Pajarillo Family

The Pajarillo clan is an affluent Filipino family originating from northern Spain’s region of Barcelona descending from the lineage of Juan Carlos Franco Y Borbon-de Rivera Pancuelyo, an influential landowner (the family name was change to Pajarillo from Pancuelyo when they arrived in the Philippines). The Pajarillo family of southern Tagalog, is one of the most influential families in the south of Luzon, ranging from politics to business to philanthropy. The clan has been residing in the Philippines for more than 10 generations counting nearly 500 descendants. Historically, the family has been well-known for their social and economic contributions to the country such as the pioneering the rural banking system of the Philippines. The family’s rise dates back from the 1850's, when the family patriarch Don Antonio Pionca Pajarillo joint ventured in the banking, coconut oil, steel fabrication and real estate business which became the number one industry of the time. Back then, at the clan's height of wealth, the family was being mocked and protested by the people throughout the province due to the monopoly of the businesses run by family. Such protest leads them to donating and giving most of their controlling interest in the said business, excluding banking and real estate. when World War Two came, the remaining major holdings of the family in the banking and real estate were seize by the Japanese and all of their assets were transferred from the family to the notorious general Yamazaki Kaidodou of the 54th Japanese royal air force squadron special division(kamikaze), the pajarillo family is not the only one who were affected by the ambition of Japanese generals occupying the country, families such as the Cojuanco of Tarlac, Aboitiz of Iloilo, Madrigal of the Visayas and such were also affected by the Japanese occupation. Over the past century, decades and years, the family managed to stay strong and resplendent giving the people of southern Tagalog and other provinces to look up and be a role model to all. until now the family looms over the banking, construction and real estate industry in the south, which are still the major industry of the family, not only that, they also have major holdings in other corporations such as BPI,San Miguel, Mitsubishi and Philcoa to name a few. Their rise to politics started when the family concluded to have an arrange nuptial with the Patricinio-Sevilla clan of the south which propelled them to popularity and fame. The first family member to enter politics was Hon.Rolando Collantes-Pajarillo, who became a provincial OIC, a position somewhat like a governor at the time but not the governor; he survived throughout the end of WW2. during his term in office, he brought peace to the province against the rebels, prosperity in the industry and agriculture, and he also promote local patriotism using mandatory tagalog word in all levels of education in the region, however during his term in office Hon.Rolando Collantes-Pajarillo was bombarded by allegations that he has a dozen accounts in foreign countries containing millions and millions of dollars. the opposition lawyers found that true, that he has million and millions of dollars, but the supreme court also found that true, on the basis that, the accumulated wealth was and certainly from the vast business empire of the family and not from public funds and bribes. during that time also, his brother, Hon.Rafael Collantes-Pajarillo was also elected as the mayor of the largest town in the province, under his administration the town expanded to fast and the local government have to ask the mayor and the other local executives to divide the town in to two parts, each have a different mayor. obviously, the pajarillo family, and not only them, seemed shock and surprised when they first heard of this news and knew at the very instant that the proposed division of the town is just a political strategy to divide the power of politics and business in the province which is being infested by the pajarillo. But as the family is a “fund raiser” for political campaign to the late Carlos P. Garcia and Diosdado Macapagal, the pajarillo's have the executives of the government and high post at their side. Not to their surprise the town remain a town and Hon.Rafael Collantes-Pajarillo ended his term together with his brother peacefully and able to prove that their wealth is accumulated not because of politics but because of their vast business interest. After the term of the two brothers, Collantes-Pajarillo, the family took a long break from politics and focused on their family's business empire expanding it and venturing to new developments.

1960’s
In 1968, the ex governor's son,Rolando Rodriguez-Pajarillo II, ran for a congressional seat, and not surprisingly, won. During that time, the late strongman Former Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos was the president. And during that time the president already placed the whole country to be under military rule, martial law. For over fifteen years the congressman have lead the people of the province in peace with the rebels and peace among the local politicians. His biggest political rival, Don Jose Madrigal-Calma, went to the United States to further investigate the decade old multi million dollar accounts scandal of his father, although limiting his inquiries reason that he has no immunity to be protected in his self-investigation of the accounts, of the seventeen accounts that the ex governor Rolando Collantes-Pajarillo had. Seven of the accounts are proven that it is without doubt accumulated from jueteng payoffs, smuggling, drugs and bribes from his “supporters” during election, back then. However the remaining ten accounts were proven that it came from legitimate and legal income from their businesses. The amount of the seven accounts reached over half a billion pesos in ill gotten wealth. While the remaining ten accounts totaled $8 million, P400 million in today’s money, the total amount of all the foreign accounts is P1.150 Billion. In addition, the controversies were fueled by reports that the ex-governor owned a multi million dollar palatial mansion in forbes park. Although this is true but the house was brought in the 1950’s at an amount of P150,000 pesos, P3 million if converted in today’s money.

Rolando Collantes-Pajarillo
In 1971 the ex Governor was found guilty of fraud, money laundering, accepting illegal money from the Mafia and selling/making prohibited drugs. He was sentenced for 50 years in prison with no bail. But, in a bizarre twist of events, within only 4 months in prison the ex governor was given a full presidential pardon by the president. The action of the president was widely criticized by the media as an act of “egocentric” and “pitiless” justice system of Ferdinand Marcos.

Congressman Rolando Rodriguez-Pajarillo II, son of the ex governor, was the last Pajarillo to serve in politics. He resigned in 1985 due to personal and political reason.

90’s - PRESENT
Up to now the family looms over the banking, construction and real estate industry in the south, which are still the major industries of the family. The family remains a strong influence among commerce and politics throughout the province. Rumor has it that in the 2004 elections, they funded the campaign of two of the four congressmen in the province and three of the top five largest towns in the municipality including the only city. But there’s no proof, yet, that such allegations and rumors are true. On the other hand, if such allegations are true, then the Pajarillo family is truly and still monopolizing politics and business in the province.

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