The Humble Beginnings of Santa Ana Parish

Santa Ana Parish was detached from San Pedro Parish and canonically erected on July 26, 1949.

The plan to put up another parish in Davao City was conceived due to the increasing population of Catholics which San Pedro Parish could not alone contain. The territory limited on the south by a line beginning at the sea through Juan Luna Street, thence thru Emilio Jacinto Street until the Davao River; on the west by the Davao River until the barrio Callawa; on the north by the line of the City limits; on the east by the sea. Thus, on August 18, 1948 the Foreign Missions Society of Quebec in the Philippines acquired a property covered with coconut trees and tropical growth of 33,551 square meters for seven thousand pesos only. This property which was bought from Bustamante and Kong Kang Long families, now stands the San Pedro Hospital, San Pedro College, PME Regional House, Holy Cross of Davao College, CYO gym, and the Santa Ana church.

The amount used to purchase the land was donated by the prominent people of Davao City and from the Foreign Missions Society of Quebec Council. On January 6, 1949 (Feast of Three Kings), the cornerstone of Santa Ana Parish was laid by Fr. Clovis Thibault (Superior of the Missions), accompanied by Fr. Paquia (of Society of Jesus), Vicar General of Zamboanga Diocese, PME Fr. Conrad Cote, (first parish priest of Santa Ana), Davao City Mayor Bernardo Teves, Congressman A. Cabigon, and the sponsors and donors of the parish. For three months after the blessing of the cornerstone, rigorous work for the construction of the church building continued. Some wealthy families donated five hundred pesos (for each family) to hasten the construction of the church about 120 feet long by 40 feet wide and 40 feet high. On April 16, 1949, the church (semi-Gothic style) was consecrated by His Excellency Bishop Luis del Rosario (Zamboanga Diocese) even though it was not completely finished. The walls were of cement blocks. The windows (also Gothic style) were made of tiny pieces of glass, the colors of which mixed together harmoniously. The altar, in terazza, was a little jewel. The Last Supper Scene sculpted “in relief” constituted the main beauty of the altar. The statue of St. Anne was placed above the main altar. (Rowena Nuera) (Courtesy: Rey Secuya)