[2] When the parish of Dumaguete (then a pueblo) was founded in 1620, its jurisdiction covered Negros's southeastern part and the island of Siquijor.

Septien's leadership when the four watchtowers at each corner of the church's lot were constructed which primarily aimed to drive away the Moros ransacking the community from the south.

Moreno's time when the church was furnished with galvanized roofing in consonance with the construction of the local children's school made with stone.

The full renovation of the church's flooring with fine wood and the addition of a bell tower on one of the watchtowers came under the helm of Fr.

Mariano Bernad served as the parish priest, the portico was finished; the following year, two side altars were dedicated to the Virgen de Consolacion and Saint Joseph.

In 1898, the Recollects left when the Philippine Revolution broke out prior to the Philippine-American War, leaving the seculars again in-charge of the parish.