More on Antique's History and Culture 

 by: Kristine Sanchez

According to the tales of the Maragtas, Antique once enjoyed primacy among the realms carved out in Panay by the 10 Bornean datu (chieftains), who, fleeing from the tyranny of Sultan Makatunaw of Borneo, bought the island from the Ati King Marikudo and established the sakup of Hamtik, Aklan, and Irong-irong. The datu supposedly landed in Malandog, Hamtik, where a marker commemorates the event which is reenacted in the Binirayan (literally, "place where the boats landed") Festival. In Hamtik ruled the wisest among the chieftains, Datu Sumakwel, whom Datu Puti designated as the primus inter pares among the seven remaining datu who formed the confederation of the Madya-as. 

In Spanish times, Antique was administered from Iloilo, and remained a backwater of the colony.  When Miguel Lopez de Legazpi transferred his headquarters from Cebu to  Panay, his men came upon the village of Bugasong and Hamtik.  Encomiendas were established in Pandan and Hamtik in the 1570s. By 1581, the Augustinians set up a mission in Hamtik, establishing the first parish in Antique.  This was followed by Barbaza, 1596, San Jose de Buenavista, 1733, Bugasong, 1742, San Pedro, 1744, Sibalom, 1745, Pandan, 1752, Patnongon, 1761, Dao,1771, and Culasi, 1773. In the 1660s,Antique belonged to Ogtong, one of the two provinces carved out from the island, the other being Panay. In 1793 Antique became a separate province. 

The Antiqueños did not welcome the Spanish rule. The natives, called mundo and cascado, refused to live in the cabeceras or town centers, a problem that occasional Muslim raids along coastal towns did not help relieve. In 1828, secular priests participated in serious revolt launched againsts the alcalde mayor, Don Francisco  Oreta, which ended when he was replaced by Don Benito Domingo.  In 1888, the Igbaong, secret organization in San Remigio led by Gregoria Palmero revolted against abuses by Spanish officials and Augustinian clergy. It was pacified only seven years later. 

When the revolutionary movement was launched, Panay became an active area for katipunan recruitment.  On 21 Sept 1898, Gen Leandro Fullon landed in Inayawan, Pandan and captured the town, holding the parish priest captives.  The following day, Fullon and his army landed in Culasi, forcing the Spaniards to withdraw to Tibiao. The Filipino soldiers under Spanish command mutinied and placed themselves under the command of Fullon.  A week later, the forces of Fullon clashed  with Spanish troops in Bugasong in a battle that momentarily stopped Fullon's succesful southern campaign.  Fullon retreated to Culasi.  Spanish success was short-lived, however, as another Filipino mutiny decimated the Spanish officers. By 23 November that year, Filipino revolutionaries had taken San Jose de Buenavista. Fullon then became Antique governor. 

During the Philippine-American War, the Americans did not land a force in Hamtik, until January 1900.  Not long after the revolutionary forces under Fullon were forced to shift to guerilla warfare.  Fullon held out until 22 Mar 1901, when he surrendered to the Americans. In April the civil government was established and Fullon was elected governor. A lasting legacy of the revolution to Antique is Iglesia Filipina Independiente, which was founded by Gregorio Aglipay, Gen Emilio Aguinaldo's Military Vicar General, and labor leader Isabelo de los Reyes. Next to Ilocos, Antique has the greatest number of Aglipayans.