The settlers built their houses along the banks of the river and banded into groups to protect themselves from the moro pirates and wild animals.

During the expedition of the entire Eastern Visayas by Spanish conquistador in 1593, a group of Spaniards, led by the General-Governor's son, Luis Pérez Dasmariñas landed on the shores of Hamindangon and the named the place Nueva Galicia in honor of his father, the Governor-General of the Philippines, Gomez Perez Dasmariñas who is from Galicia, Spain.

The governor set sail from Cavite for Pintado province in October 1593, to join the part of the fleet under Luis Pérez who is already at the Visayas.

One consequence of that revolution against the Americans was that the town of Villaba was reduced to a barrio and became part of the municipality of San Isidro, Leyte.

For want of official records however, to provide a complete list and their specific terms of office, the following have served in the said capacity: In June 1910, the Provincial Board of Leyte passed and approved a resolution creating the Municipality of Villaba.