Manila, February 12, 1831., 02/12/1831-02/12/1831

The Francisco Enriquez y Giron Papers date from the beginning of the 19th century. As a leading Spanish official in Manila, with the title Delegate General of the Royal Lands, Colonel of Infantry, and Quartermaster General and Superintendent, Francisco Enriquez y Giron was exposed to the corrupt and inefficient practices of the colonial government. He witnessed first hand the impact that increased commercialization had on the islands and on Spanish control. His frustration with inept members of the government, most notably Mariano Ricafort Palac¡n y Abarca, who was Governor and Captain General at the time, is extremely manifest in his letters. The discomfort he suffered was worsened by the fact that his position in the government allotted him no real authority to enact what he believed to be positive change. Enriquez' letters also touch on topics relating to his personal experiences in the Philippines, such as epidemics and earthquakes the population had to endure. Of most interest are his references to the diminishing status of Spaniards in the colony, as many of the natives no longer went out of their way to act meek and compliant in the presence of Europeans.

The information and alternative perspectives found in these original letters is quite impressive and is extremely helpful to anyone researching the experiences of Spanish officials during the initial stages of economic development in the Philippines. This archive is comprised of 14 letters arranged in chronological order that total to 58 pages of original material. Most of the letters were written by Don Francisco Enriquez y Giron to his friend Don Manuel Bernaldez Pizarro, an official residing in Madrid and descendant of the famous Spanish conquistador, Francisco Pizarro. One of the letters was penned by Gertrudis Seguera, wife of Enriquez, and sent to her friend, Josepha Folgueras, which offers an interesting female point of view. All of the letters were written entirely in Spanish with rich and legible ink and remain in fairly nice condition.

ABBREVIATIONS ALS - Autograph Letter Signed. FEG - Francisco Enriquez y Giron. MBP - Manuel Bernaldez Pizarro. GS - Gertrudis Seguera. JF - Josepha Folgueras.