The history of Guadalupe Viejo evolves around its five (5) century old church named after the Patron Saint of the first Spanish settlers, the Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe (Our Lady of Guadalupe), now known as the Nuestra Señora de Gracia (our Lady of Grace) Parish. The foundation of this church and Monastery of the Augustinian Order was laid in 1601 and construction work was finished in 1629. After
the Chinese uprising of 1639, this sanctuary served as a seat of devotion for the Chinese. The building withstood the earthquakes of 1880 and the structure was rebuilt in 1882 by Rev. Jose Corujedo, OSA, site of an orphan asylum and trade school administered by the Augustinian Order for the benefit of the children of the Cholera outbreak victims in 1882. During the early battles between Americans and Filipinos in February 1899, a fire broke out and ruined both church and the monastery. Barangay Guadalupe Viejo has withstood the test of time within the City of Makati. Today, it is a picture of progress as seen in the fast development of the shopping center popularly known as the Rockwell Center, the other first-class shopping center in Makati. Rockwell features the Power Plant Mall popular with expatriates and high-class clienteles. At the periphery of the center are many high-end residential condominium towers, the Asian Eye Institute, and a famous Ateneo Graduate School.
