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Filipino Queer and Religious History: Letters Between Two Priests from the 19th Century
by Arisa Mariano | June 24, 2025
Queer people have always been a part of history. They have always existed whether they were known or have chosen to remain hidden, and throughout time, there have been countless proof of this. Specifically in our country, the Philippines, we had a rich and open culture of queerness before the colonizers conquered our lands. Even after it, when Christianity had been enforced for more than three-hundred years, they have continued to exist.
One of such evidence is from two families on opposite sides of the country, both from long lineages dating all the way back from the Spanish Colonization. Three months ago, the Laurencio family from Vigan, Ilocos Sur, have revealed that they have been in possession of letters from the late 19th century and have been careful protecting the legacy of one of their ancestors. Upon realizing that it may be the right time to share these said letters, they have shared them on social media in hopes of finding the other half of the correspondence.
Most of the letters have been from one Vicente Benítez, and a few of which seem to be unsent letters from the family’s ancestor, Tomás Laurencio, one of the first priests of the family.
A week later, my own family has seen the posts. As descendants of the Benítez family, we have been in possession of old artifacts and letters as well, those of which we have agreed to protect until the right time has come. Our family’s history is important to us, and it is important for an ancestor to not be slandered and condemned. After getting into contact with the Laurencio household, it seems that they share the same sentiments with regards to their own.
The letters from our family, in Dumaguete, Negros Oriental, are those received from Tomás Laurencio. Similar to him, Vicente Benítez also has a few unsent letters addressed to the same recipient. Additionally, he was also an ordained priest during their time.
After months of working together in researching, validating, and compiling the letters, it has been decided to let them finally be known to all. The letters have been proven to authentically be from the 1800s, and there is no room for doubt that they are romantic in nature.
Oftentimes, it is said and heard that Christianity will not accept queerness, but this is, yet again, another testament of how queer people have always existed, more so religious ones who have struggled with their faith and beliefs as they have been taught that it is wrong. These two men, more than a hundred and forty in the past, share the same struggles some face to this day.
Vicente Benítez and Tomás Laurencio have exchanged letters throughout the years 1872 – 1884; love letters between two priests that have stood the test of time. Some have already been destroyed beyond restoration, some are already unreadable, but those have survived will now be shared to the public.
The original letters have been scanned, and they have also been rewritten in plaintext for accessibility. English translations have also been provided. They are arranged in chronological order, including both sent and unsent letters. All of these can be found in our site launching soon.
May this be a reminder to the queer people, not just in this country but to the rest of the world, young and old and those who are just discovering themselves: this is hope. You are not alone, and you are not the first.
Little to nothing is known of their fates, or how and why the letters ended. What matters is that they have existed, and they cannot be erased. Their memories will now live on.
The site, Sampaguita Archives, will be opened tomorrow, June 25th, at 9AM PHT. Follow our social media platforms, Facebook and Twitter, for more updates.
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Sampaguita Archives @sampaguitarchives • 44m
Vicente Benítez and Tomás Laurencio, two priests from the 19th century Philippines, have exchanged clandestine love letters from 1872 – 1884. Almost a century and a half later, they deserve to finally be freed, unhiding, their love known and acknowledged.
sampaguita.archives.org
mela ♰ @dearvincents • 40m
grabe unang letter pa lang parang alam ko na agad na iiyakan ko ‘to… the religious guilt is strong in this one!
ley ♱ @divincents • 37m
appreciation for the benítez and the laurencio families for doing this! the effort in researching, transcribing to plaintext, validating with actual historians?? love that for them. anyway, kuha muna ako tissues before i start
Yan 🌼 @MJJoyceCrowley • 24m
Thank you for doing this :( ‘Di na nila kailangan magtago ngayon :( I’m halfway through and hahaha okay okay okay okay oka
cha² 𓆉 ᡣ𐭩 @sung_hoyin • 20m
reading this in public was the worst decision i couldve made sumasakit na ulo ko sa pagpigil ng luha
rei/na | ryan ✞ @divisreina • 19m
had to stop midway to take a walk around the house with my hands behind my back. crying over two priests from 140+ years ago was not on my 2025 bingo card