Bernardino de Melendreras

Born on Septemer 5, 1815 in Gijon, Asturia, Spain. At the age of 17, he entered the Franciscan seminary of San Jose de Salamanca. On February 11, 1839, he arrived in the Philippines and continued his study for priesthood and was ordained in Manila. He was first assigned as parish priest of Quipayo and Bombon from 1844 to 1846. Was transferred to Libmanan in 1847.

As the book Travels in the Philippines of Fedor Jagor in 1875 described Fray Melendreras as a priest when he visited him in 1961 in the convent of Libmanan, he said about the friar as " who, possessing poetical and having the reputation of a natural philosopher, collected and named pretty beetles and shells and dedicated the most elegant little sonnets."

He was parish priest of Libmanan for 18 years. In 1865, he was transferred to Guinobatan, Albay. On October 6, `1867, he was sent to Manila for treatment of a serious illness but he passed away the following day. He was buried in Manila 

He translated the Bicol Ibalon epic to Spanish and at one time the famous German historian and anthropologist, Feodor Jagor, was his guest in Libmanan.

It was during his stint in Libmanan that he fathered Alfonso and Paula with Melchora Aguirre.