# Agustín Montilla y Orendáin

Agustín Montilla y Orendáin was a Spanish-Filipino entrepreneur, who was one of the first settlers of Negros Island to produce sugar from sugarcane in commercial quantities.

## Early life

Agustín Montilla was born to Capitán Don José Montilla, who was interim Governor of the Mariana Islands from 15 August 1822 to 15 May 1823, and Josefa Orendáin. Agustin had four younger sisters: Maria Dolores, Manuela, Ignacia, and Carmen.

## Descendants

* Eduardo Gutierrez Abello: Former Chief Financial Officer of First Philippine Holdings, former Chief Credit Officer of International Finance Corporation.
* Eduardo Jose P. Abello: Advisor, Unit Head of Asian Development Bank, former Vice President of HSBC Securities USA, former Vice President of Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi Trust Company, CFA charterholder.
* Emilio Montilla Abello: Executive Secretary to Philippine Presidents Jose Laurel, Manuel Roxas and Elpidio Quirino, Philippine Ambassador to the United States, Assemblyman in the Interim Batasan Pambansa, Minister of State for Energy under Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos, Chairman and President of Meralco and First Philippine Holdings, Chairman of PCI Bank, Founding Chairman of Metropolitan Bank and Trust Company, Namesake of Philippine Department of Energy’s Don Emilio Abello Energy Efficiency Awards.
* Jose Ma. Gutierrez Abello: Former President of Philippine American Investments Corporation (PAIC).
* Manuel Gutierrez Abello: 1958 Bar Topnotcher, Founding Partner of Angara Abello Concepcion Regala & Cruz Law Offices (ACCRALAW), former Chairman of the Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission.
* Jorge L. Araneta - President and CEO of the Araneta Group; son of J. Amado Araneta
* Judy Araneta-Roxas - Papal Awardee, vice chair of the Araneta Group, political activist, social development practitioner, widow of former Senator Gerry Roxas the son of former Philippine President Manuel Roxas.
* Rene Alfred Anton Bustamante: Filipino botanist IPNI standard form: R.Bustam. relates to the same person. Research Associate at the Philippine Taxonomic Initiative.Vanilla raabii was named in his honor.
* Margarita Forés - daughter of Maria Lourdes "Baby" Araneta-Fores, granddaughter of J Amado Araneta. Celebrity chef and businesswoman in Manila. Owner of 10 Italian inspired restaurants including Cibo, Pepato, Café Bola and Pepato restaurants. Other businesses include Fiori di M and Casa di M, high-end floral and housewares design, respectively. Designated as a UNWTO Ambassador for Gastronomy Tourism at the 23rd United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) Congress.
* Petronila "Girly" Peña Garcia - current Ambassador to Canada, the first career diplomat and first woman ambassador to be appointed to the post. Previously, she was Ambassador to Israel. Before that, she was Ambassador to Egypt with concurrent jurisdiction over the Sudan. The appointment made her the Philippines' first woman ambassador to be posted in an Arab country.
* Agustin Montilla IV - named one of the Philippines' top 100 lawyers by Asia Business Law Journal; listed as a leading lawyer in Chambers Asia Pacific, AsiaLaw Profiles, and The Legal 500 Asia Pacific.
* Gil Montilla - Filipino politician
* José Montilla : part of the rebel delegation in the Negros Revolution.
* Mercedes M. Montilla - 1936 Miss Philippines of the Manila Carnival and mayor of Sipalay, Negros Occidental for three terms.
* Soledad "Gretchen" Oppen-Cojuangco - widow of tycoon Eduardo Cojuangco Jr.
* Manuel "Mar" Araneta Roxas II: Former senator of the Philippines.
* Martha Rivilla - Grammatophyllum martae was named in her honor.