1

BRIEF HISTORY OF CASTILLA

Earlier than 1827, Castilla was a mere barrio of the town of Bulabog in the
province of Caceres. The Spanish Dominican Friars founded the original town of
Castilla at a site along the west coast of Sorsogon Bay.

How Castilla was named has two correlating versions stating the records
of events of deep Spanish influence.

First, on pages 180 - 181 of the book “Ibalon" authored by Don Mariano
Goyena del Prado, it is stated that the town of Castilla was composed of Inarihan,
Capuy, Macalaya and Cumadcad; and the foundation of Castilla dates back from
1
antiquity'.

Second, Castilla which had its beginning at Bulabog, now a barangay of

Sorsogon, was formally organized as an independent town under the province of
Caceres in 1827. Don Eugenio Santos Martinez, a wealthy and influential Spaniard
then, recommended the transfer of the seat of government from Bulabog to where the
town is now situated. With the transfer, he likewise recommended the change of
name of Bulabog to Castilla, in honor of his hometown Castilla, Spain also the royal
2
birth place of Queen Isabela 1 ( 1451 - 1504 )''.

1
Mariano Goyena del Prado cited for his reference J. Alvarez Guena's book Viaje por Filipinas
De Manila A Albay, page 86 which stated that in the decree on the establishment of the town, it
was ordered that the place be named Castilla.

2
The marriage in 1469 of King Ferdinand V of Aragon and Queen Isabela of Castile united
several christian kingdoms which we now call Spain.
 2

In 1858, Gobernadorcillo Melecio Jalmacio made representation with the Bishop of

Albay to grant Castilla an independent and separate parish. A new parish was created
in 1876 with Father Teodosio Homillano as its first parish priest. The inauguration and
blessing of the new church fell on the Feast Day of Saint John the Baptist - hence, the
local parishioners have celebrated the festivity every June 24.

After the American occupation of Manila on August 13, 1899, General de

Division Vito Belarmino, Comandante de la Segunda Zona de Cavite, was assigned to
Albay by the Philippine Revolutionary Government. Don Emeterio Funes was appointed
by General Belarmino as colonel in command of Sorsogon contingent. Colonel Funes
divided the province of Sorsogon into two war zones. The north war zone, under
the direct command of Col. Funes, consisted of Castilla and three other
3
municipalities.

A coastal and coconut-abundant place, Castilla is one of the seven towns of

the first district of Sorsogon which is politically divided into two congressional
districts, of which the second district has nine (9) towns. Its total land area, 186.2
square kilometers ranking fourth (4th) in the sixteen towns of Sorsogon, the
municipality of Castilla is strategically located midway between province of Albay
and Sorsogon proper. Thirty-four (34) barangays comprise Castilla - fifteen (15) are
located in the hinterlands, seven (7) along the Maharlika highway and twelve (12) in the
coastal area along the west coast of Sorsogon Bay.

No known records are available for the first officials of the town of Castilla from
its founding in 1827 up to 1855.

The first recorded Capitan or Governadorcillo of Castilla (then

Bulabog) is Ignacio Lascano (1856) succeeded by Capitan Vicente Lasala (1857).

3
Other than the mention in a history book written by Cristina D. Jose that Castilla joined the
revolution during the American occupation in 1899, there are no available historical accounts
 3
that Castilla actively participated in underground movements during the Spanish and Japanese
regimes.

Other Capitanes are the following with their terms of office in chronological order:

1. Felipe Latuga - 1876 - 1877

2. Felix Cal-Ortiz - 1877 - 1879
3. Francisco Jesalva - 1879 - 1882
4. Felipe Latuga - 1882 - 1884
5. Juan Lazarte - 1884 - 1885
6. Sabas Lasala - 1885 - 1886
7. Timoteo Latuga - 1886 - 1888
8. Pablo Laudit - 1888 - 1889
9. Cipriano Bitancur - 1889 - 1891
10. Tito Latuga - 1891 - 1893
11. Adriano Latuga - 1893 - 1894
12. Alipio Levantino - 1894 - 1895

Following is the list of elected mayors from American regime up to present:

a.) American regime:

Pablo Laudit - 1905 - 1907

Valeriano Lastrilla - 1907 - 1909
Anastacio Lasala - 1909 - 1912
Simplicio Sta Ana - 1912 - 1914
Evaristo Cal-Ortiz - 1914 - 1919
Numeriano Lebitania - 1919 - 1924
Silverio Lasap - 1924 - 1928
Mariano Mapalad - 1928 - 1929
Teofilo Valenzuela - 1929 - 1931
Bonifacio Rebueno - 1931 - 1935

b.) Commonwealth:
Cipriano Haveria - 1935 - 1941
 4

c.) Japanese Occupation:

Bonifacio Rebueno - 1941 - 1945

d.) Republic:

Cipriano Haveria - 1945 - 1947

Feliculo Laurio - 1947 - 1951
Juan Doma - 1951 - 1955
Restituta Rebueno - 1955 - 1959
David Griego - 1959 - 1963
Hernando de la Paz - 1963 - 1967

The longest reigned Castilla Mayor is:

Alejandro G. Lladones Sr. - 1967 - 1992

The first Castilla Mayor under the implementation of the New Local Government
Code of 1991 is:

Joseph J. Lorenzano - 1992 - 1996, (succeeded by Joseph Eutiquio S.

Daraman, Jr. in acting capacity 1996 - 1998).

Renato G. Laurinaria - 1998 – 2007

Olivia M. Bermillo - 2007-2016

ATTY. JOAN ELIZABETH M. LORENZANO AQUENDE – Present Mayor

 5

PHYSICAL FEATURES
LOCATION

Castilla which is hemmed in by hills, mountains, the 750-hectare PNOC forest

reserve area on the north, and the Sorsogon Bay on the southern/eastern portion,
occupies the western part of the Province of Sorsogon.

In the east Castilla is bounded by Sorsogon proper and Sorsogon Bay; on the
west by the Municipality of Pilar, on the north it is bounded by Manito, Albay; and on
the south by Sorsogon Bay.

Castilla is a coastal municipality at the province of Sorsogon which is located in

the southern most of Luzon within coordinates 123 30' to 124 15' east longitude and
from 12 30' to 13 15' north latitude. Farther south from the national highway are twelve
coastal barangays along Sorsogon Bay. Salang-Buaya in Quirapi has the deepest
sea-bed (8 to 9 fathoms) making it a most ideal commercial seaport. Occasional
sightings of the world-famous Butandings in this area have been reported by fishermen.
Malawmawan Island, hidden and unspoiled by tourists, is nearby beckoning
nature-lovers with its very fine white sand beaches, corals, and rich marine resources.

The seat of government is at the Poblacion, some 4.5 kilometers from the
barangay Milagrosa junction along the national highway.

But in 1968, during the administration of then Mayor Alejandro Lladones, the
seat of municipal governance was moved to Cumadcad. Extending a semblance of
legal basis for the transfer, councilor Bienvenido Marantal authored a resolution to the
effect that transaction of official business could be facilitated due to accessibility.

The present municipal building in Cumadcad, described as annex, is said to be

“strategically located” along the national highway, being midway between the province
of Albay and Sorsogon downtown proper.
 6

LAND AREA

Castilla has a total land area of 18,620.30 hectares representing eight point
seven (8.7%) percent of the total land area of the province of Sorsogon.

It has a total land area of 4,099 hectares planted to coconut,

producing approximately 5,738.6 metric tons of copra annually.

The total land area planted to rice is 1,407 hectares; 525 hectares are irrigated;
762 hectares non-irrigated and 150 hectares upland. Approximate annual production
of irrigated rice field is 2,913.27 metric tons.

One thousand three hundred (1,300) hectares are planted to cassava; 1,070
hectares camote; 11 hectares to peanuts and 10 hectares to gabi.

Only 15 hectares are planted to abaca.

Vacant/Idle land is 710.8 hectares.
Forest area stands at 1,514 hectares.

Approximately 13,225 hectares or 71.02% of the total area are classified as

agricultural lands. Only 7942 hectares are considered productive and the rest area are
non-productive agricultural lands. (Table 1 & 2)
 7

Table # 1 Barangays of Castilla and their Respective Land Area

BARANGAYS AREA (Has.)

1. Amomonting 291.60
2. Bagalayag 421.60
3. Bagong Sirang 161.10
4. Bonga 322.00
5. Buenavista 912.60
6. Burabod 527.50
7. Caburacan 547.20
8. Canjela 565.30
9. Cogon 491.80
10. Cumadcad 457.20
11. Dancalan 421.40
12. Dinapa 537.50
13. La Union 762.60
14. Libtong 768.60
15. Loreto 741.20
16. Macalaya 718.60
17. Maracabac 331.20
18. Mayon 734.50
19. Milagrosa 1,343.90
20. Miluya 402.10
21. Mipangi 421.70
22. Monte Carmelo 401.10
23. Oras 805.50
24. Pandan 826.50
25. Poblacion 779.20
26. Quirapi 186.00
27. Saclayan 120.00
28. Salvacion 121.70
29. San Isidro 1,138.20
30. San Rafael 287.10
31. San Roque 327.10
32. San Vicente 810.00
33. Sogoy 609.70
34. Tomalaytay 326.1
0
TOTAL LAND AREA
18,620.3
0
 8
Table # 2 Area Devoted to Agricultural Crop Production

% TO TOTAL
CROPS % TO TOTAL OF
AGRICULTURAL
AREA (HAS.) MUNICIPAL LAND
LAND DEVOTED TO
AREA
CROP PRODUCTION

1. Rice
1,412 9.92% 7.58%
2. Corn
125 87% 67%
3. Others

Abaca
42.25 28% .22%
Coconut
4,126 27.79% 22.15%
Root Crops

Camote
Cassava 1,070 7.25% 5.74%
Gabi 1,300 8.81% 6.98%
10 .06% .05%
Vegetables

Leafy
Fruit 20 .13% .10%
Root 40 .27% .20%
20 .13% .05%
Legumes

Peanut
Bush/Pole Sitaw 50
30 .54% .42%

Table # 3 Area Production and Value of Production by Major Crops

 9

Major Crops Production

Area Has. % to Total Agri.
Land Devoted to
Total Value of
Crop Production
Production

1. Rice

- Irrigated
- Non-Irrigated 640 5,258.44 kilos 522,584.40
782 7,376 kilos 737,600.00
2. Corn
125 125 15,000.00
3. Others
9,250
Rootcrops

Cassava
Camote 1,300 32,142 257,136.00
Gabi 1,070 20,000 300,000.00
10 1,260 31,500.00
Vegetables

Leafy
Fruit 20
Root 40 42,300 423,000.00
20 139,500 2,092,500
Legumes

Peanut
Bush/Pole Sitaw 50
30 1,500 37,500.00

TOPOGRAPHY
 10

Castilla has a varied and irregular topography. While the northern part and
south-eastern portion along the coast are mountainous and hilly, the rest of the
municipality is level to nearly level land covering 11,270.30 hectares or 60.53% of the
total area. Irrigated rice field sparsely occupy the lowlands. Coconut trees abundantly
cover the mountain slopes, hills and valleys, and a number of tributaries connect to the
Sorsogon Bay on the southern/eastern part.

Table # 4 Topography and Drainage

Features Name/Number Description

(Area, Depth, etc.)

Streams
Midanlog creek, Mayon creek, During dry season the depth
Inaliganan Cutad and Tandancina is .30m and 2m or more rainy
Creek. days.
Springs
Canjela Spring
Source of Cumadcad water system
San Rafael Springs
Source of integrated waterworks
of San Vicente & Sn. Rafael
San Isidro Springs
Source of Poblacion water system
La Union Spring
Source of integrated waterworks
of La Union and Milagrosa
Bagong Sirang
Source of Bagong Sirang
waterworks
Amomonting Spring
Source of Amomonting
Saclayan Spring waterworks

Dinapa Spring Source of Saclayan waterworks

Source of proposed Dinapa

Oras Spring waterworks

Proposed source of integrated

waterworks of Oras and adjacent
Malapandan, Macalaya Springs barangays

Source of Macalaya waterworks

Table # 4 a Topography and Drainage

 11

Features Name/Number Description

(Area, Depth, etc.)

Rivers
Pili River, Cumadcad, Malbog and The deepest part is 2m. and the
Maypangi River shallowest part is 20 cm.* (Source
NIA irrigation System)
Ditches/National
NIA Canal Can irrigate only 625 has. riceland.
During drought, the canals dry up
due to insufficient source of gravity
of irrigation water.
Swampy Areas
Poblacion, Bonga, Quirapi, mangrove and nipa swamps. Total
Saclayan, Tomalaytay and area is 196 has.
Macalaya
Falls, Lakes and
impoundments NONE NONE

Marches
NONE NONE
Forest
Canjela, Cogon, La Union, Re-forestration area is 1,512.90 has.
Milagrosa, Pandan and Salvacion
Flat Lands
Mayon, Miluya, Burabod, Dinapa, Irrigated riceland is 525 hectares
Amomonting, Monte Carmelo and
Maracabac
Plateau Valley
NONE NONE
Delta
Simbaan River Situated at Macalaya, Depth is 1m
at high tide and 20 cm. at low tide
Source : Baseline Survey

CLIMATE
 12

Castilla falls under the type II climate, the Corona climate classification system.
This type of climate has no dry season but with a very distinct maximum rain period
from November to January.

Two air streams dominate the climate of the municipality of Castilla. These air
streams are the monsoon and the pacific trade winds, producing variations in the area.
During April and May, the north pacific trade winds prevail from October to March the
northeast monsoon occurs while southwest monsoon occurs from June to September.

Having a type A rainfall, Castilla is rainy throughout the year with at most 1.5
mm. during dry months.

The total rainfall in 2009 is 361.675mm. The months most wet are January,
March, August, October, November and December with an average of 12.67 mm.
February, April, May, June, July, September are dry months.

The annual mean temperature is 27.675 degree celsius. The coolest month is
February having a temperature mean of 26.4 degree celsius. The warmest months are
May, July and September with a monthly mean of 29 degree celsius and monthly
average maximum of 34.4 degree celsius.