Antique is a province of the Philippines located in the Western Visayas Region (Region VI) of the Visayas. The province covers roughly 2,730.67 square kilometers and is composed of 18 municipalities and a total of 590 barangays. The capital of the province is San Jose de Buenavista. The name Antique is derived from the old name Hantik or Hamtik, which refers to the large red ants found in the area and was later hispanized into 'Antique' by the Spanish colonizers

History

Antique, one of the provinces in Panay Island, has a rich history that traces back to pre-colonial times. It was originally inhabited by the Atis (Aeta people) before the arrival of the Malay settlers. According to the Maragtas legend, ten Bornean datus led by Datu Puti fled from Borneo and landed in Panay Island during the 13th century. They made a pact with the Aeta chieftain Marikudo, exchanging gold and jewelry for the lowlands, while the Atis retreated to the mountains. This marked the beginning of the organized settlement in Panay, and Antique was part of the “sakup” or jurisdiction given to Datu Sumakwel, one of the Bornean leaders. During the Spanish colonial period, Antique became part of the encomienda system in the 16th century. It was established as a province in 1796, with San Jose de Buenavista later becoming its capital. The people of Antique, known as Antiqueños, were active participants in various uprisings against Spanish rule, most notably joining the revolts in Panay and supporting the Philippine Revolution of 1898. In the American and Japanese periods, the province continued to develop its agriculture, fishing, and weaving industries. Today, Antique is known as the “Home of the Legendary Binirayan Festival,” commemorating the arrival of the ten Bornean datus, and is recognized for its role in preserving Panay’s rich cultural and historical heritage.