Pablo Astilla

Before joining the revolutionary movement, Pablo Astilla served as Gobernadorcillo of Binangonan de Lampon (now Infanta, Quezon) from 1896 to 1897.^[1]

Under the Revolutionary Government and First Philippine Republic, he was the Politico-Military Governor of District of Infanta where he led the Infanta resistance against the invading American forces during the Philippine-American War^[2]

After the war, Colonel Pablo Astilla continued his public service as the Town President (Mayor) of Infanta, Tayabas from 1908 to 1910. Later, he represented Infanta as a delegate to the 1935 Constitutional Assembly.^[3]

Pablo Astilla participated in the Battle of Mount Puray on June 14, 1897, a significant engagement between Filipino revolutionaries and Spanish forces.^[4] The battle was a turning point in the revolution, as it enabled Emilio Aguinaldo to retreat safely and eventually reach Biak-na-Bato, where he established a stronghold.

On July 20, 1898, Pablo Astilla led the Infanta Katipuneros in an attack against Spanish forces, resulting in Spanish surrender.^[5] This victory marked the end of Spanish colonial rule in Distrito de La Infanta.

Philippine Insurgent Record (P.I.R.), SD 294.9

"In Binangonan and the Government house of the District of the Infanta, on the 30th of June, 1900, before me Sr. Pablo Astilla. Politico-Military Governor of the same appeared the Lieut.-Col, commanding the provincial batallion of Laguna and Captain Treasurer of the Politico-Military Headquarters of the same. Sres. Fidel Sario Ángeles, and Mariano Elbo, commissioned by the Brigadier Gen'l Sr. Juan Cailles according to the annexed communication to receive or collect the funds which the Adjutant of Gen. Paua, 1st Lt. Sr. Lucio Nocon, is conveying for our Government from Camarines, which commissioners, after the presentation of their signatures, conferred with the said adjutant regarding the intention of the said Commissioners, showing furthermore the Imperative necessity of the withdrawal of said funds for the alleviation, at least in part, of the affliction of the suffering forces of Laguna who have received no pay or gratuity of any kind for the past six months, and in addition, are at the present time almost shirtless from the continuous military operations in which they have been engaged, and the bitter privations of the mountain life to which they have been in consequence subjected by the hardships of the campaign, so as to avoid perhaps the inevitable demoralization of said forces on account of the complete lack of resources at the aforementioned headquarters to meet the necessities alluded to; and notwithstanding that these facts were represented by me, the Governor, apart from the humanitarian and patriotic sentiments which should be considered, in view of the destitute condition of the soldiers and the danger in this locality of said funds being taken by the American invaders..." - (P.I.R.), SD 294.9^[6]

On August 6, 1900, General Juan Cailles wrote a correspondence to Pablo Astilla, requesting him to join forces and launch a coordinated attack against the advancing American troops in Laguna.^[7][8] Responding to this call, on September 14, 1900, Astilla led the Infanta column^[9] into Mabitac, where he joined forces with Cailles. On September 17, 1900, their combined forces—along with the Baybay column— engaged and defeated the invading American troops commanded by Colonel Benjamin F. Cheatham, Jr. in the Battle of Mabitac.^[10]

Following the American defeat at Mabitac, on September 21, 1900, General Robert H. Hall was ordered to launch an expedition to assert control over revolutionary-held territories in the Infanta District. As part of this campaign, on October 9, 1900, American forces occupied the town of Binangonan de Lampon, then the district capital (now part of Quezon Province).^[11] Following American occupation of Infanta District's capital, revolutionary forces led by Colonel Astilla withdrew to the mountainous interior of the district, where they continued to mount guerilla resistance against American control. For his leadership and defiance, Colonel Pablo Astilla was dubbed the "Insurgent Governor" of Infanta.^[10] However, on November 23, 1900, Astilla's forces suffered a significant defeat when American troops under Captain Francis P. Fremont attacked the revolutionary headquarters at San Cristobal, a remote mountain area of Infanta. The assault disrupted local resistance, though it did not entirely extinguish the revolutionary movement in the region.^[12]

On May 5, 1901, Colonel Pablo Astilla was captured by American forces. His arrest drew significant attention due to the sizeable number of men under his command along with the large cache of war supplies found in his possession.^[13][14]

Pablo Astilla was born in either 1853 or 1854, as recorded in a notarized affidavit dated 6 June 1906, which listed him as 52 years old.^[15]

According to a direct descendant of his siblings, the Colonel lived to see the liberation, placing him among the few Filipinos whose lives spanned from the pre-revolutionary 1800s through the end of World War II. He likely died in late 1945 or sometime in 1946, as a notarized affidavit dividing his assets was filed on 31 December 1946, marking the legal settlement of his estate.^[16]

Through his sister Martina Astilla, Colonel Pablo Astilla was the granduncle of General Guillermo Nakar, a World War II guerrilla leader and national hero.^[17]