SAN ANTONIO DE PADUA PARISH is a fruit of the generosity of Doña Geronima Gabriel, who is a devout Catholic and a friend of the Spanish friars. She distributed her wealth for charity, propagation, and growth of the church.

In 1896, a part of the estate of Impong Memang, as they fondly call Doña Geronima, was developed for the San Antonio de Padua Chapel. When Impong Memang died in 1904, Pedro San Pedro, along with her daughter, Juana San Pedro, took over as caretaker of the chapel until it became a sub–Pastoral Council for San Bartolome.

On June 13, 1986, the Archbishop of Manila, His Eminence Jaime L. Cardinal Sin visited the San Antonio de Padua Chapel. As he celebrated his first mass at the chapel, he remarked that “the church was too big for a chapel.”

Since then, several moves have been made to work out for the transformation of the chapel into a full–pledged parish. Talks with Rev. Msgr. Severino Casas were made in order to determine the feasibility of the proposal. After which, a consultation meeting was held to hear the reactions of the concerned parties. The said meeting was attended by Rev. Fr. Tony Villanueva, Juana de Ocampo, Alfonso and Virginia Gozon, Benjamin Josue, Lito Villajueva, Pacing de Dios, Arsenio Santos and Ising Gonzales.

On July 1, 1989, Cardinal Sin issued a Decree, which establishes San Antonio de Padua as parish, with Rev. Fr. Enrique Y. Santos as its first pastor. As the new parish was erected, several people jokingly named it as the “floating church” because of the reality that it is often submerged in water. Realizing the predicament of the parishioners, especially in rainy seasons, Fr. Santos elevated the base structure of the church. He also planned the creation of a rectory and a convent. It was also under his administration that the boundaries of the church were placed and confirmed.

Rev. Fr. Joselino Tuazon served as the second parish priest for San Antonio de Padua parish. He led the creation of the Perpetual Adoration. He was succeeded by Rev. Fr. Joselito Jopson, who stayed for two years, left the parish for pursuing a Master’s degree in America. He was followed by Rev. Fr. Danilo Canceran, then Rev. Fr. Raul Salgado, and Rev. Fr. Martin Gaurin.