Province of Antique
Where the Mountains meet the sea. The Rising Star of Western Visayas




About San Jose de Buenavista
San Jose de Buenavista has grown from settlements founded as a visita. A visita is a settlement where the church was the center of the activities of the community. San Jose de Buenavista used to be a part of the town Antique (founded in 1745) and was a visita of this town. The visita was a settlement in a place called Tubigon near the Malandog River where a church was erected. The church was a big stone edifice, which gave the name “Maybato” to its vicinity. Moro pirates frequently plundered the shore of Hamtic and went as far as Maybato. These Moro pirates burned the church and took away the huge bell in the belfry.
Sometime in 1787-1790, Governor General Felix Berenguer de Marquina granted the estate of the whole Malaiba – a sitio of the town Antique, to Agustin Sumandi. Sitio Malaiba was promoted to the rank of town in 1792 and Agustin Sumandi was appointed as its first gobernadorsillo. The name of Sitio Malaiba was changed to San Jose adopting the name of its patron saint.
Government officials and church dignitaries arrived by boat to attend the ceremonies and were so much impressed by the marvelous view of the town from the ea that they added to San Jose the words “de Buenavista.”
In 1802, upon petition of the people, San Jose de Buenavista became the capital of the Province of Antique. It had three pueblos – Guintas, Antique (Hamtic) and San Pedro.
San Jose de Buenavista and Hamtic were separated in 1954 by virtue of the Executive Order No. 03 of President Ramon Magsaysay.
According to dance literatures, two boys named Esco and Piton danced during the inauguration of the founding of San Jose de Buenavista and the dance was later known as Escopiton Malandog.
1787 – Agustin Sumandi obtained a land grant from the Governor General, Carlos Berenguer de Marquina which gave tittle to whole Mala-iba, a part of the town of Antique in the province of Bugasong.
1790 – The town of Antique became the Capital town of the province. Sitio Malaiba changed its name into San Jose.
1792 – Elevated to the Rank of a Town. Government officials and church dignitaries arrived and added to the name the words “de Buenavista”.
1802 – San Jose became the capital town of the province. Agustin Sumandi, was appointed as its first Gobernadorcillo
Places of Interest
How to get There?
-
BY AIR
From Luzon, one can take a direct flight via the Clark International Airport located at Mabalacat, Pampanga bound for Antique Airport (Evelio Javier Airport or San Jose Airport).
-
BY SEA
From Manila by Roll-on, Roll-off (RORO) ships via Caticlan. From Kalibo, Aklan, buses ply the route to Pandan and San Jose de Buenavista, the capital town and main tourism center of the province. There are also two major sea ports in the province; the Lipata Port in Culasi and San Jose Port in the capital town. Starlite Ferry has travels every Tuesdays and Saturdays via Lipata Port, Culasi, Antique.
-
BY LAND
Buses leave Iloilo City on an hourly basis for the 2 1/2 hours trip to San Jose de Buenavista.
- Evelio B. Javier Freedom Park– located in the capitol in San Jose, in memory of the slain governor
- San Jose Cathedral– stained glass windows and the highest bell tower in the province
- Telegrafo Hill– a Japanese stronghold during World War II
- Camp Autajay (Piña Beach)– a 10-hectare beach that is ideal for camping and seminars, with cottages and narra and mahogany trees
- Evelio Javier Airport– also called the Antique Airport and the San Jose Airport; is the sole airport found in Antique
- San Pedro Ruins
- Balay na Bato/ Azurin Ancestral Home
- Museo de Antique
- Bobon ni Alayon
- San Jose light house
- Sunset View San Jose explanade
- Hilltop Haven
- Farmville
- Umaverde
- San Jose Beaches
- Bantayog ng Wika. Located in San Jose de Buenavista, it is an imposing column installed at EBJ Freedom Park, immortalizing the native language, Kinaray-a, which is said to be the first to exist in Panay Island. The monument hails Antiqueños culture and identity through Kinaray-a language.
- Malandog River. Also located in the town of Hamtic, the river is said to be the site where the ten datus from Borneo first landed during the 13th century.
- Marina Bay walk
- Adelaide Tourist & Travellers Inn – 09176366413
- Bunkhouse Backpackers Inn – 09275218445
- Chic Hotel – ( CLOSE )
- Delpos Pahuwayan Resort – 0918-649-3592/0915-481-5936
- Eagles Hotel & Function Hall – 035-5407265/09176258964
- Esprutingle Business Hotel – 0933-818-8531 / 036-540-7620
- Francis Carmel Centre –
- Golden Salakot Hotel – 036-540-0102/ 09369238255
- JGs Mountain Resort – 09061641262
- Jollianes Garden Resort – 0917-307-8350
- Hotel 5700 – 0917-504-6327
- Kammea Beach Resort –
- Karl & James Lodging – 0997914865
- Palms Beach Bar and Resort – 0977-137-1380/0918-302-8067
- Pearl Garden Resort –
- Pinnacle Suites and Function – 036 540 8881/540 8882/09173050897
- Rose Travellers Inn – 09173050538/ 0360540-8247
- RJ Resort – 09615584546
- Skyloft Tourist & Travellers Home – 09063353113/09353970318
- Umaverde Bed & Breakfast – 0977-854-7018
- Vista Veranda Beach Resort – 036-641-5299/09278220171/09352048086
Non-Accredited Accommodation Establishments
- Binirayan Cottages
- Alili Travellers Inn
- JJ Inland Resort
- Kingscourt Travelers Inn
- La Trinidad Lodge
- Madrangca Lodge
- Precia Villavert beach Resort
- Sol Inn Lounge
- Ursula Tourist and Traveller’s Inn
- Villa Gabriela Hostel
- Teds Old Lapaz Batchoy
- Parillahan Inasal Lovers Home
- Arjee’s Restaurant
- Nes and Tats Manokan Seafoods Restaurants
- Santiago Restaurant
- Bondocs Viewing Deck and Resto
- D Reyeses Panciteria and Batchoy
- Kanyogan Garden Restaurant
- Kusina ni Oye
- BCS Steak House
- Blossom resto Grill
- Tay Inggo Manokan and Seafoods
- JB’s Chicken Inato Co.
- Jack’s Tapsi House
- Salve’s Garden Resto
- King’s Cup Coffee
- Regina’s Ice Cream House and Restaurant
- BAMBUSA
- KOTS Resto
- Cuys Kitchen
- ESP Bistro 2.0
- Aironsteph Chicken Inasal
- Kiko Refreshment
- PUBG Snack Bar
- Binirayan Festival– the whole month of December; a celebration of the legendary bargain between Bornean datus and indigenous Negritos
- Tiringbanay Festival– 30 April to 1 May; coincides with the feast day of St. Joseph the Worker (1 May), the town’s patron saint