A tour at JNS Hito Farm takes visitors to the catfish: As part of the tour, visitors can catch or feed the fish, observe them and learn more about how they are raised. Urbiztondo also offers historical sites and the Kanen Festival, which highlights local rice cakes and the contributions of local farmers. These different themes provide concrete starting points for planning your trip—from the town’s history to farming and food.

Local history: from the namesake to the relocation of the town

Urbiztondo is named after General Antonio de Urbiztondo y Villasis, a Spanish governor in the Philippines. The general is known for the conquest of Jolo in 1852. Until its separation that same year, Urbiztondo was a visita of San Carlos. Two distinct historical connections therefore fall in 1852: the separation from San Carlos and the conquest of Jolo associated with the town’s namesake. The term “visita” preserves the historical designation for Urbiztondo’s relationship with San Carlos at the time.

In 1855, the Dominicans established the Vicariate of Urbiztondo and appointed Rev. Father Francisco Treserra, who was responsible for relocating the old town to the present-day town center. Two events come together at this point: the Dominicans’ establishment of the vicariate and the relocation of the town overseen by Treserra. The historical overview thus extends beyond the naming and separation to include a change in the town center.

Farm tour and local themes

A 2025 report describes a tour at JNS Hito Farm in Urbiztondo. As part of the tour, visitors can catch or feed catfish, observe the fish and learn how they are raised there. The activities offer different experiences: catching or feeding means taking part, observing focuses attention on the fish, and information about how they are raised adds background to the tour. If you plan to visit, check in advance what visitor options are currently available.

The Kanen Festival highlights Urbiztondo’s local rice cakes and also recognizes the contributions of local farmers. Its focus therefore connects a local food with recognition of agricultural work. If the festival is a deciding factor for your trip, check the event dates in advance.

Edible souvenirs from the tour include canned catfish and smoked catfish from JNS Hito Farm. They add a culinary dimension to the activities involving catfish. The two local food experiences differ: catfish is the focus of the tour souvenirs, while local rice cakes are the focus of the Kanen Festival. This lets you explore the themes of farming and food through both a tour and the festival.

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