We invite readers to share historical stories, notes, and photographs of San Jose. We intend to maintain this website to serve as repository of such historical mementos after this document preservation project is completed. Should the plan of DLSU to write a history book about the town materialize, the materials you share may, with your consent, also be cited.

Please send your historical mementos to mocastillo11@gmail.com

We may edit any submissions, omit materials submitted in whole or in part, make corrections or do minor rework to achieve quality and consistency of materials.

From Ambassador Juan A. Ona:
In this essay, Ambassador Ona explains the context and significance of the Libro de Inventario page handwritten by Fr. José Burgos and signed by him and Manila Archbishop Gregorio Melitón Martinez shown as the first photo in the Gallery section of this website. The Archbishop held Fr. Burgos in high esteem but was unable to stop his execution.

From Marlou O. Castillo:
Fr. Manuel Blanco, OSA, builder of the modern-day church and convent of San Jose, is considered the Father of Philippine Botany. His book, Flora de Filipinas, published in 1837 was the first complete guide on Philippine flora. This is but a glimpse of his illustrious life.

From Ambassador Juan A. Ona:
Ambassador Ona’s paternal grandfather and namesake, the first medical graduate of UST from San Jose, passed away in line of duty at the age of 31 during the cholera epidemic that ravaged Batangas province in the early 1900s. A timely sharing during this time of Covid-19 when front-line medical practitioners are succumbing to the virus.

From Aaron John Briones:
Aaron Briones, a student at the University of Sto. Tomas in his early 20s, tells the story of three San Jose heroes who, during the Japanese occupation, chose to give up their lives so that others might live. One of them was the Mayor of San Jose; and another, the Parish Priest whose cause of beatification is now under study at the Vatican.

Photos Shared by Aaron John Briones:
Aaron shares old photographs of San Jose –two from the 1920s and another from the early 1950s– from the collection of his great grandparents. The first two, although faded, provide a peek at life in San Jose a century ago.

From Marlou O. Castillo:
During the Covid lockdown in the third quarter of 2020, De La Salle University invited members of the academic community, including alumni, to share how they were spending their lockdown time productively for possible publication of their experiences. In response, the writer put together this article which was published in the August 2021 issue of “We, Lasallians”, an online publication of DLSU. The article tells the story of how this historical preservation project was conceived half a century ago, how it got restarted in 2018, and how we got to where we are today.