San Jose Dinagat Islands History

The Municipality of San Jose was named in honor of Jose Ecleo who was its pioneer and the father of the late renowned mayor of the Municipality of Dinagat, Hon. Ruben E. Ecleo, Sr. In 1965, Hon. Ruben E. Ecleo, Sr., organized the Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association, Incorporated (PBMA) at Sitio Puyange (now Barangay Poblacion, San Jose). PBMA is a non-sectarian brotherhood organization spreads like a forest fire in the entire archipelago. Soon members of the association from different places came to settle in San Jose. The strong spirit of brotherhood and the desire of the members to be in constant association with its founder brought the phenomenon and remarkable increase in the population of San Jose. Other barangays were established to comprise what is now Metro San Jose. San Jose is known for the practice of ‘PAHINA” or voluntary labor. During Saturdays and Sundays, it is a common sight to see people, young and old alike, male and female, working harmoniously for community development. This achievement was affirmed when then Barangay San Jose received the National Award as the “Most Outstanding Barangay in the Philippines” last 1980. San Jose came out as an advance and progressive place. Even if he is not as old as other municipalities, but he has coped up and even overtaken most of the municipalities of the Province of Surigao del Norte. He has amenities not common to rural communities. The true spirit of brotherhood, love, unity, and cooperation has reign within its people. The Municipality has shown a true people-centered, sustainable and program-oriented political ideology in the province amidst the criticism. San Jose is strategically the center of trade and commerce in the Island of Dinagat. It is the place where opportunities for investment are possible. This is the history of Puyangi until it becomes a municipality. San Jose is now a center of trade and industry in the province.