The convent and church of San Francisco de Asis in Intramuros were razed to the ground during the liberation of Manila in 1945. Instead of rebuilding at the same location, the Franciscans decided to construct a new church elsewhere.

On July 17, 1951, a contract was signed between the Franciscans and the Ayala Corporation, which agreed to donate two hectares of land at Forbes Park, Makati, Rizal, on which the Franciscans committed to construct a church and convent (California Mission-style).

The turn of the twentieth century brought about dramatic changes in the life of the Philippines. In I898, Spain ceded the Philippines to the United States. Then in 1902 the Philippine Education Act established the system of public schools, and no religious instruction was allowed in those schools. There was a great need for English-speaking teachers, new Catholic schools and missionaries as most of the Spanish missionaries and clergy had left the country.