San José, also known as San José de Buenavista, is a small town, capital of the province of Antique on the island of Panay. According to the 2000 census, it had a population of just over 48,000.
Tourists travelling to San José will always find something interesting. Thus, every year from April 30 to May 2, the city hosts the Binirayan Festival - a theatrical performance dedicated to the historical arrival of people from Borneo on the island of Panay, who founded the first Malay settlement here in the 13th century. The festival was first held in 1971, and since then, it has attracted people from other parts of the Philippines as well as foreigners. Another popular holiday is the fiesta in honour of the city's patron saint, St. Joseph, which is celebrated on 1 May.
San Jose boasts a number of buildings notable for their architecture, - including the Old Capitol Building, the Evelio Javier Museum, the old San Pedro Church and the Piedra's Restaurant building.
Just in front of the provincial Capitol building sits Freedom Park, named after former Governor Evelio Javier. There is a memorial plaque in the park, which reads, "A gift to a man who did so much not only for people of the province of Antique but for the entire Filipino nation in his endeavour to for justice, freedom, democracy and peace". The plaque stands at the very site where Evelio Javier was first wounded in the January 1986 attack.
Five kilometres from San José lies the lovely beach of Camp Ayutaya, which locals sometimes called Piña Beach by the locals. On a 10 hectare plot of land you can a real garden with mangrove and nara trees, benches and gazebos. It's the perfect place for family picnics, where you can build a fire, climb trees, pick fruit or just play together.
