In  1877   a  group   of  nomadic  Manobos from the interior   of     then,   undivided  Agusan  which  was  an accessible place for resting, fishing, and rendezvous.  It was a plain at the mouth of a river. At the place arrived a  group  of  Christian settlers in 1887 led by Inocentes Paler, Marcelo Dalaguida, and Luis Gupana. A Butuan trader,  Adolfo     Calo, later  called  the  place, TORTOSA,    because of the many tortoises which laid their eggs on its shores. In the year 1887-1897 another group  of  settlers came led by  Valeriano Farol, Mateo Bustillo,  Aniceto  and    Macario  Sanchez,    Lucas Yonson, Vicente Ebarle, Demetrio Mendoza,   Marcelo Abad, Leon Manla and Matias Micabalo came.  Lured by its lush plain and rich fishing grounds more settlers came to mix with the natives. This new group arriving in 1897-1907   was led by  Esteban  Nakila,  Maximo Bangahon, Irineo Ontong,   Mariano Makiling, Perfecto  Bahian, Leon  Magpatoc,  Ruperto   Alaan, Leocadio     Cabonce,    Vicente     Soriano,     Ceferino Sobrecaray, Isidro Montilla, and many others.

     At this time the name Tortosa was changed because of  a   white  deer  which  the  natives   held  sacred   that where it died.  They placed if on platform and allowed BAHO-AN   or KIHAW-AN.  In 1907-1920,  more settlers  came   making  kihaw-an  bigger. These new settlers   were  led  by  Sesinando  Makiling,   Gregorio Asilum,   Agustin   Burton,  Sesinando   Borja,  Antonio Lumahan,   Vicente   Abuzo,    Faustro   Abad,   Benito Buntag,  Juan   Apduhan,  the  others Dionisio, Macario and  Eusebio  Tomiling   and  many  others,  In 1920, a representative   of    the  American  Governor    General came.  Upon seeing the scenic beauty of the place with its   rolling  hills,   level  plains,  meandering streams, and sandy  beaches  decreed   that  it  be called BUENAVISTA  or Good View    and   be   made   a regular  barrio of the municipality of Butuan. Because it was  now  a  barrio,   a school was established. Among the  teachers  assigned  here   in  the   years  1920-1937 were  Leonardo  Evanoso,   Carmen  Wantz, Bernardo Bagaslao,  Maria Punta,  Juan Adiong,   Cornelia Bacil, Domingo Cinco,  Luis  Tabada, Crispulo    Cortes, Gregorio Cid, Carlosa Cembrano, Abdona Avis, Isaac Moran,   Moises Calo,  Arsenio Tolentino,  Ignacio Cortes,  Mateo Montilla,   Pedro Calo,  Lorenzo Quisada, Candido P. Tan, Sr. and many others.

     During this period, the barrio organized a sort of lawmaking/governing body called "Tingog sa Lungsod" whose officials and members were called "PODIANTES". For thirteen years this group/body governed the barrio of Buenavista. Its leaders were Isidro Montilla, Saturnino Canonoy, Domingo Cinco, who made the town plan in case Buenavista becomes a municipality, followed up by alfredo Montillano, Saturnino Mantilla, Juan Maestrado, Edrulfo Casals, and Simon Paler. Because of the barrios' progress and conscientious leaders Governor of the, then, Commissiners for Mindanao and Solo Teofisto Quirino that Buenvista  be made an independent regular municipality. So, Commonwealth President Manuel L. Quizon issued Executive Order No. 65 making Buenavista a Municipality effective January 1, 1937 with Jorge Satorre, Sr. and Marciano Gerona as the first appointed Mayors and Vice-Mayor. The following year, 1938, Buenavista had its First election and its first elected officials were led by Mayor Jorge Satorre, Sr. and Vice-Mayor Placido Comiling. Since then, with a brief interruption due to World War II, Buenavista has progressed with leaps and bounds led by its able officials who in their respective terms left tangible structures as "Foortures in the sands of time" for us to remember them by. They are:

THE HISTORICAL COMMITTEE