[1] The parish of Masinloc had its beginnings as a mission founded by the Augustinian Recollects in 1607, making it the first Christian church in the province.

[2] It was founded by Father Andrés del Espíritu Santo with the guidance of Father Rodrigo de San Miguel, then vicar of the mission in Mariveles, Bataan, who urged the head of the religious group to set up a mission in the present-day site location of the town which was then abundant with plants locally referred to as hinloc.

Some sources suggest the date of the construction of the present structure to be as early as 1713, when the Augustinian Recollects returned to Zambales, from their mission in Mindoro.

[3] By the mid-18th century, major earthquakes brought damage to the church structure, leaving it unused for a few decades.

Father Juan Ortíz commissioned architect Felipe Vera to replace the tile roof with nipa.

The front is divided into the triangular pediment, two horizontal sections and three vertical ones with an extended left portion forming the bell tower.

A church or structure can be declared a National Cultural Treasure if most of its features (both exterior and interior) from pre-1898 are still intact and if it showcases examples of local artistic style and technique.

An elder suggested performing a war dance between the Aetas and Christians, and miraculously, the image became light enough to be brought to shore.

A 12-versed traditional song is also sung throughout the fiesta season, titled "Lilicot conan Patron Ama San Andres", which narrates the martyrdom of Saint Andrew and his patronage to the town of Masinloc.