Pila Historical Society Foundation Inc.
2. La Villa de Santiago de Libón (1573)
The Adelantado’s grandson, Don Juán de Salcedo, as cited above, erected the next two villas in the gold paths North and South of the vast Luzon Island. When he learned about the fabled gold mines of Paracale from the natives of Laguna province in 1571, Salcedo lost no time in exploring the Bicol region in quest of the precious metal. But the locals strongly resisted his incursions to their territory. More determined than ever, he returned to the region in 1573. On the Feast of Santiago, the patron saint of Spain, he encountered on the banks of Bato Lake a prosperous kingdom known as Libong in the future province of Camarines where Paracale is located. Libong translates as “intricate” or “complex” apparently referring to its degree of social development. It eventually received Salcedo peacefully. Here he established the first Spanish settlement in Bicol with a stronghold of 80 soldiers and named it La Villa de Santiago de Libón. An imposing church made of bricks was built in the center. Libón was transferred to the jurisdiction of Albay in 1846. xiii
The original wealth and radius of influence of the place are reflected in its legend of the “golden bell.” During a Moro raid, the people hurriedly submerged the coveted bell in the Quimba River. When the marauders left, the bell was nowhere to be found and it was assumed that, for her own delectation, the river goddess had carted it to the underworld. However, in times of danger to the villa, the dutiful though greedy goddess would still peal the sonorous instrument to alert the people well ahead of time. Only with partial success did the Spaniards seek to replace the legend of the goddess with the cult of Santiago Matamoros (St. James, the bane of the Moors). xiv
The original wealth and radius of influence of the place are reflected in its legend of the “golden bell.” During a Moro raid, the people hurriedly submerged the coveted bell in the Quimba River. When the marauders left, the bell was nowhere to be found and it was assumed that, for her own delectation, the river goddess had carted it to the underworld. However, in times of danger to the villa, the dutiful though greedy goddess would still peal the sonorous instrument to alert the people well ahead of time. Only with partial success did the Spaniards seek to replace the legend of the goddess with the cult of Santiago Matamoros (St. James, the bane of the Moors). xiv