In the 1960s, due to its small size, the Diocese of Davao solicited funds to enlarge the church.

Architect Chiew was responsible for the design of the new church, which was that of an ark, hence the pointed front where the cross stands.

[2] The church was first built using nipa and bamboo in 1847 and was subsequently rebuilt in wood in the mid-1900s by architect Ramon Basa using the distinctly modern Philippine barn-style influenced by Spanish architecture.

Hence, in 1964, the wooden church was demolished and remodeled into a concrete-looking structure by architect Manuel Chiew to expand it.

When the church was almost finished and the real design was fully visualized, it was too late to halt the construction which was paid by the diocese through public donations.