History of Pila

Two hundred years later, in 1571, the Spanish conquistadors, led by Don Juan de Salcedo, “discovered” Pila in Pagalangan after the “pacification” of Manila. On 14 November of the same year Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, the first Spanish governor-general, awarded the encomienda (tributes) of Pagalangan and other Laguna villages to Don Francisco de Herrera, a regidor (councilman) of Manila. With the reorganization of the encomiendas in 1575, the tributes of Pila were granted to Don Hernando Ramirez on 29 July. This was the first time the name “Pila” appeared in Spanish records. (6-A)

In recognition of its extensive territory and sphere of influence as well as the nobility of its people in background and customs, the town was conferred the special title, “La Noble Villa de Pila” and adorned with a coat of arms. (   ) As privileged subjects of the King, the Pileños were apparently exempted from forced labor of the general type such as felling and hauling trees in the forests of distant regions and building, repairing and manning ships for the galleon trade. A villa was next in rank to a city, which could also be declared a villa. In all his decrees, the king formally addressed the villas collectively. “La Muy Heróica Villa y Corte de Madrid” was the premier villa of the empire “where the sun does not set.” “The Distinguished and Ever Loyal City of Manila” was, however, not designated a villa. Besides Pila, only a handful of Philippine towns in the sixteenth century merited this appellation from the fastidious conquistadors. (Tormo Sanz 1971:123, 144-149; San Agustin 1975:345-346; Zaide 1979:14-24; San Buenaventura 1613, title page & 707; Huerta 1855:137-139). (6-B)