the church's name was in honor of teresa of avila, its patron saint. talisay during the spanish times was a property of augustinian friars and a "visita" of san nicolas, which was a district south of then municipality of cebu and to which it was later annexed. the area separated from san nicolas when the local population boomed and on august 16, 1836, the parish was declared independent under father juan soriano by virtue of a royal decree signed on april 25, 1836.