IN the eastern towns of Leyte, the Franciscans replaced the Agustinians in 1843. This was subsequent to a Royal Decree issued October 29, 1837. In the past 75 years, pueblos had risen after they had become regular parishes. Now in the eastern parts of Leyte alone, the Franciscans were taking over 16 parishes with a population of 99,094, out of which 22,573 were tribute givers.

Like the Agustinian Fray Agustin Maria de Castro 75 years earlier, Fr. Felix de Huerta of the Order of St. Francis had to prepare his own summary of the status of the towns they were taking charge of. These were in the eastern coasts of Leyte only. Those in the west were now with the seculars. His description of the towns gives us an idea of their respective status then. Compared to de Castro's account, however, de Huerta's presented a more accurate and detailed picture.

Leyte according to de Huerta was still abundant with several kinds of good lumber and building materials, "including palms, rattans, brick materials, game (wildlife), gold-bearing veins and sulfur." Its arable lands were fertilized by inumerable rivers and creeks. The lands can grow varied plants, but these were" solely devoted to the productions of rice, abaca, tobacco and coconuts, palawan and other rootcrop staples."

Population in Leyte had increased. Roads were passable and designed for horse-drawn carriages, and there were wooden bridges over rivers. Moro raids had practically ceased and population centers became busy trading posts. Rice, coconuts, abaca, rootcrops, coconut oil, tobacco and rootcrops were produced in great abundance and traded in these centers. Indeed, the coming of the Franciscans seemed to have spurred the progress of the different pueblos started by the Jesuits and later on taken over by the Agustinians. Even large barangays were starting to become pueblos too. This was the development from 1850s onward.

Schools, which rose during the period of the Agustinians, flourished and schooling was strictly enforced by decrees. It became fashionable to rebuild churches in the style that reflected the European tastes of the builders. The present stone churches of Carigara, Barugo, Palo, Tanauan, Matalom, Palompon and other towns in Leyte were remodeled during this period.

In Palo, for instance, the church started by the Jesuits was roofed in the year 1850 by the Fr. Agustin de Consuegra, a Franciscan. Fr. Pantaleon de la Fuente later added new features from the money he won from a lottery in Spain.

In Barugo, the local church, a big building made out of nipa, was rebuilt into one made of stone. So was Dulag's.

In Burauen, a parish which was formerly under Dulag until 1844, the church was built that year under the direction of Fr. Francisco Lopez. It was initially made of lumber.

Tanauan's church, also built by the Jesuits, was expanded by Fr. Francisco de Paula Marquez, till it grew to 228 feet long and 42 feet wide. To conceal in part its disproportions, Fr. Marquez built around the altar a nice smaller church of 42 feet long and identical width.

Carigara's church underwent changes too which took all of 20 years to complete.

Tacloban, which had a church made of nipa shingles in 1843, started a stone church during the time of the Franciscans under Fr. Aniceto Corral.

In Hinunangan, the church was built in 1852 under the direction of Fr. Pedro Monasterio, but it had yet to be completed with roofing at the time of de Huerta's account.

Jaro, formerly a sub-parish of Barugo, became independent in 1851 after the Fransciscans arrived. But its church was made of nipa at that time of de Huerta's report.

Alangalang, a sub-parish of Barugo, was formally separated in 1851. Its church was also made of nipa during this time.

Leyte, formerly a sub-parish of Carigara, gained its independent status in 1851. Its church and parsonage were built of nipa.

Babatngon, founded by inhabitants of Carigara, Catbalogan, and the island of Bohol, used to be a sub-parish of Barugo until its final separation in 1851. The church was made of bamboo and nipa, as was the parsonage.

San Miguel, another former sub-parish of of Barugo, was formally separated from its mother parish in 1851. Its church, dedicated to St. Michael the Archangel, was made of bamboo and nipa. It did not have a parsonage.

Malibago, also a former sub-parish of Barugo, likewise became independent in 1851. Its church was a big bamboo and nipa structure, but it lacked a parsonage. The town was under the charge of the parish priest of the town of Babatngon.

Tolosa, which was formerly called Inapusong, was a sub-parish of Tanauan from which it formally separated in 1851.In February 21, 1863, it became a town, assuming the name Tolosa.

Like many of the churches of newly founded parishes, its church was made out of nipa and did not have a parsonage house.

With the assumption of these new parishes for the next 50 years by the Fransciscans, changes began to be felt in the towns together with the growth of the population.

A nationalist revolt led by Andres Bonifacio overthrew the Spanish yoke and shook the Philippine Church that was headed by the Spaniards. A secularization movement among the native clergy led by Frs. Gomez, Burgos and Zamora had its own repercussion within the Church heirarchy. This revolution bred a Gregorio Aglipay who was to found a Philippine Independent Church that would no longer pledge allegiance to Rome. This was to take roots in the island of Biliran and some towns in Leyte which served as bastions of the revolutionaries.