The story of St. William’s Cathedral, more commonly known as Laoag Cathedral, began in 1580 when the Augustinian missionaries established a parish in Laoag. The original structure was made of wood and thatch, typical of early mission churches. As the town grew, a more permanent church was planned. The stone foundations of the current structure were laid in 1612, marking the start of what would become a central feature of the city for centuries.