Holy Child Parish – Villaba

Villaba lies within the Third Congressional District of the Province of Leyte and ranks first in population among the 13 original municipalities of the district, which reduced to five (5) after the new Province of Biliran was made. The entire municipality has a land area approximately 12,000 hectares wherein agriculture is the dominant land use making agricultural activities and production as the major source of its income. About one-half of its area is mountainous and hilly. The largest mountain range is situated East of the municipality where the famous battle occurred during the Japanese occupation, the Buga-buga Hills.

Villaba is one of the satellite municipalities of Leyte in Eastern Visayas Region. It is located in the Northwestern part of Leyte, composed of 35 barangays with a population of 50,000 bounded on the North by the Municipalities of Tabango and Leyte. The Eastern portion is bounded by the town of Kananga and Southern portion by the Municipalities of Matag-ob and Palompon.

The history of Villaba could be traced back when it was discovered by Boholano traders. These traders landed on the western cost and found fertile plains and built their houses along the river and forest. Along the river grew the abundancia luxuriant trees called “Hindang”. Hence the settlers called the river Hamindangon.

During the colonization of the Philippines by the Spanish conquistadores, a group of Spaniards were stranded on the shore of Hamindangon and they named the settlement “Nueva Galicia” in honor of the wife of the Spanish Provincial Governor of Leyte.

The Spanish Governor General in Manila who then represented both the church and the state ordered that the tribunal and the church be built adjacent to each other. The Parish Priest then, the Reverend Pantaleon de Veyra followed the order and constructed the church, the tribunal and school house through forced labor and pintakasi.

While the construction was going on, another group of Spaniards on an inspection tour landed on the shores of Nueva Galicia. This group of Spaniards renamed the village to “Villa Alba” or Village of Alba, in honor of the wife of the Spanish Governor in Manila, Dona Pia Alba. Villa Alba the third name was then later shortened to “Villaba” when the town was officially established. The municipality of Villaba was formerly a part of the Municipality of San Isidro, Leyte.

During that period, Villaba was then ran by local executives known as Capitan. For want of Official records, however, to provide a complete list and their specific term of office, the following have served in said capacity: Andres Gervacio, Antonio Dejillo, Fortunato Cabilar, Hermogenes Tumamak, Casimero Tumamak, Tomas Tumamak and Luciano Domael.

In June 1910, the Provincial Board of Leyte passed and approved a resolution creating the Municipality of Villaba. Since then, there was continuous change of Chief Executive in the Municipality. And now its celebrating the 130th foundation of the Church built by the people of Villaba.