San Jose de Buenavista
San Jose de Buenavista
San Jose | |
|---|---|
| Municipality of San Jose de Buenavista | |
Poblacion | |
|
Flag Seal | |
| Nickname: San Jose | |
| Motto: The Heart of Antique | |
| Anthem: "O, San Jose nga Banwa Ko" | |
Map of Antique with San Jose de Buenavista highlighted | |
Interactive map of San Jose de Buenavista | |
San Jose de Buenavista Location within the Philippines | |
| Coordinates: 10°44′36″N 121°56′28″E / 10.7433°N 121.9411°E | |
| Country | Philippines |
| Region | Western Visayas |
| Province | Antique |
| District | Lone district |
| Founded | January 16, 1792 |
| Barangays | 28 (see Barangays) |
| Government | |
| • Type | Sangguniang Bayan |
| • Mayor | Atty. Paul Joseph N. Untaran |
| • Vice Mayor | Cris John P. Banusing II |
| • Representative | Antonio Agapito B. Legarda Jr. |
| • Municipal Council | Members |
| • Electorate | 38,767 voters (2025) |
| Area | |
• Total | 48.56 km2 (18.75 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 36 m (118 ft) |
| Highest elevation | 587 m (1,926 ft) |
| Lowest elevation | 0 m (0 ft) |
| Population (2024 census) | |
• Total | 69,522 |
| • Density | 1,432/km2 (3,708/sq mi) |
| • Households | 14,750 |
| Economy | |
| • Income class | 1st municipal income class |
| • Poverty incidence | 8.19 |
| • Revenue | ₱ 342.3 million (2022) |
| • Assets | ₱ 694.2 million (2022) |
| • Expenditure | ₱ 301.1 million (2022) |
| • Liabilities | ₱ 183.2 million (2022) |
| Service provider | |
| • Electricity | Antique Electric Cooperative (ANTECO) |
| Time zone | UTC+8 (PST) |
| ZIP code | 5700 |
| PSGC | |
| IDD : area code | +63 (0)36 |
| Native languages | Karay-a Hiligaynon Ati Tagalog |
| Website | sanjoseantique |
San Jose de Buenavista, officially the Municipality of San Jose de Buenavista (Kinaray-a: Banwa kang San Jose de Buenavista) is the capital and largest municipality of the province of Antique, Philippines. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 69,522 people, with its residents being proudly known as San Josenhon. Situated on the southwest coast of Panay Island, it serves as the province's primary administrative, commercial, and financial heart. The municipality covers a land area of 48.56 square kilometres (18.75 sq mi), constituting 1.78% of the total area of Antique. The current mayor is Paul Joseph Nicopior Untaran, the son of the late Mayor Elmer Untaran.
The town’s primary and native language is Kinaray-a. Historically known as Tubigon due to its swampy terrain, the town was renamed by Spanish settlers and officially succeeded the town of Antique (now Hamtic) as the provincial capital in 1802. Today, it is a First Class municipality and the undisputed focal point of political and social life in the province.
As the preeminent economic gateway of Antique, San Jose de Buenavista exerts a dominant influence on regional commerce and infrastructure. Its strategic geographic position places it 97 kilometres (60 mi) from Iloilo City, 182 kilometres (113 mi) from Kalibo, and 213 kilometres (132 mi) from Roxas City. The municipality anchors the province's ₱75.75 billion GDP, with the service sector—specifically financial services, retail trade, and professional activities—serving as its primary economic engine.
The municipality is the nerve center of provincial governance, housing the Antique Provincial Capitol and nearly all major provincial government sectors and regional offices. San Jose de Buenavista is a premier educational hub in its own right, home to major institutions such as St. Anthony's College (SAC), which is the first Catholic school in the province, along with several other prominent private and public learning centers.
Politically, San Jose de Buenavista is subdivided into 28 barangays, each consisting of puroks and various sitios. Modern infrastructure developments, such as the San Jose Boulevard Esplanade and the Antique Airport (Evelio B. Javier Airport)—which recently underwent a ₱1.576-billion upgrade to accommodate jet aircraft—have solidified its status as a modernized "mini-metropolis."
While the town is a center for rapid urbanization, it remains the custodian of Kinaray-a heritage. It serves as the historic site of the Binirayan Festival and houses the EBJ Freedom Park, where the martyred Governor Evelio B. Javier was assassinated. This balance of historic significance and modern infrastructure makes San Jose de Buenavista the undisputed focal point of political and social life in Antique.