Since 1848
The oldest church in Davao City, on the oldest street in Davao City.
The mission that became San Pedro Cathedral began in the 1840s, when Recollect missionaries came to the Davao area. When the settlement of Nueva Guipúzcoa was founded in 1848, a chapel of nipa and bamboo grew alongside it.
By 1860 the mission had become a full parish. The church was rebuilt more than once as the community grew, first in light materials and later in wood, and took on a Gothic-influenced face with twin bell towers.
Jesuit missionaries later cared for the parish. They left during the Philippine Revolution, returned around 1900, and served until 1939, when the mission was entrusted to the P.M.E. fathers of Quebec.
The church came through the Second World War, when it was reportedly used as a stable by occupying Japanese forces, and later through the bombings that struck the city.
As the Church in Davao grew, San Pedro became the seat of its bishop. Today it is the cathedral of the Archdiocese of Davao.
By the 1960s the old church could no longer hold its congregation. The engineer-architect Manuel Chiew designed its replacement, with structural work by Apolinar Bundalian. Its curving roof recalls the prow of a vinta, the sailing boat of Muslim Mindanao, crowned with a cross: a sign of unity between Davao's Christian and Muslim communities.
The cathedral stands on San Pedro Street, the oldest street in the city, and is recognised as a National Cultural Treasure.
Dates in the cathedral's early history vary between published sources. Corrections from the parish archives are welcome at the parish office.
Since 1848
The parish priests, administrators, and rectors who have cared for this parish, from the Recollect mission to the Cathedral today.
Mission Priest
The first priest of the mission, under the Diocese of Cebu.
Mission Priest
Mission Priest
Mission Priest
First Parish Priest
On 30 January 1857 the mission became the Parish of San Pedro Apóstol de Dabao.
Parish Priest
Parish Priest
Parish Priest
Parish Priest
Parish Priest
Parish Priest
Parish Priest
Parish Priest
Parish Priest
Parish Priest
Parish Priest
Parish Priest
Parish Priest
Parish Priest
His second term.
Parish Priest
Parish Priest
Parish Priest
Parish Priest
His third term.
From 10 April 1910 the parish was under the Diocese of Zamboanga, whose bishops were responsible for it, among them Bishop José Clos, S.J. and Bishop Luis del Rosario, S.J.
Parish Priest
Parish Priest
Parish Priest
His second term.
Parish Priest
The last Jesuit parish priest.
Parish Priest
The first P.M.E. parish priest; later the first Archbishop of Davao.
Parish Priest
Parish Priest
Parish Priest
Parish Priest
Parish Priest
Parish Priest
Parish Priest
The last P.M.E. parish priest, as the parish passed to the diocesan clergy.
Parish Priest
Coadjutor Bishop of Davao.
Parish Priest
Parish Priest
Coadjutor Archbishop; Archbishop of Davao from December 1972.
Parish Priest
Auxiliary Bishop of Davao.
Parish Priest
Auxiliary Bishop of Davao; later first Bishop of Digos.
Parish Priest
Auxiliary Bishop and Vicar General, installed as parish priest on 28 February 1978; later first Bishop of Tagum.
Parish Priest
Auxiliary Bishop of Davao; later first Bishop of Mati.
Parish Priest
Auxiliary Bishop of Davao.
Parish Priest
Parish Priest
Auxiliary Bishop of Davao, installed at San Pedro Cathedral on 14 April 1988. Died 1 March 1993.
Acting Parish Priest
A parochial vicar of the parish, designated by Archbishop Mabutas after Bishop Baquial’s death.
Parish Priest
As Coadjutor Archbishop; Archbishop of Davao from 1996.
Parish Administrator, then Parish Priest
Parish Administrator from June 1995, Parish Priest from June 1998 to May 2004.
Parish Administrator
Appointed by Archbishop Capalla in June 2004.
Parish Priest
Auxiliary Bishop of Davao; parish priest from 26 May 2006 to May 2011.
Parish Priest
From June 2011 until his death on 26 April 2020.
Parish Administrator
Appointed by Archbishop Valles after Msgr. Vicente’s death.
Cathedral Rector
Appointed 1 June 2025; installed by Archbishop Valles on 19 October 2025.
From the records of the Parish Office (updated November 2025) and published sources. Corrections are welcome at the parish office.
Archdiocese of Davao
The bishops who have led the Church in Davao from San Pedro Cathedral, since the prelature was erected in 1949, became a diocese in 1966, and an archdiocese in 1970.
1954 – 1972
Prelate, first Bishop, and first Archbishop of Davao
A missionary of the Foreign Mission Society of Quebec, born in Danville, Quebec, Canada (1910).
Led the Church in Davao as Prelate from 1954, became its first Bishop when the diocese was created in 1966, and its first Archbishop in 1970.
Died 20 April 1975.
1972 – 1996
Second Archbishop of Davao
Born in Agoo, La Union (1921); first Bishop of Laoag before coming to Davao as Coadjutor Archbishop in 1970.
President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (1981–1985). His 1979 pastoral letter, “Reign of Terror in the Countryside,” spoke out against abuses under martial law.
Died 22 April 1999.
1996 – 2012
Third Archbishop of Davao
Born in Leon, Iloilo (1934). Auxiliary Bishop of Davao (1975–1977) and later Bishop of Iligan, he returned as Coadjutor Archbishop in 1994.
President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (2003–2005).
Died 6 January 2024.
2012 – present Present
Fourth Archbishop of Davao
Born in Maribojoc, Bohol (1951). Bishop of Kidapawan (1997–2006) and Archbishop of Zamboanga (2006–2012).
Installed in Davao on 22 May 2012. President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (2017–2021).
1967 – 1970
Coadjutor Bishop
Coadjutor Bishop of Davao, from Miag-ao, Iloilo.
Later Auxiliary Bishop of Tagbilaran and Bishop of Kalibo (1976–1992). Died 18 October 2007.
1975 – 1977
Later Bishop of Iligan, and Archbishop of Davao (1996–2012).
1977 – 1980
Also served as parish priest of San Pedro Cathedral and Vicar General.
First Bishop of Tagum (1980), then Archbishop of Palo (1985–2006).
1978 – 1979
First Bishop of Digos (1979–2003). Died 1 February 2007.
1981 – 1984
First Bishop of Mati (1984–2014). Died 13 April 2021.
1985 – 1987
Bishop of Kidapawan (1987–1995), then Bishop of Butuan (1995–2017). Died 21 October 2017.
1988 – 1993
Served the archdiocese until his death on 1 March 1993.
2001 – 2002
A son of Davao City, ordained bishop at San Pedro Cathedral on 12 July 2001.
Bishop of Digos from 2003.
2006 – present Present
Born in Tagum (1953); ordained bishop on 25 May 2006.
Priests ordained for the Archdiocese of Davao, and sons of Davao City, called to lead the Church elsewhere.
Priest of Davao, 1976
Bishop of Digos
Born in Davao City (1951). Ordained bishop at San Pedro Cathedral in 2001 as Auxiliary Bishop of Davao.
Bishop of Digos from 2003.
Priest of Davao, 1980
Archbishop of Zamboanga
Born in Davao (1956); ordained priest at Santa Ana Church, Davao City. Served as Vicar General of the Archdiocese.
Bishop of Ipil (2007–2023), then Archbishop of Zamboanga since 2023.
Priest of Davao, 1994
Bishop of Mati
Born in Calinan, Davao City (1968). His first assignment was as parochial vicar here at San Pedro Cathedral (1994–1996); later rector of St. Francis Xavier Regional Major Seminary.
Bishop of Mati since 2018.
Born in Davao City, 1970
Bishop of Alaminos
A Dominican priest, ordained in 1997.
Bishop of Alaminos since 2024, the first Dominican named a bishop in the Philippines in three decades.
Compiled from Catholic-Hierarchy, GCatholic, and CBCP News. Corrections from the archdiocesan archives are welcome at the parish office.