Turismo Altavas

18/09/2026

Celebrating the 63rd Fish Conservation Week by caring for our coastal treasures 🌊🐚

11/09/2026

REMEMBERING SENATOR JOSE CORTES ALTAVAS
A Son of Old Capiz, a Statesman of Panay, and the Namesake of an Aklanon Municipality

September 11, 1877 – August 21, 1952

On September 11, 2026, Ro Akeanon commemorates the 149th birth anniversary of Senator Jose Cortes Altavas, one of the most prominent political figures to emerge from the old Province of Capiz and a statesman whose legacy remains deeply connected to the history of Aklan.

Lawyer. Revolutionary. Governor. Assemblyman. Senator. Constitutional Convention delegate. Writer. Political leader.

And the namesake of Altavas, Aklan.

His life unfolded at a time when present-day Aklan and Capiz were still part of the same political province. His story is therefore part of the shared history of both.

WHERE WAS JOSE CORTES ALTAVAS BORN?

One of the most interesting—and unresolved—questions in the biography of Jose Cortes Altavas concerns his specific birthplace.

The historical record presents two distinct birthplace traditions.

The first identifies him with the municipality of Capiz, now Roxas City.

The second identifies him with Balete, Capiz, now part of Aklan.

Importantly, the first account is not based solely on the modern NHCP marker.

The 1931 Ro Announcer account

A particularly valuable source is the April 30, 1931 issue of Ro Announcer, an Akeanon-language newspaper published while Jose Altavas was still alive.

Its feature article, “Si Tg. Jose Altavas Ag Ro Anang Maragtas”—“Mr. Jose Altavas and His Life Story”—presents Altavas’s biography and identifies him as born in Capiz.

In the historical context of the article, this refers to Capiz, the provincial capital and municipality that is today Roxas City, Capiz.

This makes the 1931 newspaper an especially significant piece of evidence for the Capiz/Roxas City birthplace tradition because it predates Altavas’s death by more than two decades.

The 1926-era biographical record

An earlier biographical record from the 1920s likewise identifies his birthplace as the Municipality of Capiz, Province of Capiz.

This is consistent with the 1931 Ro Announcer account and with the later NHCP marker’s identification of historical Capiz with present-day Roxas City.

The 2018 NHCP historical marker

The National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) historical marker installed in Altavas states explicitly:

“ISINILANG SA CAPIZ, NGAYO’Y LUNGSOD NG ROXAS, CAPIZ, 11 SETYEMBRE 1877.”

Thus, the NHCP’s official marker identifies Jose Cortes Altavas as born in Capiz, now Roxas City, Capiz, on September 11, 1877.

The Balete account

But another substantial body of historical material identifies a different birthplace.

The Senate of the Philippines gives his birthplace as Balete, Capiz, on September 11, 1877.

The University of the Philippines Visayas Cultural Mapping of Panay and Guimaras likewise identifies him as born in Balete, Capiz.

A local/family account associated with the Jose Cortes Altavas Memorial Foundation provides an even more precise location: Sitio Mapait, Aranas, Balete, Capiz.

The documentary record

For transparency, Ro Akeanon records the sources in text:

The 1931 Ro Announcer identifies him as born in Capiz, now Roxas City, Capiz.

The 1926-era biographical record identifies him as born in the Municipality of Capiz, Capiz.

The 2018 NHCP historical marker identifies him as born in Capiz, now Roxas City, Capiz.

The Senate of the Philippines identifies him as born in Balete, Capiz.

The UP Visayas Cultural Mapping identifies him as born in Balete, Capiz.

The Jose Cortes Altavas Memorial Foundation/local account identifies his birthplace more specifically as Sitio Mapait, Aranas, Balete, Capiz.

An unresolved historical question

The evidence therefore presents a genuine discrepancy between:

Capiz / present-day Roxas City

and

Balete, Capiz / present-day Aklan.

Ro Akeanon should not arbitrarily declare one account correct without a primary birth or baptismal record conclusively resolving the matter.

What can be established is that Balete was part of the Province of Capiz in 1877. It became part of the newly created Province of Aklan only after Aklan was separated from Capiz in 1956.

Consequently, the issue is not whether he was born in “Capiz or Aklan.” Both accounts place his birthplace within the historical Province of Capiz.

The unresolved question is more precise:

Was Jose Cortes Altavas born in the Municipality of Capiz—the predecessor of present-day Roxas City—or in Balete, then part of Capiz and now part of Aklan?

Until primary documentation settles the question, both historical traditions deserve to be preserved.

⸻

A CHILD OF THE OLD CAPIZ

Jose Cortes Altavas was born on September 11, 1877, during the period when the territory of today’s Aklan and Capiz formed part of the old Province of Capiz.

This historical geography is essential to understanding his life.

Whether the Capiz municipality account or the Balete account is ultimately proven correct, Altavas was born into the political and cultural world of old Capiz.

He would later become one of its most influential political leaders.

⸻

A BRILLIANT STUDENT

Altavas received his early education in Capiz before pursuing higher education in Manila.

He studied at the Ateneo Municipal de Manila, where he developed a reputation for academic excellence.

The 1931 Ro Announcer article provides a fascinating contemporary glimpse of this period, describing his exceptional academic performance and noting that he was known by the titles “Emperador” and “Principe.”

He later studied law at the University of Santo Tomas.

His education, however, was interrupted by the Philippine Revolution.

⸻

THE YOUNG REVOLUTIONARY

Altavas returned to Capiz and became involved in the revolutionary movement.

The NHCP records that in 1898 he served with the revolutionary forces in Capiz and acted as an intermediary between Capiz revolutionaries and the expeditionary forces sent from Luzon by Emilio Aguinaldo.

After the revolutionary period, he resumed his studies and eventually entered the legal profession.

He passed the bar in 1901 and returned to Capiz to practice law.

⸻

FROM LOCAL POLITICS TO GOVERNOR OF CAPIZ

Altavas began his political career at the local level.

He served as a municipal councilor before becoming a member of the Capiz Provincial Board.

In 1907, he was elected representative of the Second District of Capiz to the Philippine Assembly.

In 1910, he became Governor of Capiz, serving two consecutive terms until 1916.

His administration became associated with extensive public works, particularly the construction and improvement of roads and bridges.

This contributed to his reputation as a road and bridge builder.

⸻

THE SENATOR OF CAPIZ, ILOILO AND ROMBLON

In 1916, Altavas was elected to the Philippine Senate representing the 7th Senatorial District, composed of Capiz, Iloilo and Romblon.

He served until 1922 and held important committee positions.

His influence extended beyond his own political career.

In 1919, he supported the gubernatorial candidacy of Manuel Acuña Roxas, contributing to Roxas’s emergence as a major political figure.

This later earned Altavas the oft-repeated description “the man who made Roxas.”

⸻

THE MAKING OF ALTAVAS, AKLAN

The municipality that carries his name was not created from an entirely new settlement.

The town was formerly known as Jemino or Jimeno.

During the American-period reorganization of municipalities, Jemino became part of Lagatic, now New Washington.

In 1917, efforts were made to restore Jemino as an independent municipality.

Jose Cortes Altavas played an important role in supporting the movement, together with Representative Leopoldo M. Alba.

The municipality was subsequently re-established and named Altavas in his honor.

Thus, while he is popularly remembered as the “founder” of Altavas, the more precise historical description is that he was instrumental in the town’s re-establishment as an independent municipality and in its subsequent naming after him.

⸻

A VISION TO MAKE ALTAVAS THE CAPITAL OF CAPIZ

Altavas apparently had an even larger vision for the municipality that carried his name.

Historical accounts, including the UP Visayas Cultural Mapping of Panay and Guimaras, record that he had a long-term goal of making Altavas the capital of Capiz.

The plan was never realized.

The proposal is particularly significant in the context of the growing Aklanon movement for separation from Capiz.

Strategically situated between the political centers of Capiz and Kalibo, Altavas could potentially have served as a geographic and political middle ground.

It is therefore reasonable to view his vision for Altavas as part of the larger political struggle over the future organization of the old Province of Capiz.

However, the 1917 re-establishment of Jemino and the later vision of making Altavas the provincial capital should be treated as distinct historical developments, not as though the municipality was created solely for the purpose of becoming the provincial capital.

⸻

A POLITICAL KINGMAKER

Altavas became one of the major political figures of early twentieth-century Capiz.

He was a contemporary of Manuel L. Quezon and Sergio Osmeña and a prominent figure in the Nacionalista political movement.

His influence in Capiz politics was substantial, particularly through his role in the careers of younger political leaders such as Manuel Roxas.

⸻

THE 1934 CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION

Altavas later became a delegate to the 1934 Constitutional Convention, which drafted the Constitution that became effective in 1935.

The NHCP marker records his participation in the convention that drafted the 1935 Constitution.

He served as chairman of the Committee on Suffrage.

An important correction must be made to some versions of his biography: Altavas did not advocate women’s suffrage.

Historical convention records indicate that he opposed women’s suffrage during the constitutional debates.

This should be retained as part of an accurate assessment of his political career.

⸻

A LAWYER, FARMER, WRITER AND POET

The historical material accompanying his portrait describes Altavas as a lawyer and farmer, as well as a former governor, representative and senator.

He was also a writer and poet.

He reportedly kept extensive journals and writings documenting his observations and experiences.

The 1931 Ro Announcer article is especially valuable in this regard because it demonstrates that his life and achievements were already being documented and discussed in the Akeanon press during his lifetime.

⸻

AN 8-FOOT STATUE IN ALTAVAS

Jose Cortes Altavas’s legacy is physically present in the municipality that bears his name.

An 8-foot statue of Senator Jose Cortes Altavas stands at Katimawaan’t Jimeno Park, directly in front of the Altavas Town Hall in Altavas, Aklan.

The statue was unveiled on September 11, 2017, in celebration of his 140th birth anniversary.

It stands as a powerful civic reminder of the man whose political efforts helped secure the re-establishment of Jemino as an independent municipality.

⸻

THE NHCP HISTORICAL MARKER

On January 25, 2018, the National Historical Commission of the Philippines officially unveiled the Jose Cortes Altavas historical marker in Altavas, Aklan.

The marker records his revolutionary service, his election to the Philippine Assembly, his Senate career and his participation in the convention that drafted the 1935 Constitution.

It also gives the NHCP’s official birthplace account:

“Isinilang sa Capiz, ngayo’y Lungsod ng Roxas, Capiz.”

That statement should be preserved exactly as the NHCP’s position.

At the same time, the Senate, UP Visayas and other historical accounts identify Balete, Capiz.

Rather than erase either tradition, Ro Akeanon documents both.

⸻

A LEGACY SHARED BY CAPIZ AND AKLAN

Jose Cortes Altavas occupies a unique position in the history of Western Visayas.

His political career was built in old Capiz.

His name is now permanently attached to a municipality in Aklan.

And his birthplace is documented in two different historical traditions.

The 1931 Ro Announcer and 2018 NHCP marker identify him with Capiz, now Roxas City.

The Senate, UP Visayas and family/local accounts identify Balete, Capiz, now part of Aklan.

This is more than a biographical footnote. It reflects the changing political geography of Panay itself.

When Altavas was born in 1877, Aklan was not yet a separate province.

When he became governor and senator, today’s Aklan and Capiz were still part of the same old province.

Aklan would only become a separate province in 1956, four years after Altavas’s death.

⸻

REMEMBERING SENATOR JOSE CORTES ALTAVAS

On his 149th birth anniversary, Ro Akeanon remembers Jose Cortes Altavas as a remarkable figure whose life crossed the boundaries of today’s provinces.

He was a:

Revolutionary.
Lawyer.
Farmer.
Municipal leader.
Assemblyman.
Governor of Capiz.
Senator of the Philippines.
Constitutional Convention delegate.
Writer and poet.
Political leader and kingmaker.

His 8-foot statue at Katimawaan’t Jimeno Park stands before the Altavas Town Hall.

The NHCP historical marker, unveiled on January 25, 2018, recognizes his national historical significance.

And the municipality itself preserves his name.

A final historical note

The question of Jose Cortes Altavas’s precise birthplace remains open.

The 1931 Ro Announcer, the 1926-era biographical record, and the 2018 NHCP historical marker place him in Capiz, corresponding to present-day Roxas City.

The Senate of the Philippines, UP Visayas Cultural Mapping, and the Jose Cortes Altavas Memorial Foundation/local tradition place him in Balete, Capiz, with the latter giving the more specific location of Sitio Mapait, Aranas, Balete.

Rather than choose between the two without conclusive primary evidence, Ro Akeanon preserves both documentary traditions.

That is the responsible way to write history.

Not by erasing contradictions—but by preserving the evidence and allowing future research to resolve them.

JOSE CORTES ALTAVAS

September 11, 1877 – August 21, 1952

From the old Capiz to present-day Aklan, his name—and his story—endures.

REMEMBERING SENATOR JOSE CORTES ALTAVAS
A Son of Old Capiz, a Statesman of Panay, and the Namesake of an Aklanon Municipality

September 11, 1877 – August 21, 1952

On September 11, 2026, Ro Akeanon commemorates the 149th birth anniversary of Senator Jose Cortes Altavas, one of the most prominent political figures to emerge from the old Province of Capiz and a statesman whose legacy remains deeply connected to the history of Aklan.

Lawyer. Revolutionary. Governor. Assemblyman. Senator. Constitutional Convention delegate. Writer. Political leader.

And the namesake of Altavas, Aklan.

His life unfolded at a time when present-day Aklan and Capiz were still part of the same political province. His story is therefore part of the shared history of both.

WHERE WAS JOSE CORTES ALTAVAS BORN?

One of the most interesting—and unresolved—questions in the biography of Jose Cortes Altavas concerns his specific birthplace.

The historical record presents two distinct birthplace traditions.

The first identifies him with the municipality of Capiz, now Roxas City.

The second identifies him with Balete, Capiz, now part of Aklan.

Importantly, the first account is not based solely on the modern NHCP marker.

The 1931 Ro Announcer account

A particularly valuable source is the April 30, 1931 issue of Ro Announcer, an Akeanon-language newspaper published while Jose Altavas was still alive.

Its feature article, “Si Tg. Jose Altavas Ag Ro Anang Maragtas”—“Mr. Jose Altavas and His Life Story”—presents Altavas’s biography and identifies him as born in Capiz.

In the historical context of the article, this refers to Capiz, the provincial capital and municipality that is today Roxas City, Capiz.

This makes the 1931 newspaper an especially significant piece of evidence for the Capiz/Roxas City birthplace tradition because it predates Altavas’s death by more than two decades.

The 1926-era biographical record

An earlier biographical record from the 1920s likewise identifies his birthplace as the Municipality of Capiz, Province of Capiz.

This is consistent with the 1931 Ro Announcer account and with the later NHCP marker’s identification of historical Capiz with present-day Roxas City.

The 2018 NHCP historical marker

The National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) historical marker installed in Altavas states explicitly:

“ISINILANG SA CAPIZ, NGAYO’Y LUNGSOD NG ROXAS, CAPIZ, 11 SETYEMBRE 1877.”

Thus, the NHCP’s official marker identifies Jose Cortes Altavas as born in Capiz, now Roxas City, Capiz, on September 11, 1877.

The Balete account

But another substantial body of historical material identifies a different birthplace.

The Senate of the Philippines gives his birthplace as Balete, Capiz, on September 11, 1877.

The University of the Philippines Visayas Cultural Mapping of Panay and Guimaras likewise identifies him as born in Balete, Capiz.

A local/family account associated with the Jose Cortes Altavas Memorial Foundation provides an even more precise location: Sitio Mapait, Aranas, Balete, Capiz.

The documentary record

For transparency, Ro Akeanon records the sources in text:

The 1931 Ro Announcer identifies him as born in Capiz, now Roxas City, Capiz.

The 1926-era biographical record identifies him as born in the Municipality of Capiz, Capiz.

The 2018 NHCP historical marker identifies him as born in Capiz, now Roxas City, Capiz.

The Senate of the Philippines identifies him as born in Balete, Capiz.

The UP Visayas Cultural Mapping identifies him as born in Balete, Capiz.

The Jose Cortes Altavas Memorial Foundation/local account identifies his birthplace more specifically as Sitio Mapait, Aranas, Balete, Capiz.

An unresolved historical question

The evidence therefore presents a genuine discrepancy between:

Capiz / present-day Roxas City

and

Balete, Capiz / present-day Aklan.

Ro Akeanon should not arbitrarily declare one account correct without a primary birth or baptismal record conclusively resolving the matter.

What can be established is that Balete was part of the Province of Capiz in 1877. It became part of the newly created Province of Aklan only after Aklan was separated from Capiz in 1956.

Consequently, the issue is not whether he was born in “Capiz or Aklan.” Both accounts place his birthplace within the historical Province of Capiz.

The unresolved question is more precise:

Was Jose Cortes Altavas born in the Municipality of Capiz—the predecessor of present-day Roxas City—or in Balete, then part of Capiz and now part of Aklan?

Until primary documentation settles the question, both historical traditions deserve to be preserved.

⸻

A CHILD OF THE OLD CAPIZ

Jose Cortes Altavas was born on September 11, 1877, during the period when the territory of today’s Aklan and Capiz formed part of the old Province of Capiz.

This historical geography is essential to understanding his life.

Whether the Capiz municipality account or the Balete account is ultimately proven correct, Altavas was born into the political and cultural world of old Capiz.

He would later become one of its most influential political leaders.

⸻

A BRILLIANT STUDENT

Altavas received his early education in Capiz before pursuing higher education in Manila.

He studied at the Ateneo Municipal de Manila, where he developed a reputation for academic excellence.

The 1931 Ro Announcer article provides a fascinating contemporary glimpse of this period, describing his exceptional academic performance and noting that he was known by the titles “Emperador” and “Principe.”

He later studied law at the University of Santo Tomas.

His education, however, was interrupted by the Philippine Revolution.

⸻

THE YOUNG REVOLUTIONARY

Altavas returned to Capiz and became involved in the revolutionary movement.

The NHCP records that in 1898 he served with the revolutionary forces in Capiz and acted as an intermediary between Capiz revolutionaries and the expeditionary forces sent from Luzon by Emilio Aguinaldo.

After the revolutionary period, he resumed his studies and eventually entered the legal profession.

He passed the bar in 1901 and returned to Capiz to practice law.

⸻

FROM LOCAL POLITICS TO GOVERNOR OF CAPIZ

Altavas began his political career at the local level.

He served as a municipal councilor before becoming a member of the Capiz Provincial Board.

In 1907, he was elected representative of the Second District of Capiz to the Philippine Assembly.

In 1910, he became Governor of Capiz, serving two consecutive terms until 1916.

His administration became associated with extensive public works, particularly the construction and improvement of roads and bridges.

This contributed to his reputation as a road and bridge builder.

⸻

THE SENATOR OF CAPIZ, ILOILO AND ROMBLON

In 1916, Altavas was elected to the Philippine Senate representing the 7th Senatorial District, composed of Capiz, Iloilo and Romblon.

He served until 1922 and held important committee positions.

His influence extended beyond his own political career.

In 1919, he supported the gubernatorial candidacy of Manuel Acuña Roxas, contributing to Roxas’s emergence as a major political figure.

This later earned Altavas the oft-repeated description “the man who made Roxas.”

⸻

THE MAKING OF ALTAVAS, AKLAN

The municipality that carries his name was not created from an entirely new settlement.

The town was formerly known as Jemino or Jimeno.

During the American-period reorganization of municipalities, Jemino was merged with Batan, Balete and Barrio Lagatic of Kalibo to form New Washington.

In 1917, efforts were made to restore Jemino as an independent municipality.

Jose Cortes Altavas played an important role in supporting the movement, together with Representative Leopoldo M. Alba.

The municipality was subsequently re-established and named Altavas in his honor.

Thus, while he is popularly remembered as the “founder” of Altavas, the more precise historical description is that he was instrumental in the town’s re-establishment as an independent municipality and in its subsequent naming after him.

⸻

A VISION TO MAKE ALTAVAS THE CAPITAL OF CAPIZ

Altavas apparently had an even larger vision for the municipality that carried his name.

Historical accounts, including the UP Visayas Cultural Mapping of Panay and Guimaras, record that he had a long-term goal of making Altavas the capital of Capiz.

The plan was never realized.

The proposal is particularly significant in the context of the growing Aklanon movement for separation from Capiz.

Strategically situated between the political centers of Capiz and Kalibo, Altavas could potentially have served as a geographic and political middle ground.

It is therefore reasonable to view his vision for Altavas as part of the larger political struggle over the future organization of the old Province of Capiz.

However, the 1917 re-establishment of Jemino and the later vision of making Altavas the provincial capital should be treated as distinct historical developments, not as though the municipality was created solely for the purpose of becoming the provincial capital.

⸻

A POLITICAL KINGMAKER

Altavas became one of the major political figures of early twentieth-century Capiz.

He was a contemporary of Manuel L. Quezon and Sergio Osmeña and a prominent figure in the Nacionalista political movement.

His influence in Capiz politics was substantial, particularly through his role in the careers of younger political leaders such as Manuel Roxas.

⸻

THE 1934 CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION

Altavas later became a delegate to the 1934 Constitutional Convention, which drafted the Constitution that became effective in 1935.

The NHCP marker records his participation in the convention that drafted the 1935 Constitution.

He served as chairman of the Committee on Suffrage.

An important correction must be made to some versions of his biography: Altavas did not advocate women’s suffrage.

Historical convention records indicate that he opposed women’s suffrage during the constitutional debates.

This should be retained as part of an accurate assessment of his political career.

⸻

A LAWYER, FARMER, WRITER AND POET

The historical material accompanying his portrait describes Altavas as a lawyer and farmer, as well as a former governor, representative and senator.

He was also a writer and poet.

He reportedly kept extensive journals and writings documenting his observations and experiences.

The 1931 Ro Announcer article is especially valuable in this regard because it demonstrates that his life and achievements were already being documented and discussed in the Akeanon press during his lifetime.

⸻

AN 8-FOOT STATUE IN ALTAVAS

Jose Cortes Altavas’s legacy is physically present in the municipality that bears his name.

An 8-foot statue of Senator Jose Cortes Altavas stands at Katimawaan’t Jimeno Park, directly in front of the Altavas Town Hall in Altavas, Aklan.

The statue was unveiled on September 11, 2017, in celebration of his 140th birth anniversary.

It stands as a powerful civic reminder of the man whose political efforts helped secure the re-establishment of Jemino as an independent municipality.

⸻

THE NHCP HISTORICAL MARKER

On January 25, 2018, the National Historical Commission of the Philippines officially unveiled the Jose Cortes Altavas historical marker in Altavas, Aklan.

The marker records his revolutionary service, his election to the Philippine Assembly, his Senate career and his participation in the convention that drafted the 1935 Constitution.

It also gives the NHCP’s official birthplace account:

“Isinilang sa Capiz, ngayo’y Lungsod ng Roxas, Capiz.”

That statement should be preserved exactly as the NHCP’s position.

At the same time, the Senate, UP Visayas and other historical accounts identify Balete, Capiz.

Rather than erase either tradition, Ro Akeanon documents both.

⸻

A LEGACY SHARED BY CAPIZ AND AKLAN

Jose Cortes Altavas occupies a unique position in the history of Western Visayas.

His political career was built in old Capiz.

His name is now permanently attached to a municipality in Aklan.

And his birthplace is documented in two different historical traditions.

The 1931 Ro Announcer and 2018 NHCP marker identify him with Capiz, now Roxas City.

The Senate, UP Visayas and family/local accounts identify Balete, Capiz, now part of Aklan.

This is more than a biographical footnote. It reflects the changing political geography of Panay itself.

When Altavas was born in 1877, Aklan was not yet a separate province.

When he became governor and senator, today’s Aklan and Capiz were still part of the same old province.

Aklan would only become a separate province in 1956, four years after Altavas’s death.

⸻

REMEMBERING SENATOR JOSE CORTES ALTAVAS

On his 149th birth anniversary, Ro Akeanon remembers Jose Cortes Altavas as a remarkable figure whose life crossed the boundaries of today’s provinces.

He was a:

Revolutionary.
Lawyer.
Farmer.
Municipal leader.
Assemblyman.
Governor of Capiz.
Senator of the Philippines.
Constitutional Convention delegate.
Writer and poet.
Political leader and kingmaker.

His 8-foot statue at Katimawaan’t Jimeno Park stands before the Altavas Town Hall.

The NHCP historical marker, unveiled on January 25, 2018, recognizes his national historical significance.

And the municipality itself preserves his name.

A final historical note

The question of Jose Cortes Altavas’s precise birthplace remains open.

The 1931 Ro Announcer, the 1926-era biographical record, and the 2018 NHCP historical marker place him in Capiz, corresponding to present-day Roxas City.

The Senate of the Philippines, UP Visayas Cultural Mapping, and the Jose Cortes Altavas Memorial Foundation/local tradition place him in Balete, Capiz, with the latter giving the more specific location of Sitio Mapait, Aranas, Balete.

Rather than choose between the two without conclusive primary evidence, Ro Akeanon preserves both documentary traditions.

That is the responsible way to write history.

Not by erasing contradictions—but by preserving the evidence and allowing future research to resolve them.

JOSE CORTES ALTAVAS

September 11, 1877 – August 21, 1952

From the old Capiz to present-day Aklan, his name—and his story—endures.

11/09/2026

Remembering Our Founder | 149th Birth Anniversary

Today, we honor Senator Jose Cortes Altavas, the visionary leader and founder of our beloved Municipality of Altavas.

We are honored to have been joined by his beloved grandchildren in commemorating his 149th birth anniversary, together with the uniformed men and women of Altavas and our dedicated responders.

As we celebrate his life and legacy, may we continue to remember and take pride in the history, heritage, and values that helped shape Altavas today.

Happy 149th Birth Anniversary, Late Senator Jose Cortes Altavas! 🇵🇭💙

📷Municipality of Altavas

06/09/2026

Feel Alive Feel Aklan ✨

06/09/2026

Saylo kamo sa Kamanggaran it Akean ag diskobreha ro hugod it mga Akeanon.

📍Aklan Pavillion at the SMX Convention Center, Pasay City!

05/09/2026

Make sure to visit the Aklan Pavilion at the 37th Philippine Travel Mart, happening at the SMX Convention Center Manila! September 4-6, 2026 🙌🏻

Come and discover the beauty, culture, flavors, and exciting travel experiences that Aklan has to offer. From world-renowned destinations to unique local products and unforgettable adventures, Aklan is ready to welcome you! 💚

📍 Aklan Pavilion | SMX Convention Center Manila
✨ See you there!