They belong to the religious order known as the Order of Saint Augustine (OSA). Founded in the Middle Ages, it traces its roots back to Saint Augustine of Hippo who lived in the 4th and 5th centuries (354-430 AD) and whom it considers its Spiritual Founder. Saint Augustine , aside from his numerous writings and profound theological insights which earned him the distinction as one of the greatest thinkers in the history of Christianity, has left behind the set of precepts that enshrines his ideal of life lived in common under evangelical inspiration. This set of precepts which now bears his name (the Rule of Saint Augustine) regulated the life of the religious in the communities he founded during his lifetime.

The juridical existence of the Order began in 1244 through the initiative of Pope Innocent IV who initially gathered together different

The church and convent erected by the Augustinian Fathers under the Rev. Andres Urdaneta in 1565 were the first established in the Philippines.

Both were burned down on November 1, 1566. The second church was likewise destroyed by fire in March of 1628, but rebuilt soon after (1628-1629) under the administration of the historian Rev. Juan de Medina, O.S.A. The present massive church was designed and constructed during the priorship of Rev. Juan Albarran, O.S.A., (1735-1737). The Santo Niño venerated in this church since the time of Legaspi, is the center of intense devotion and religious pilgrimages through out the Visayas.

The history of the Augustinian Order in the Philippines is intimately connected with the history of the country. The Augustinians were the first missionaries ever to reach the Philippine shores. The conversion to the C atholic faith of the inhabitants of the islands of Cebu and Panay, of the provinces of Batangas, Pampanga, Tarlac, Mountain Province, La Union, llocos Norte and Sur, Abra, half of Rizal, Nueva Ecija and the greater part of Metro Manila is a living testimony of the zeal displayed by the Augustinians.

The Augustinians are also founders of different municipalities and builders of many churches, many of which still serve as houses of prayer and are historical monuments.

At present, they belong to the independent Province of Santo Nino de Cebu-Philippines, with twelve houses in their jurisdiction and are actively involved in education, parish administration, mission work and formation of candidates for religious life.

Moreover, the Province accepted the joint mission with the Australian Province in South Korea , with the Dutch Province in Indonesia , and with the Provinces of Villanova (USA), Ireland , England-Scotland in South Africa . In collaboration with the other Provinces of the Order, the Province also sends some friars to help in the apostolic and pastoral ministries.