Parish of Sta. Monica (Hamtic, Antique)
The Augustinian friars founded the church of Hamtic in 1581. The parish church was buikt and chose Sta. Monica as their patron saint. It became a visita of Ibahay, Aklan. The Augustinian friars left it in 1596.
It became a parish once more in the early 1700s. Later on it became a vista once again, this time to Bugasong, Antique and became the headquarters for evangelization.
Hamtic became the first parish in Antique in 1581, the patron saint was San Guillermo. The old church was believed to be built at Maybato North and was used as fortress. It is said to be found near the Malandog tidal river which is ideal and a very much used harbor.
In the 17th century, pirates invaded Hamtic with destructive consequences. The old church was destroyed but the ruins remained.
In 1644 until 1690, the parish was under Guimbal until Fr. Hipolito Casiano, OSA refounded and constructed a new church at what is now Hamtic town with Sta. Monica as its patron saint.
what is believed to be the ruins of the old church of Hamtic inside the cemetery
San Jose Parish (San Jose, Antique)
Long before, San Jose belonged to the parish of Hamtic. Due to frequent Moro raids, the old church was rammed down by raiders and the Augustinian priests were forced to abandon the place and look for another site to relocate. The parishioners decided to move to a higher place away from the sea.
They have finally found a very suitable place, it was high, far from the sea and has an exquisite view of the mountains. The parishioners as well as some priests chose to settle and erected a village which they referred to as “Buenavista” which means beautiful site.
A story is passed from one generation to the next how St. Joseph the Worker became the patron saint of the parish. Long ago, there was a very strong typhoon to hit Buenavista Village, which caused sea turbulence. Soon, a tidal wave was formed that was to devour the whole village. It made the people terrified until they saw a man in the midst of the storm, he face the shore with the roaring huge wave. He raised his hand, holding a staff as though commanding the sea to settle down. And it did! The angry wave slowly settled down. When the storm was finally over, the villagers tried to look for the man, but he was nowhere to be found. The people who have witnessed the event swore the resemblance of St. Joseph the Worker in many ways. They believed it was a miracle and so the Augustinians consecrated the village as San Jose de Buenavista named after St. Joseph whim the people made their patron saint.
In 1793, San Jose became an independent Parish with Fr. Manuel Ibañez, OSA as parish priest. In 1802, San Jose became the capital town of Antique.
Parish of San Augustine (Patnongon, Antique)
ruins of the old church which was converted to school
Patnongon, was named as San Simon in 1762 and was made a town in 1762. The church was founded by Augustinian Friars but they left the town in 1777 and it became a visita of Sibalom, it remained a visita until the 2nd quarter of the 19th century.
The church was made through force labor and was finished in 1879. It is considered to be the best church in Antique until was destroyed in during the World War II when it was made a fortress by the Japanese forces. It was partially renovated by the Mill Hill Missionaries to make way for the school
St. Augustine was considered as the patron saint because legend has it that he used to frightened the pirates away. A beared man in flowing robes holding a staff and walking along the beaches to drive all the pirates off the shore.
