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 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 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.

 

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

     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 municipalities.3
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).
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 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:

 

• Felipe Latuga - 1876 - 1877

• Felix Cal-Ortiz - 1877 - 1879

• Francisco Jesalva - 1879 - 1882

• Felipe Latuga - 1882 - 1884

• Juan Lazarte - 1884 - 1885

• Sabas Lasala - 1885 - 18867.

• Timoteo Latuga - 1886 - 1888

• Pablo Laudit - 1888 - 1889

• Cipriano Bitancur - 1889 - 1891

• Tito Latuga - 1891 - 1893

• Adriano Latuga - 1893 - 1894

• Alipio Levantino - 1894 - 1895

 

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

• American Regime

1. Pablo Laudit1905 - 1907

2. Valeriano Lastrilla1907 - 1909

3. Anastacio Lasala1909 - 1912

4. Simplicio Sta Ana1912 - 1914

5. Evaristo Cal-Ortiz1914 - 1919

6. Numeriano Lebitania1919 - 1924

 

-Silverio Lasap - 1924 - 1928 Mariano Mapalad - 1928 - 1929 Teofilo Valenzuela - 1929 - 1931 Bonifacio Rebueno - 1931 - 1935

1. Commonwealth:

              1. Cipriano Haveria - 1935 - 1941

• Japanese Occupation:

• Bonifacio Rebueno - 1941 - 1945 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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our present Mayor isHon. Olivia M. Bermillo– 2007 - Present.