The present work, in two instalments, seeks to address the dearth of writing on the Franciscan contribution to printing in the Philippines. Using archival and rare primary sources, the article traces the involvement of the Franciscans in the preparation and publication of works such as catechisms, grammars, dictionaries, and sermons needed in their apostolic work in the Tagalog and Bicol regions. The Franciscans only acquired their own printing press in the 1690s; it seems to have been first based in Longos and then in Tayabas (where 2 books were printed in 1702-1703) before eventually being housed in Sampaloc, where it ceased activity in the early 19th century. Works printed from 1593 to 1699 are catalogued, including those of which no copy can be found but whose existence has been traced through other sources. In most cases, the entry for each work carries the author, title, year and place of publication, bibliographic citations, and a description of its contents and historico-cultural context.