On October 31, 1571, Banton became an encomienda entrusted to the encomiendero Don Sebastian y Mena, a Spaniard resident in Villa Arevalo in Panay.

In his famous book, Relacion de Las Islas Filipinas, it says, "The island is mountainous and almost round in shape planted by coconut trees.

The majority of them are traders…" Based on the historical accounts of the Augustinian Recollects, Banton was established in 1622 in the hill of Bacoco (now part of Brgy.

Francisco Rodriguez encountered obstacles administering the inhabitants of Romblon because of the geography of islands, being far from each other, divided by a rough sea that is a passageway for strong typhoons.

Juan de San Antonio, superior of the Recollects informed about the situation, he was determined and acted decisively to fortify the towns of Romblon and Banton (a task which would be very difficult for the missionary to undertake).

Agustin won fame for his heroic actions against the pirates and war exploits in Mindanao, which earned him a title of El Padre Capitan, a famous name in Philippine history.

To the north of the church, he built a watchtower on the top of Onti Hill that has a commanding view of the entire Sibuyan Sea and the exit points of the vessels from the Port of Romblon as well as the ships going toward the south of the archipelago.

In 1870, the details and the condition of the fortress church were mentioned in Memoria de Panay: "The fort is in the form of an isosceles triangle.

"Due to its location and because of the work of El Padre Capitan, the fortress church of Banton is a real bastion and it would be difficult to find another fort in the archipelago into which so much effort has been poured, for the purpose of depending its inhabitants.

The inhabitants themselves are simple folk, actively devoted to the town of their birth and on all occasions, whether in defense against the Moros or thieves, they have always exhibited bravery.