The festival is the celebration
and thanksgiving of its people for the prosperous harvest and grace of
God. It stands for Palay (rice), Isda (fish), Likas na Yaman (natural
resources), Antigo (antiques like jars, pots, and chinawares) and
Halaman (plants) found in the so called “Bayang Pinagpala”.Pila, Laguna - Pailah Festival
Pailah Festival named after from its town's ancient name Pila, Laguna. "PAILAH" also derived as Palay (Rice) as their major crop since Hispanic era, Isda (Fish) since the municipality is also near in the lake, Tilapia is also one of their livelihood, Lilok Antigo (Antique Carvings)
along the district not only from the crops farming and fishing they
have dependent but they also have handicraft products to make this town
also known as one of the best suppliers of native products and wood
carvings which is Laguna is famous to its talents and skills. Halaman (Ornamental plants)
they have produced a lot of supplies for different places of Manila and
its neighboring provinces for their premier class of ornamental plants.
The town of Pila is the site for some well-preserved houses dating back to the Spanish period as well as the old Saint Anthony of Padua Parish Church, the first Antonine church in the Philippines.
Don Felizardo Rivera, who donated his lands to the church and municipal government, is the recognized founder of Pila. He is the ancestor of prominent families in Pila surnamed Rivera, Relova, Agra and Álava.
This also served as a location for the reality show, The Amazing Race Asia 2 and the ABS-CBN daytime drama hit series Be Careful With My Heart.
The National Historical Institute of the Philippines (now National Historical Commission of the Philippines)
declared the town plaza and surrounding ancestral houses a National
Historical Landmark on May 17, 2000 by NHI Resolution no. 2, series of
2002.. It cited Pila as an early pre-Hispanic center of culture and trade in Laguna known as La Noble Villa de Pila
and has been recognized as one of the country's more important
archeological sites where clay potteries were discovered in excavations
made in Pinagbayanan in 1967. The historic town of Pila is bounded by
General Luna Street in the north, M. H. del Pilar Street in the east,
Mabini Street in the south, and Bonifacio Street in the west, and
including the Pila Elementary School, and the Juan Fuentes and Santiago
Fernandez house.
Two years later, on July 9, 2002, the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Pablo proclaimed the parish church of San Antonio de Padua de Pila as the Diocesan Shrine of St. Anthony.
According to Philippine historian, Dr. Luciano Santiago, it is the only
town in the Philippines that is formally recognized as a historical
site by both the church and the state.Pila, Laguna - Pailah Festival
