Excellently restored, the church in Calasiao gives maximum credit to its present stewards and parishioners who share a deep sense of history and aesthetic sensibility. Just one look at it the viewer is taken in by its elegant beauty, at once inspiring and ennobling. What happens next is an invitation to history and perhaps, an encounter with one and only source of eternal beauty.
Towards the latter part of seventeenth century, the Dominician Provincial Chapter placed the Parish of Calasiao (derived from “Calasian” which means a place of Lightnings) under the patronage of St. Paul. However, from 1621 onwards, it became the parish of Sts. Peter and Paul, presumably because a newer and bigger church was erected by Fr. Juan Maldonado de San Pedro Martin who was the town’s first parish priest.
In 1763, when the local rebel-hero, Palaris, took up arms against the government, the church was put to the torch. The alcalde mayor and other Spaniards besieged by the rebels of Binalatongan (later called San Carlos), took refuge in the brick tower as the church and convent were burning. The religious ( the Dominicans present inside the convent) save themselves by escaping with the help of the insurgents respected them.
Ten years after this episode, in 1773, Bishop Miguel Garcia de Nueva Segovia chose the town of Calasiao as the site of Diocesan Synod in compliance with the ruling of the Provincial Council of Manila 1771 which had provided in its Acts that the diocesan bishops should hold Diocesan Synods to better implement church decrees. According to records, Calasiao was selected because it was centrally located as well as to indicate that the church and the convent, at the time had already risen from the ruins.
Later in 1804, a new church of three naves, measuring 89 vara ( yards) in length, 22 in width and 19 in height with two rows of windows, was built. It has also a bell tower older than the church itself. But unfortunately, in 1841 or 1842, this church was leveled to the ground once again. The church was rebuilt was rebuilt a little later by Fr. Ramon Dalmau with the cooperation of his parishioners. But before this church was fully completed, it was burned once more in 1852. Fr. Ramon Suarez rebuilt the church between 1853 – 1858. When the last Dominican Vicar, Fr. Bonifacio Probanza, left Calasiao in 1898, the church of Sts. Peter and Paul were reputed to be the richest church in ornaments in the entire Province of Pangasinan.
During the American era secular priest had taken over as administrator of the Parish. The church was renovated when it hosted the Christ the King event in 1936. In 1945, the Cathedral and the Archbishop’s palace from Lingayen temporarily transferred to Calasiao because the one in Lingayen then had been destroyed during the war. Thus, for three years, Calasiao had this singular privilege. People consider miraculous the fact that during the Liberation, three bombs were thrown in the direction of the church and convents but these bombs failed to explode, thus saving both structures.
After the Second World War, Fr. Juan Bello become parish priest, followed by Fathers Benigno Serafica, Jose Ferrer, Msgr. Oscar Aquino, Bishops Jesus Cabrera, Msgr Luis Ungson, ably assisted by FR. Romwell Fabregas and the parish Priest Fr. Jose Cariño, and Allen O. Romero, and assistant Parish Priest and Rev. Fr. DouglasNicolas. In an interview with Msgr. Luis B. Ungson, he pointed out that the hole on the second floor of the convent through which the plague victims in the 17th and 18th centuries were blessed. This was done so that the priest would not be directly exposed to the virus. The hole since then was sealed but the outline is still visible. Another interesting anecdote they share is that the churh’s large wooden table on the second floor were used as setting for the movie, “Mga Kwento ni Lola Basyang”, The Sleeping Beauty episode.
Any visitor who goes up the staircase leading to the second floor of the convent cannot fail to notice the oil painting of Fr. Luis Gandullo, in a prayful mood. Records reveal that the Fr. Gandullo, when he assigned in Pangasinan, Worked in Calasiao and become Vicar of Binalatongan or San Carlos in the early 17th century. His apostolic zeal was exemplary, visiting men and women in the remotest area just to be able to attend to their spiritual needs. He was also known to be a mystic, conversing intimately with God and His Saints in the conversion of souls. In fact, Fr. Gandullo had been instrumental in softening the initial resistance of the natives of Pangasinan to evangelization. That his presence and influence continue to holds way in not an understatement.
The largely, conservative parishioners have proven quite supportive of parish concerns. With dominantly young population, Calasiao’s parish has taken steps to insure the youth involvement. The Catholic Youth Movement, which was introduced by Msgr, Luis B. Ungson in Pangasinan, is very active. Among its activities are the regular seminars held in the parish to awaken the youth’s role and relationship with themselves, with their families and friends and with community; the choir; the catechetical work; the social apostolate. Indeed, the parish can count on its young blood to sustain the renewal of faith among the parishioners.
The church suffered from the earthquake of July 16, 1990. Its belfry was totally destroyed so that the new one, exactly life the original, was constructed. All the antique statue has been cleaned and restored as well as the ceiling’s original, eye-catching floral motif thanks to the prayers and devotions of the knelling Msgr. Luis B. Ungson the Architect, the rebuilder, the original antiquity of the church was restored.
Msgr, Luis B. Ungson travelling miles from Canada crisscrossing the United States. The church acquires fully automatic bells or chimes which could be heard within 7 or 8 kilometer-radius if there are no atmospheric disturbances. Donated by the generous society the high-tech bells ring in Angelus three times a day and other various hymns as well as Christmas carols. The antique bells are preserve inside a small tower.
During the stewardship of Rev. Fr. Fidelis B. Layog and Rev. Fr. John Palinar were sent to the Parish of Sts. Peter and Paul to move forward slowly but surely to forge a legacy in making the impossible dream of the parishioners of Calasiao to come true which the other parish priest that have come and gone dare not do because of the huge amount of money involved in the general repair and renovation of the aging antiquated church convent. True to the expectations of the people and with divine guidance, armed with prayers and strong determination, they ventured into the multi-million-peso project for of the general renovation of the convent. After a couple of months of fund raising from the kind and generous of hearts and the overwhelming support and donation from people of all walks of life from far and near, the project is now nearing completion. Complete with an Adoration Chapel and life size monuments of Christ apostles and Filipino Saints which were constructed and build atop the gates within the front perimeter of the church. Holy Name Society and the Knights of Columbus Chamber is nearing completion and at the back of the Church a new Patio del Pueblo has been constructed.
Very recently the celebration of the Christ The King was held in the church of Sts. Peter and Paul over willingly successful.
MUNICIPALITY OF CALASIAO 
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