indispensable because of the extraordinary circumstance of the assassination of the governor (Angel de Pazos Vela-Hidalgo) and the discovery of a conspiracy among

Al1 told, the Chronicle's style is quite uniform. For his part, Father Aniceto tends to include observations that are apt to be more extensive and detailed. At times, he describes with a certain delight--fortunately-- happenings whose consequences can be anticipated. He describes meticulously ship arrivals at the port of San Luis de Apra. This is understandable as Father Aniceto was an educated man, who, with an air as cosmopolitan as his years in Agaña would permit, knew the value of news which kept him abreast of world events. On the other hand, it is necessary to keep in mind that he was a curious man with a keen interest in scientific and technical innovations. His descriptions of ships include details that alluded to what presaged an actual revolution in rnaritime communications: the use of the steam engine to propel vessels.

There is an enchanting tone to his conversations in French (concerning rites, ornaments, and sacred vessels) with the Orthodox chaplain of the Russian warship Alrnar, which anchored at Apra in 1870. He concludes his comments emphasizing the amiability of his colleague: "As often as 1 told him that 1 was but a poor friar, he addressed me as 'holy father' or 'mon @re'. "

In general, the narrative is an account in which catastrophes and calamities of doubtless transcendency jostle with the ordinary minutia of

have brought me again to ~efore 1 left due to illness. : and vicar forane, vicar renty-sixth, the Don Juan ather Francisco Castillo, ommenting on noteworthy

his departure from Agaña d the annual reports from 's. The year 1884 was the s indispensable because of csination of the governor

of a conspiracy among

orm. For his part, Father e apt to be more extensive rrtain delight--fortunately-- nticipated. He describes in Luis de Apra. This is :ated man, who, with an air I permit, knew the value of s. On the other hand, it is ius man with a keen interest lescriptions of ships include tual revolution in maritime : to propel vessels.

conversations in French ressels) with the Orthodox ~ h i c h anchored at Apra in sizing the amiability of his [ was but a poor friar, he t 11

in which catastrophes and with the ordinary minutia of

Iife in a small community. Not only is the community small, it is also isolated, where everyone knows everything about everyone, with the advantages and disadvantages that such circumstances normally carry with them.

Reflections on the international situation. Agaña, the capital of the Mariana Islands, appears in the Chronicle as a community whose window to the world and its happenings is Apra Harbor. The news came from various sources, although the most important arrived on the periodic mailship from Manila, on whose government the islands depended. The location of Micronesia, at the crossroads of oceanic routes of increasing importance, explains the usual presence of whalers, warships, and merchant vessels, Russian, Swedish, German, English, Japanese, and North American. They stopped at Apra Harbor long enough to reprovision and, while in port, conveyed news of the world in general and information from the many places represented by the ships' crews. For the same geographical reason, it was not uncommon for vessels to enter Apra Harbor seeking refuge from storms; less fortunate were the ships that wrecked in the vicinity. In 1866, the Libelle, a Danish ship en route from California to Hong Kong, carrying more than one hundred thousand pesos in silver coins and bars, wrecked on Wake Island. Twenty-two persons were saved and took refuge in Agaña, among them Mr. Charles Lascelles, an organist, and the singer, Madame Ana Bishop, who offered the enchanted community of Agaña samples of their artistry during what must have been severa1 unforgettable days.

Toward the end of the nineteenth century, the archipelagos of Micronesia give the impression of having been analogous to Spanish America's Lesser Antilles during the colonial period, especially as they were after the seventeenth century. The comparison comes from the fact that, in some cases, the islands were under Spanish sovereignty, though not actually colonized. In a real sense, some of them were at the mercy of the enterprises of countries, which began, progressively, to establish themselves in the islands, an inevitable situation left unchallenged by Spain. During the last third of the nineteenth century, when the European powers and the United States began to take an interest in Micronesia, Spain was in no condition to impose her sovereignty by

force, yet she was able to maintain the situation by diplomatic means until the Treaty of Paris, in 1898. One needs to recall only a single final event in the history of Spain in Guam to find an example of the extent to which the meaning of diplomacy and courtesy were taken literally to the very end, at a moment when any other action would have been unthinkable. 1 refer to the reception that Naval Lieutenant Francisco García-Gutiérrez, in charge of the port at Apra, gave Captain Henry Glass, commander of the cruiser Charleston, which had entered Apra Harbor and fired three-inch guns at Fort Santa Cruz. The captain of the port and the military doctor went out to the North American ship in a boat in order to return the courtesy of what they had interpreted as a salute to the Spanish flag. Once there, they were informed that Spain and the United States were at war.

Throughout the Chronicle, Father Aniceto interjects interesting reports concerning the actions of the new metropolitan powers, anxious l to establish colonial footholds in the Pacific, and he was himself a part I

of the Spanish expedition of settlers posted to the Carolines to confront the avaricious Germans. In early 1876, the 2,000-ton German warship Hutha, a combination steam and-sailing ship, anchored at Apra ~ a r b o i , and the island's elders declared it to be the first Prussian ship to appear in Guam's waters. The purpose of the stop in the Marianas was to take ~ on water, because it was on its way to the Carolines to visit German I

subjects engaged in business there. Áfter that, it would return to Japan, whence it had come. Father Aniceto makes a positive judgement of the ship's commanders and does not hesitate to report that the first and second officers were well educated and pleasant men, entirely to his liking.

The reflection of the Spanish situation. ~ The years covered by the Chronicle were years of great unrest in Spanish politics. Confrontations between liberals and moderates from 1843 to the revolution of 1868 were followed by a protracted search for solutions, I

first, in the artificial monarchy of Amadeo 1 of Saboya (1870-73), then 1 in a republican system (1873), and concluding with the restoration of the bourbon monarchy in 1874, amid the serious problems caused by the carlistas (supporters of don Carlos, the disinherited brother of deceased 1

xvi

E

tuation by diplomatic means Is to recall only a single final ind an example of the extent urtesy were taken literally to ier action would have been Naval Lieutenant Francisco

: Apra, gave Captain Henry on, which had entered Apra nta Cruz. The captain of the le North American ship in a iat they had interpreted as a ey were informed that Spain

.niceto interjects interesting netropolitan powers, anxious c, and he was himself a part to the Carolines to confront

e 2,000-ton German warship p, anchored at Apra Harbor, first Prussian ship to appear in the Marianas was to take

e Carolines to visit German hat, it would return to Japan, s a positive judgement of the to report that the first and

ileasant men, entirely to his

:ars of great unrest in Spanish id moderates from 1843 to the ~tracted search for solutions, 1 of Saboya (1870-73), then

ing with the restoration of the ious problems caused by the inherited brother of deceased

King Ferdinand VII. Stability was finally attained under the canovista system (Canovas del Castillo, President of the Council of Ministers) only to end in the disaster of 1898, when Spain lost its last colonial territories in the Antilles and Asia.

These changes were reflected in the Marianas, although they did not alter life in a comrnunity not directly affected by them. If there was an effect at all, it was only in the mind of the governor who arrived and in the requisite protocol for political events. The one exception was due to the use of the Mariana Islands as a destination for political exiles. In this category, in 1870, the Shangai transported eight carlistas from Manila, among them Brigadier General Juan de Dios Polo and three republicanos. In 187 1, the Agaña community received, from English newspapers, the news of the selection of Amadeo of Saboya as King of Spain. Later that year, Colonel Luis Ibáñez arrived to take charge of the Government of the Marianas, and the monarch's proclamation ceremony took place in Agaña.

Additionally, of great interest in the Chronicle is the information concerning the activities of Philippine deportados, or exiles, subsequent to the revolutionary events that followed the revolt in Cavite in 1872. Some escapes and attempted escapes by these deportados, together with the suspected intervention of foreign ships, coincide with the business activities of the metropolitan powers that hoped to share in the distribution of the remnants of the Spanish Empire in Asia.

The interna1 life on Guam. Because it is from an insider's point of view, Father Aniceto Ibáñez's Chronicle is of interest because it allows an analysis of life on Guam during the second half of the nineteenth century, especially in the cornmunity of Agaña, to which most of the notations refer. The pages of the Chronicle reflect the slow rhythm of a small society, much disquieted by what arrived from the outside. The many suicides and crimes of passion leave a powerful impression on the reader. It would be interesting to delve more into these cases, which perhaps could be done by studying the Agaña doctor's reports, if they have been preserved. At times, the chronicler accompanies these notations with an elusive commentary conceming the desperate circumstances in which

xvii

entrapped. Possibly the 1 the development of mental

lement of people between the : repopulation of the islands. .e effects of epidemics that the Chronicle. Although it

rzed and checked, keeping in ming Spanish Micronesia is -e times when the population ecial attention, as in the case Bishop of Cebu (the diocese brief stay during which he

:erned, activities recorded in icials responsible for the la, among them the governor t of San Luis de Apra, the Presidio, the officials of the were accompanied by their cclesiastics who served the Marianas. At the appropriate hose who came to relieve the this, there was no official cans. Any additional activity 1s anchored at the port of San

life in Agaña was peaceful, part of the presidiarios, or homicides. Father Aniceto

)n to his undisputed apostolic pursue other interests of a ns, especially, are meticulous )w how to interpret them. It I the atmospheric phenomena y, the thousands of calamities

that took place with extraordinary frequency and were serious threat to the inhabitants of the islands.

Finally, the Chronicle is an interesting source for the study of the final period of Spain in Micronesia. It makes it possible to do so from an unofficial perspective (not always available to historians) and also makes it possible to delve into aspects of everyday life not normally found in administrative documentation. My congratulations to those who so persistently carry out their research programs and publications, and who are making it possible to create a proper setting within which to rediscover the history of Spanish Micronesia.

1 do not wish to conclude without stating that 1 was very pleased to receive the request from my RFT MARC colleagues Omaira Brunal- Perry and Marjorie G. Driver to prepare the introduction to this new edition of Father Aniceto Ibáñez's Chronicle. Through their friendship 1 have learned more about the work carried out at MARC and, during these last few years, so replete with anniversaries of the history of the Pacific, we have had the opportunity to up-date our individual research interests by attending severa1 international congresses together. 1 am certain that we can use this initial collaboration to formulate joint programs between MARC and the University of Córdoba. We may be on opposite sides of the globe, but we are united in our mutual attempts to recover the historical memory of Spain's secular presence in the Pacific.

Antonio García-Abasolo Professor of History of America Universidad de Córdoba