"BRIEF HISTORY OF PINILI ILOCOS NORTE"
Pinili
was established as a town on January 1, 1920 by virtue of Executive Order No.92
s.1919, which was signed by the governor general on December 20, 1919,
The place was formerly covered by a thick forest where wild
animals abound. In 1920, at the height of the Filipino-American War, the rebel
priest, Monsignor Gregono Aglipay, fled to the thick forest with several of his
men and formed his sandatahan, to fight against the Americans who invaded the
province. The Filipino soldiers under his command were weak in military tactics,
and almost outnumbered by the enemies. To protect soldiers from the attack of
the invaders, Monsignor Aglipay ordered some of his men to climb the tallest
tamarind tree on top of the hill to watch for the coming of the American forces.
When the watchers saw that there was something unusual they reported it to the
hiding soldiers, so that they would be ready to fight. This was how the place
was used during the war. For further protection, the priest ordered the settlers
to build their houses newer to each other,
After the war, the people agreed to form a barrio making
Ignacio Lahadez and Gabriel Pagdilao as their heads. After some months of
staying in the settlement, Lafradez and Pagdilao were suspected of initiating a
rebellion against the government. So they were imprisoned in Laoag where they
met Buenaventura Lacuesta who was also imprisoned without knowing his fault. The
three were set free when the provincial government found out that there was no
sufficient evidence against them.
The three returned to the place and continued their objective
- to establish a town. Gabriel Pagdilao went to
The people met to plan and lay out the town. The thick forest
that covered the town was ultimately wiped out. Streets were set and houses were
built. The southern part was occupied by those from Badoc, while the northern
part was occupied by those from Batac and Paoay.
Inhabitants increased until July 7,1902, when a cholera
epidemic occurred in the place killing many people, including Buenaventura
Lacuesta. The two leaders who were left continued their plan, but unfortunately
after seven years, Gabriel Pagdilao died. Lafradez was too old then to carry his
tasks.
However, the people were not discouraged, On April 15, 1919,
a meeting was held in the settlement to elect a new leader who would help the
aging Lafradez in carrying out the plan. Rupuerto Valbuena, a public school
teacher, was elected.
After assuming the position, he prepared a petition and
forwarded it to Msgr. Gregorio Aglipay requesting his assistance in the
movement. The petition was also signed by Ignacio Lafradez, Mariano Coloma,
Heracleb Edmalin, Simeon Dacanay, Tito Bagsac, Simeon Pagdilao, Atanacio
Catgado, Bibiano Urbano, Mamerto Saludes, Ponciano Fernandez, Modesto Pagdilao,
Eusebio Buduan, Julian Lafradez, Mariano Lafradez, Matias Coloma, Lorenzo
Albano, Tomas Rafla, and Rupuerto Valbuena. In return, Msgr. Aglipay gave them
his assurance of full support and this encouraged the people to continue the
movement.
Another petition signed by .1,188 inhabitants of the 24
barrios comprising the proposed town was made by the representatives of the
second district requesting the higher authorities to approve the move to
establish a municipality. Copies of the said petition were forwarded to the
provincial board of Ilocos Norte, the House of Representatives, the Senate, and
the Office of the Governor General of the
The bill was unanimously approved by all the above-mentioned
offices, so it became a law. On November 28, 1919, the provincial board of
Ilocos Norte passed Resolution No. 883 requesting the governor general of the
On December 20, 1919, the governor general of the
Origin of Its Name
There were three factors that made Pinili (Pinili means selected)
the name of the town:
1. General Gregorio Aglipay selected it as the place of refuge of his army.
2. The place was inhabited only by selected people.
3. The place was chosen as the site of the poblacion because of its historical
value.