St. Mary Magdalene Parish Kawit, Cavite Official 4.24

St. Mary Magdalene Church of Kawit, also known as Kawit Church, is the parish church of the municipality of Kawit, Cavite in the Philippines. This Roman Catholic church is one of the oldest churches in the Philippines.

The Jesuits first came to Kawit in 1624 to spread Christianity. The first wooden church was constructed in 1638 through the help of six Filipino families from the towns of Maragondon and Silang, Cavite. The town of Kawit, which was formerly known as Cavite Viejo during Spanish occupation, was frequented by Spanish marines, which slowly turned the town into a "red-light district". To help solve the bad reputation of the place, Manila Archbishop Miguel Garcia Serrano (1618–1629) ordered the dedication of the Kawit Church to St. Mary Magdalene, who became the patroness of the town. Some people and researchers believe that it is possible that she may not be the original patron saint of the town, since most of the old parishes in Cavite were consecrated to the Virgin Mary.

In 1737, the cornerstones of the present church were placed and the construction of the stone church began. The roof of the church were destroyed by a strong typhoon in 1831. The control of the church was transferred to the secular clergy in 1768 after the expulsion of the Jesuits from all of the Spanish Colony. The church was place then under then the Recollects in 1849. In 1869, General Emilio Aguinaldo, the president of the First Philippine Republic was baptized in this church. His birth certificate is kept inside a glass cabinet and on the left side of the altar, where the miraculous life-size (original) statue of St. Mary Magdalene is enshrined.

During the Philippine-American War in 1898, the Kawit Church was almost destroyed by the bombardment of the Americans as Filipino leaders were hiding in the church for protection. Scars from the damages suffered by the building can still be traced on the church's exterior. The church was soon repaired after.

Through the concerted efforts of the Kawiteños, the church was renovated and restored in 1990.

-Source: Wikipedia