Mariano Perfecto

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Mariano Perfecto (1853 - November 3, 1913) was the fifth Governor of Ambos Camarines (1910–
1913). Known as a prolific writer, he is considered as the "Father of BikolLiterature," and the "Father
of Bisayan Literature." He published the first newspaper in the Bikol language, An
Parabareta (1899–1900) and set up the first printing press in the Bikol region, the Libreria y Imprenta
Mariana. His literary output ranged from translations of religious tracts, novenas to poems, short
dramas and linguistic works both in the Ilonggo and Bikol languages.
Salvador Pons, an Augustinian friar, stated in one of his works (Sacerdotes Del Clero Secular
Filipino Escritores. 1900) that Perfecto was a secular priest and likewise Fr. Pablo Fernandez in his
book History of the Church in the Philippines (1521-1898) said the same thing but the source he
cited was the same Agustinian friar.[1]

The Doctrina Christiana was an early book on the Roman Catholic Catechism, written in 1593 by
Fray Juan de Plasencia, and is believed to be one of the earliest printed books in the Philippines

Cover of the Doctrina Christiana featuring Saint Dominic with the

book's full title

Doctrina Christiana is the first published book in the Philippines in 1593 at the Imprenta de
los Dominicanos de Manila