SAN BARTOLOME PARISH, the oldest church in the Diocese of Kalookan, was established by the Augustinian Missionaries in the year 1614. There is no formal record regarding the construction of the first church, but stories passed from tongue to tongue that the church was built immediately, only to be destroyed by a natural calamity. It was restructured years after, and then destroyed once again because of a series of unfortunate events. According to the historical and cultural artifacts of the province of Rizal, a strong makeup, one that withstands disasters, was created and completed by 1813. But, in the main door of the parish, appears “1861”, signifying that it was instituted on the year 1861.

In the revolution of 1898, the whole portion of the east side of the church was burned and its valuables were either stolen or destroyed. Nothing remained intact except for its five altars and the removable silver altar. The church was not repaired for years until Rev. Fr. Lino Kawili, a native of Tañong, Malabon, was assigned as the parish priest. Fr. Kawili was able to start and accomplish the renovation in his administration, yet this resulted in a civil suit between him and the Archbishop of Manila. As a result, he was transferred into Silang, Cavite, which was contested by many of the parishioners, to the extent of turning their backs from their faith.

The feeling of resentment and indifference of the parishioners continued for years until the establishment of the Malabon Normal School in 1929. The school, administered by the Sisters of Maryknoll Congregation of New York, used the site of the old Spanish convent of the San Bartolome Parish Church. The school raised students of great intelligence, yet more importantly, it taught the people the real value of faith; that faith does not favor anyone, because everyone is a sinner. The sisters won the faith of the people, the same faith that served as impetus to the reconstruction of the parish, externally and internally. As people got themselves involved in fund–raising campaigns for the repair of the parish, they once again formulated the lay organizations that served the parish centuries back. The parish found full support from the Archbishop of Manila, and their parish priests.

Now, the parish is reaping the results of laying a cornerstone made up of unity and faith. Although San Bartolome Parish’s history is a great blur, it is not of great importance today. The community is already a legacy, not due to its strangled roots but to its perseverance to continuously grow as the journey goes on.