Lila, Bohol

Lila
—  Municipality  —
Map of Bohol showing the location of Lila
Lila Location in the Philippines
Coordinates: 9°36′N 124°06′E
Country	Philippines
Region	Central Visayas
Province	Bohol
District	3rd district of Bohol
Incorporated (Town)	January 1, 1915
Barangays	18
Government
• Mayor	Telesforo L. Balagosa
• Vice Mayor	Frederick H. Raut
• Councilors	Alex E. Paigan Arsenia B. Raut Yolanda Cabatino Virgilio Cahiles Carmelo Lapac Rex Magkilat Samuel Lagumbay Arturio Piollo, III
• ABC President	Edilberto L. Laganson
• SK Chairman	Mary Grace Acorda
Area
• Total	36.40 km2 (14.1 sq mi)
Population (2007)
• Total	10,801
• Density	296.7/km2 (768.5/sq mi)
Time zone	PST (UTC+8)
ZIP code	6304
Income class	5th class

Lila is a 5th class municipality in the province of Bohol, Philippines. According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 10,801 people.

History

Way back in 1869, during the Spanish Regime, a place called “Tinubdan” was discovered by the Spaniards. They were enthralled by the beauty of the place. Passing by a pool fed by a spring, their attention was caught by the flowering water lilies whose flowers where of lilac, a unique shade of the color violet. And thus the place was referred to as Lilac which later evolved into Lila.

The coastal town of Lila once belonged to the Municipality of Dimiao. It was composed of the barrios of the municipalities of Loay and Dimiao. In 1899, during the Spanish-American war, the municipal building, the church and neighboring houses were razed to the ground and burned. Thus, no records can be shown stating when Lila was annexed to the town of Dimiao. However, the Agustinian mission in Bohol has written that Lila was a separate municipality in 1879 and with a population of 4,023.

As early as in 1899, the faith and love for the Blessed Virgin Mary was firmly engraved in the hearts of the people of Lila. During the conflagration, the image of the Our Lady of the Holy Rosary was found intact among the ashes.

A chapel was constructed to provide shelter for the image, yet again; the chapel was burned down by the Americans. However, the image was found intact and without the slightest sign of damage after the 2nd conflagration. And so, when the time came for the parish church of Lila was to be established, the Blessed Virgin was lovingly enthroned as their Patroness.

Later, a town was founded and part of the municipality was annexed back to Loay and part to Dimiao. From that time up to 1914, the Municipal Government of Lila ceased to function.

However, in 1915 the Municipality of Lila was re-established. That part of Lila annexed to Dimiao and those annexed to Loay were returned and formed the new municipality of Lila.

For the church, it was initially administered alternately by a priest stationed in Loay and Dimiao due to the scarcity of priests. It was only in 1921 that the priest of Lila had a residential parish. The church and the convent built then were only made of light materials.

In 1915, during the administration of Rev. Fr. Narciso Maglasang with full cooperation of the parishioners, the present church was built. The convent was constructed under the able administration of Rev. Fr. Miguel Ortega sometime in the year 1941.

World War II came and, like all other coastal towns, the Japanese caused untold sufferings to the people of the town. Many civilians were tortured and the women raped. Atrocities were done usually by tying the natives to their houses then burning them. If not, they were killed with bayonets and shot. More or less, some thirty-one civilians were killed during the Japanese occupation.

After World War II, the town prospered. It is bounded in the east by the Municipality of Dimiao, in the west by the Municipality of Loay and in the north by the Municipality of Loboc.

Barangays

Lila is politically subdivided into 18 barangays. In 1957, the sitio of Taug Norte, then part of barrio Taug, was separated into an independent barrio.

Banban Bonkokan Ilaya Bonkokan Ubos Calvario Candulang Catugasan Cayupo Cogon Jambawan

La Fortuna Lomanoy Macalingan Malinao East Malinao West Nagsulay Poblacion Taug Tiguis

Town hall		Catholic Church

External links

• Lila
• History of Lila
• Municipality of Lila
• Philippine Standard Geographic Code
• 2000 Philippine Census Information
• 2007 Philippine Census Information