Pila, Laguna Etymology

Jack Maico
Sep 15
2 min read

The town got its name “Pila” from the Franciscan Missionaries who named it after they saw the queen of anthills. Pila is better known in the province as “Bayang Pinagpala” because it was the only town in Laguna that was not damaged during World War II.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pila,_Laguna

Special credits:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eODhUrkhvxQ

https://bluedreamer27.com/national-shrine-saint-anthony.../

https://shoestringdiary.wordpress.com/.../the-good.../

https://www.parishph.com/.../national-shrine-and-parish...

https://larga-bista.blogspot.com/.../pila-heritage...

Church in town: 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐚𝐧 𝐀𝐧𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐨 (𝐏𝐢𝐥𝐚 𝐂𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐡)

Formerly San Antonio de Padua Parish Church, the original Pila church was built in Pagalangan in 1578, with Rev. Juan de Florencia serving as its first priest. The whole structure, including the convent, was completed in 1618. The church was then transferred to its present location at the town square in 1800 due to frequent flooding in the original town center. The transfer and reconstruction of the church was finished along with the convent in 1849. Both, however, were severely damaged by an earthquake in 1880. It was once more built in the early 19th century after the damage caused by the earthquake. The church was luckily spared from the ravages of WWII.

Pila Church is among the Newest churches in Laguna. This is evident in its strong stone structure. Its red bell tower is one of its distinguishable features. The church is dedicated to Saint Anthony of Padua, and it was declared by the Pontificate of Pope John Paul II as the Diocesan Shrine of the said saint on July 9, 2002. Inside, wood is prominently seen as the material of choice for the chairs and altar. The altar is a massive structure that holds a relic of St. Anthony's garment.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pila,_Laguna

𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐏𝐢𝐥𝐚 𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲

Pila and the adjacent towns along the shores of Laguna de Bay are considered by archaeologists as some of the oldest settlements in the Philippines. The community is one of three such concentrations of population known archaeologically to have been in place before A.D. 1000.

𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐏𝐢𝐥𝐚: