Due to its rugged terrain, relative isolation, and fierce pro-American sentiment, Buenavista was the headquarters for the resistance movement.

Occupying Japanese forces burned the school and municipal building, after holding captives composed a member from each Buenavista family.

One such rescue occurred shortly after the fall of Bataan, when the lighthouse keeper found an American seaman hiding among the shoreline rocks.

These rescued Filipinos and Americans were clothed, fed and hidden by the Buenavistans, even though they risked execution if the Japanese found out about it.

Poverty incidence of Buenavista Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18] Locally crafted products include: Private schools: