History of Antique

Historians believe that the earliest people who settled on the island of Panay were tribal Negritos or Atis. Oral history, related as the legend of Maragtas, states that in 1212, ten Malay datus escaped persecution from Sri-Vishaya, a Hindu-Malay empire that existed at that time in Borneo and Sumatra. These datus, led by Datu Puti, sailed with their families and communities from Borneo northward and landed on Panay.

There they met the Negrito chieftain Marikudo and his wife Maniwantiwan. They bought the island from the chieftain for a golden saduk (headpiece or helmet), and a golden necklace, given to his wife, among other gifts. The Negritos then retreated to the mountains, while the Borneans settled in the lowlands. Today, the landing is commemorated every year in Antique during the Binirayan festival.

The island of Panay was then divided into three sakups (districts). These are Hantik, Aklan, and Irong-Irong. Aklan became the present-day Aklan and Capiz, Irong-Irong became Iloilo, and Hantik (also called Hamtik or Hamtic) became Antique. Hantik was named for the large red ants found on the island called lantik-lantik.

The sakup of Hantik was given to Datu Sumakwel, one of the ten datus, and who, according to tradition, was the oldest and wisest of them. The three sakups were later governed as a political unit called the Confederation of Madia-as, also under Datu Sumakwel.

Datu Sumakwel founded the town of Malandog, considered to be the first Malay settlement in the country. Malandog is now a barangay in the present-day municipality of Hamtic, which was named after the historic sakup.

In 1942, the Japanese Imperial forces landed in Antique and occupied the province during the Second World War.

During the Japanese Insurgencies and Occupation (1942-1944), The military general headquarters and camp bases of the 6th and 62nd Infantry Division of the Philippine Commonwealth Army was active in 1942 to 1944 and the military general headquarters and camp bases of the 6th Infantry Regiment of the Philippine Constabulary was re-active on 1944 to 1946 in the province of Antique. During the engagements of the Anti-Imperial Japanese military operations in Panay Island on 1942 to 1945 included the Antique province and aided the local guerrilla resistance against the Japanese Imperial forces

In 1944 to 1945, Philippine Commonwealth forces of the 6th Infantry Regiment of the Philippine Constabulary and the 6th and 62nd Infantry Division of the Philippine Commonwealth Army together with recognized local guerrillas defeated the Japanese troops and liberated the province.