AFTER SAN JOSE DE NAVOTAS PARISH was canonically erected on July 1, 1859, the construction of a provisional parish church started in November of the same year. It was in 1860, under the helm of Rev. Fr. Matias Naboa that the main altar was completed, the cemetery was inaugurated, and the belfry was erected. Right from the start, the parish boasted of a spacious churchyard.

Although the earthquake of June 1863 partially demolished the rectory, it was immediately reconstructed months after, through Fr. Naboa’s initiatives. Several improvements have been made since then, such as the construction of a complete, new parish complex, still under Fr. Naboa, and the baptistery, under the supervision of Rev. Fr. Manuel Perez. But, as another earthquake (1880) jolted the parish rectory, the parish priest, Rev Fr. Marcos Hernandez was forced to stay at the house of Capitan Juan Sioson, situated in front of the church. On June 1892, Rev. Fr. Tomas Agudo led the construction of the present–day parish, with the altar done by April 1895.

When the American Fleet of the post–Hispanic period under Commodore Dewey bombarded the town, the old Augustinian rest house in Banculasi was demolished. Rev. Fr. Nicolas Avedano, the first permanent Filipino parish priest of San Jose de Navotas Parish, took the parish records into Bigaa, Bulaan for safekeeping. Unfortunately, the battle front shifted to Bigaa, and everything that was kept was burned.

The Parish of San Jose de Navotas withstood other endeavors sturdily, from Aglipayan Schisms of the early 1900’s, the storm of October 16, 1934 that substantially damaged the church, to the invasion of Japanese armies and the aftermath of the battles. These scars give justice to the will of the people of Navotas; ever–dedicated, ever–faithful.