Pila Historical Society Foundation Inc.
Chronicles and Memories
The title of villa was initially conferred by an appreciative governor-general but, as in nearly all colonial grants, royal confirmation was necessary and was, in turn, almost invariably given by the king. The first Philippine villa, Cebú, was founded by the first Spanish Governor-General, Don Miguel López de Legazpi and the next two, Libón and Vigan, by his grandson, Don Juán de Salcedo, in the name, respectively of Legazpi and his successor, Don Guido de Labezares. Salcedo was also the discoverer of the nearby gold mines of Paracale and the Igorots, the two richest in the archipelago, clearly linking the Philippine villas with gold.xi
The first four villas in the 16th century, Cebú, Libón, Vigan and Arévalo were permanently recorded in the annals of the Conquest. The next two, Pila in the early 17th and Tayabas in the early 18th century, have almost lost the memory of their unique status save for the fact that this was first inscribed in the title page of a book published at the time in their respective printing presses run by the Franciscan friars. Only the original royal orders of conferment to the last two villas, Bacolor and Lipá, are still extant in the Spanish archives but neither of the two at present possesses a copy of it. The decree on Lipá, together with the grant describing its coat of arms was published in the official newspaper, Gaceta de Manila in 1887.
With the transition to the American Regime in the 20th century, the Philippine villas lapsed into history totally shedding their official significance.
The capsule histories of the eight Spanish villas and two aspirant towns in the Philippines follow.
The first four villas in the 16th century, Cebú, Libón, Vigan and Arévalo were permanently recorded in the annals of the Conquest. The next two, Pila in the early 17th and Tayabas in the early 18th century, have almost lost the memory of their unique status save for the fact that this was first inscribed in the title page of a book published at the time in their respective printing presses run by the Franciscan friars. Only the original royal orders of conferment to the last two villas, Bacolor and Lipá, are still extant in the Spanish archives but neither of the two at present possesses a copy of it. The decree on Lipá, together with the grant describing its coat of arms was published in the official newspaper, Gaceta de Manila in 1887.
With the transition to the American Regime in the 20th century, the Philippine villas lapsed into history totally shedding their official significance.
The capsule histories of the eight Spanish villas and two aspirant towns in the Philippines follow.