History of Pila

In 1798, a group of gobernadorcillos from the surrounding towns of Sta. Cruz, Liliw, Nagcarlan, Baé and Los Baños complained of the thick mud on the impassable roads leading into the Pila due to the floodwaters; this situation hindered their business transactions. As the 19th century approached, the fate of Pila was still adrift on the water, literally as well as symbolically (Santiago 1983). (36)

When the prolonged celebrations welcoming the new century had subsided, the provincial commission decided to make a follow-up ocular inspection of Pila; they now found it in a “deplorable situation.” Thus, a third decree was published on 24 May 1800 reordering the removal of the town to Sta. Clara. In the hope of expediting the process, the governor permitted for the first time the demolition of the deteriorating church and town hall so that their materials could be re-used in the new site. The archbishop of Manila also approved the construction of a temporary wooden church at Sta. Clara. Again the contras appealed the government decision, rehashing their old arguments in a paper signed by a long list of both prominent and humble folks. Still trying to please most of the people all the time, the governor-general agreed to suspend the latest decree (Santiago 1983).(37)