The main theme of this book is to explore the role of the archbishops and cathedral chapters in the conflicted Church-State relations in the Philippines during the first half of the seventeenth century. Among this complex and heterogeneous group composed of bishops, canons, parish priests, and chaplains, the prebendaries stand out as the highest distinction granted to secular priests. Moreover, they were the only ones who, over time, developed a collective sense of self. By fostering this corporate identification, this book pays special attention to how their members were leading actors in the Spanish colonial drama.