San Jose, Negros Oriental
Encyclopedia
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. Based on the 2007 Census, its population is 17,250.
History of San Jose
In the early times,the place or settlement must have been known by a native name usually derived from natural landmarks or the kind of people or persons living there.The Ayuquitan,legend has it that during one of the visits of the Spanish conquistadors, the natives were resting when the Spaniards came. Being harvest time, swarms of "mayas" feasted on the golden grains of the palay while the people were resting. Ah Inoquitan because the natives thought that the Spaniards were pointing at it.Spaniards called the place Ayuquitan,1902 Gov. Demetrio Larena considered the place pueblo. San Jose is the home of the old Spanish families settled since 1871 like the Patero, Amiscaray, Larena, Pareja, Siglos, Remollo, Renacia, Remata, Araco and Remoto.
San Jose was created as a town in 1954 from the barrios of Ayuquitan, Basak, Basiao, Cambaloctot, Calo, Cancawas, Hanay-Hanay, Jilocon, Lalaan, Naiba, Tapon Norte, Tampi, and sitios Guinsayawan, Kang-atid, Kangdajonog, Guilongsoran and Kaputihanan of the barrio of Siapo, all of which formerly belonged to the former municipality of Ayuquitan and then part of the municipality of Amlan.
One of the tourist attraction of the town was the; Our Lady of Lourdes Shrine In the cane fields of Cambaluctot, where a spinning sun is said to have manifested the visit of the Lady of Lourdes, devotees flock every Saturday of the month.The town is the gateway to the Twin Lakes Natural Park in Enrique Villanueva,Sibulan Town.San Jose is the Regional Pineapple Capital
Festival
Ayuquitan Festival – May 7
The municipality of San Jose was formerly called "Ayuquitan", a name that was born due to a communication problem between the natives and Spanish Conquistadores. The story was that one day a group of Spaniards searching for flourishing communities came upon a group of natives harvesting rice. The Spaniards approached the natives and asked the name of the place while pointing to the ground filled with piles of rice chaffs. The natives thought they were asked for the name of the pile and answered "Inoquitan". From then on, the Spaniards called the place "Inoquitan". In time, the name "Ayuquitan" was adapted from the phrase "may inoquitan". This story is the theme for the town's colorful festival--the Ayuquitan festival. It is held every May 7, one of the highlights of the town fiesta which is celebrated on May 10. Streetdancing and showdown are the main features of the festival.