Pila Historical Society Foundation Inc.
6. La Muy Noble Villa de Tayabas (1703)
Tayabas came from the word bayabas , a sturdy fruit tree (Psidium guajava) whose medicinal properties are widely appreciated in the Philippines. Transplanted from México by the Spanish missionaries, it grew and spread like an indigenous plant in the archipelago. Affirming the preeminence of Tayabas town, the old province of Tayabas (now Quezón) was named for it. The first name and capital of the province was Calilaya (now Unisan). The capital was transferred to Tayabas town in 1620 when the Spaniards realized the cultural and commercial superiority of the town and its harbor (now Lucena City). From the land-locked Lucbán it had been separated in1605 and formed into an independent pueblo. The town’s wealth derived from its enormous stretches of rice fields, coconut plantations and trade with the gold-producing Bikol peninsula with which it was contiguous. Its customs, music and theater are recognized as some of the most vibrant in the region. xxvi
The Franciscans transferred here their printing press from 1702-1703. In the first year, the press of the town, still simply called Tayabas, printed a funeral oration in memory of King Charles II. In the second year, it published the Vocabulario de la Lengua Tagala by Fray Domingo de los Santos, OFM. This time, in contrast to the first book, the title page refers to “La Muy Noble Villa de Tayabas” as the printing site. Like Pila’s, the Tagalog of Tayabas was considered a pristine form of the language. xxvii
To live up to its high title, the villa left no stone unturned. The parish church (now a Minor Basilica), dedicated to St. Michael the Archangel, has the distinction of presenting the longest nave in the Philippines, a land replete with distinctive churches. The villa also built three impressive ermitas (chapels) in its hallowed environs whose fringes are further studded here and there with quaint crosses. Unique in the Philippines, these crosses were chiseled by native carvers from huge volcanic rocks disgorged by Mount Banahaw through the centuries. The volcano’s crater also collapsed in 1743 and the torrent of water it unleashed demolished the old and ushered in the construction of the present church. All made of stone and limestone, the government offices included the casa real for the Spanish alcalde mayor (governor), the casa de comunidad, “which has no peer in the land,” for the local officials and the schoolhouse generously endowed and supported by community funds. xxviii
Naturally, almost all the Spaniards in the province gravitated to the fabled capital. No higher homage was given to Tayabas than when Don Enrique de Borbón, Duke of Sevilla, chose to serve as the provincial executive (1893-94) with residence in the “Very Noble Villa” – as proud and picturesque as any villa in Iberia at the twilight of the empire. xxix
The Franciscans transferred here their printing press from 1702-1703. In the first year, the press of the town, still simply called Tayabas, printed a funeral oration in memory of King Charles II. In the second year, it published the Vocabulario de la Lengua Tagala by Fray Domingo de los Santos, OFM. This time, in contrast to the first book, the title page refers to “La Muy Noble Villa de Tayabas” as the printing site. Like Pila’s, the Tagalog of Tayabas was considered a pristine form of the language. xxvii
To live up to its high title, the villa left no stone unturned. The parish church (now a Minor Basilica), dedicated to St. Michael the Archangel, has the distinction of presenting the longest nave in the Philippines, a land replete with distinctive churches. The villa also built three impressive ermitas (chapels) in its hallowed environs whose fringes are further studded here and there with quaint crosses. Unique in the Philippines, these crosses were chiseled by native carvers from huge volcanic rocks disgorged by Mount Banahaw through the centuries. The volcano’s crater also collapsed in 1743 and the torrent of water it unleashed demolished the old and ushered in the construction of the present church. All made of stone and limestone, the government offices included the casa real for the Spanish alcalde mayor (governor), the casa de comunidad, “which has no peer in the land,” for the local officials and the schoolhouse generously endowed and supported by community funds. xxviii
Naturally, almost all the Spaniards in the province gravitated to the fabled capital. No higher homage was given to Tayabas than when Don Enrique de Borbón, Duke of Sevilla, chose to serve as the provincial executive (1893-94) with residence in the “Very Noble Villa” – as proud and picturesque as any villa in Iberia at the twilight of the empire. xxix