History of Pila

The most distinguished resident of Pila is Retired Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, Lorenzo Relova y Rivera (b. 1916). Bearing the two most prominent surnames of Pila, he was born and grew up in the town (Sevilla 1985: 177-1788). (78)

In banking and finance, the late Jose “Jobo” Fernandez, Jr. (1923-1994) excelled, serving as the Central Bank governor in both the Marcos and Aquino administrations. Although his father, Jose Sr., was from Mabitac, his mother, Gerundina Bartolome y Rivera was from Pila and he grew up in Pila. As cited earlier, he was a member of the first battalion of the 45th Regiment of Hunters ROTC Guerillas in the town during the last war (Philansa 1974, Mojica 1965:571). (79)
     
In the spiritual domain should be cited the saintly Fr. Hernando Maceda SJ (1918-1994) who devoted his life quietly counseling and comforting the poor, the sick and those who mourned, especially among his town mates. He was born and reared in Pila after his parents, Atty. And Mrs. Casto Maceda, originally of Sta. Cruz and Nagcarlan, decided to settle in the town. (Bernad 1974:7, 12)(80)

The other illustrations figure in the religious field is His Eminence, Ricardo J. Cardinal Vidal, Archbishop of Cebu (b. 1931). His father, as cited earlier, is a Pileño while his mother, the former Natividad Jamin was from Mogpog, Marinduque where the Cardinal was born. His father was appointed municipal treasurer of Mogpog by Governor Pedro del Mundo who had married Corazon Rivera of Pila (younger sister of Mercedes Rivera). It was the first Pileño priest, Fr. Codera, who encouraged Vidal in his vocation especially at a time when the young seminarian had developed a lung ailment. Of a humble family, the cardinal rose from the priestly ranks to become a “Prince of the Church,” which reminds us that the Catholic Church is the genuine “equalizer” of peoples in the modern world. The examples of Cardinal Vidal and Fr. Maceda show the depth and breadth reached by the roots of the Catholic Faith in the town since the Spanish missionaries implanted it in the “soil” of Pila (its ancient meaning) more than four centuries ago (see Bernad: 1974:7, 12; Perard 1987; Darang 1993a, 1994b).(81)
     
Dr. Antonio A. Rivera (b. 1943; M.D. 1967 U.P.), son of Dr. Jaime O. Rivera, is one of the country’s luminaries in orthopedic surgery and sports medicine.

In music, Pila’s hallmark, reigns Ms. Digna Agra-Roxas, composer, organist and accordionist, music teacher and arranger who has published innumerable pieces for the piano and other instruments. Her son, Dr. Artemio Roxas, Jr. (b. 1956; MD 1981 UST) has followed in her footsteps besides being a physician of note specializing in neurology. Ms Mercedes A. Rivera-de Silva was voted one of the Ten Outstanding students of 1965 in the field of music. She now teaches music and piano at the International School.
     
The most recent maker of local history in the field of politics was the late mayor, Mr. Querubin Relova y Agra (b. 1931), who served from 1977 to 1986 and from 1987 to 1988. In the election of 1995, he ran for mayor unchallenged – the first time this ever happened in the town. Having served for twenty years and thus far the longest serving mayor in the history of Pila, Relova had broken the enviable record of Don Antonio Maglilo in the 17th to the 18th century who worked as the town executive for 16 years (1696-1712). (82)