Brief History

In 1867 the Spanish Governor of Surigao and Agusan, Manuel Boscasa, in his attempt to subdue the natives of Upper Agusan wanted to transfer the people of the villages of Talacogon, Bunawan, Suribao and San Juan de Suribao to the new reduccion of La Reunion de Cabadbaran.

In response the villagers of Talacogon petitioned that "they wish to transfer to the seacoast to a place called Guinjahon, between Butuan and Nasipit."

Those of Bunawan "ask permission to transfer to the place Quijaoan in the bay of Butuan; in that place there is enough land, good water and good climate because it is near the sea."

"The people of San Juan de Suribao, ask for transfer to the sitio Quijaoan between Butuan and Nasipit." They however were forced to settle in the reduccion La Reunion de Cabadbaran.

In our baptismal books Quijaoan appears many times as the place of residence of parents of children baptized in our parish.

The river alongside our town is Guihao-an River by today's naming.

"Thirty-four years later in 1901 Fr. Urios writes that when he was in Tortosa on the 11th of that month (and Fr. Peter Schreurs, MSC adds now Buenavista!) the barrio captain did not allow him to enter the cemetery."

Municipal records point out that sometime in the early 1920's Buenavista was declared a regular barrio of the Municipality of Butuan. And on January 1, 1937 the barrio of Buenavista, by virtue of Executive Order No. 65, issued by Commonwealth President Manuel L. Quezon, became a municipality through the efforts of Assemblyman Apolonio D. Curato and Governor Jose R. Rosales, Commissioner of Mindanao and Sulu Teofisto Guingona, Sr. and Secretary of Interior Elpidio Quirino.

In 1935 the Dutch missionaries of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, took over the pastoral care of Agusan from the Jesuits. Hence upon the creation of our parish our priests were Dutch MSC missionaries.

In our Canonical Books we find the date April 20, 1937 as the date that our canonical books were open for entries. Thus this date is chosen as the founding date of our parish. Before April 20, 1937 we belonged to the parish of Butuan.

Reference: Fr. Moran's Book