About Us

SAN JOSE

Before San Jose became a town. the barangays comprising the municipality remained in a state of lethargy. Socially and economically, no significant signs of progress among the people can be seen for many years. Led by then ABC President of Tarlac Town Amado de Leon , and Samuel M. Eugenio, barangay captain then of Mababanaba (current Municipal Mayor of San Jose) passed a petition creating the Municipality of San Jose, which was submitted to President Corazon C. Aquino.

As early as 1927, the creation of the western part of Tarlac, Tarlac as municipality was conceived. During the same year, the late Don Benigno Aquino, Sr., then Diputado and Speaker Pro Tempore together with the Rev. Gregorio Aglipay, founder of the Aglipayan Church celebrated the approval of the change of name of Cadaanan into Villa Aglipay in honor of Msgr. Gregorio Aglipay and at the same time declaring if officially as barrio. On that occasion, Don Benigno Aquino, Sr. vowed for the creation of a municipality in the western part of Tarlac, Tarlac with Villa Aglipay as the municipal site.

This dream was to be pursued by Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino, Jr. As governor of Tarlac, he envisioned the same by making San Jose the site of the provincial capitol and to make Tarlac, Tarlac a city. Paniqui on the other hand would become the capital town of the province of Tarlac. For political reasons, this plan was shelved. Events further dampened that vision when Martial Law was declared. Ninoy Aquino did not live to see the birth of San Jose when he was assassinated on his return trip to the country in 1983.

The petition creating San Jose into a municipality was coursed through Hon. Jose G. Macapinlac, Mayor of Tarlac and Hon. Jose "Aping" V. Yap, Sr., congressman 2ᶮᵈ District of Tarlac. Soon House Bill (HB) No. 5619 was filed in Congress for enactment. The House of Representatives and Senate passed R.A No. 6842 creating the Municipality of San Jose a supporting law, on September 1, 1989 October 3, 1989, respectively. The act was approved and signed in January 5, 1990 by Her excellency President Corazon C. Aquino. Submitted to the people in a plebiscite, majority of voters ratified the Act making the municipality of San Jose the 18th town of the province of Tarlac. In administering the town, President Aquino appointed municipal officials led by Jose A. Yap, Jr, as Municipal Mayor; Samuel M. Eugenio, as Vice-Mayor and 8 Municipal Councilors namely: Ramon F. Dizon, Sr., Jose E. Valete, Sr., Romeo G. Capitulo, Dominador Agdeppa, Fernando B. Dupitas, Patricio Baluyot, Juan L. Capiendo and Dominador Juan, Sr., and the ABC President then was Dominga B. Rivera. San Jose comprises with 13 barangays, namely: Burgos, Iba, David, Iabney, Lawacamulag, Lubigan, Maamot, Mababanaba, Mariones, Pao, San Juan de Valdez, Sula and Villa Aglipay. With an area of 65,110.26 hectares and with a population of more than 2,430.

Today, San Jose is thriving to become the only agro-industrial and tourism destination. Development plans are currently being undertaken by government line agencies and NGOs. Mobilizing popular citizen participation to ensure that a development plans jibes with local, provincial, and to some extent, regional needs. Such development is viewed from the perspective sustainability. Hence, San Jose, as a premier town shall have rural setting enterprises, well placed human settlements, clean and green environment, responsible citizenry and no mass poverty, among others.