St. James Chruch Dapitan 

St. James Church was originally constructed in 1871 under the Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Juan Gelabert, S.J. and completed before the turn of the century, with the people of Dapitan rendering voluntary labor and supplying free local materials. Repaired and renovated in 1904, the original galvanized iron wall was replaced with the present solid masonry and the wooden floor changed with mortar, the work was completed in 1909 under the parish priest Rev. Fr. Antonio Obach, S.J. with the same assistance from the people as in the original construction. The structure underwent another major improvement with the concreting of the floor in 1915 and the remodeling of the sanctuary in 1921 under the parish priest Rev. Fr. Eliseo Gil, S.J. After how many years, St. James Church underwent repaired and reconstructed in 1964 with almost the whole structure changed with reinforced concrete and major improvements introduced the work was undertaken by the people of the city of Dapitan through the initiative and exclusive leadership of the Dapitan Catholic Action with the parish priest Rev. Fr. Antonio Hamak, exercising general supervision on the project. The church was inaugurated on July 23, 1967, this edifice stands as a living monument to the faithful of the city of Dapitan.

Information credit to Dapitan City Catholic Action, Historical Marker 1963-1967.