| General Note |
- General note - Fr. Blanco, the Augustinian botanist and writer, is noted for his studies on Philippine plants, published in 1837 as Flora de Filipinas and revised in 1845. Photo shows a portrait-sketch of the Augustinian friar who devoted much time to the study and collection of Philippine plants. The first edition of his treaties, the Flora de Filipinas, Segun el Sistema Sexual de Linneo, took twelve years to publish. It was printed by Candido Lopez in the University of Santo Tomas Press in 1837. Noted botanist and writer; born in Noviamos, Zamora province, Galicia, in 1778; died in Manila on April 1, 1845 of dysentery. Educated in the College of Valladolid; studied here theology, physics, philosophy, chemistry and medicine. He translated into Spanish the "Psalms of David," titling them "Penitenciales." In 1905, he arrived in Manila to join the Augustinian religious order. To familiarize himself with Tagalog, he was sent to Angat, Bulacan; afterwards he became the parochial administrator of San Jose, Batangas. Here he was responsible in erecting an elegant church; in 1816 he became the curate of Bauan; of Batangas in 1829; and of Parañaque in 1838; being inherently intelligent, he became rector provincial in 1833, and prior of Guadalupe from 1839-1845. Noted for his studies on Philippine plants titled "Flora de Filipinas" published in 1837 and revised in 1845. He wrote many other religious pamphlets and studies on the customs and traditions of the Filipinos -- "Mapa General de las Almas que Administran los P.P, Agustinos Calzados" and "An Mahusay na Paraan nang Pag-gamot sa Manga may Saquit Ayon sa Aral ni Tissot," which describes vividly the Filipinos'' customs and manners.
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