Agustin Yreneo Artiaga Kintanar was born on May 5, 1891 in Argao, Cebu. Agustin was the son of Roman Quintanar and Petra Artiaga. He finished his Liberal Arts and College of Law at the University of the Philippines in 1917. He was admitted to the Philippine Bar on October 4, 1917.
Agustin married Pureza Quintanilla Lucero. They had the following children, namely, Reynaldo Emmanuel, Carmelita Linda, Fidelis, Quintin, Simeon Victorino, Bernardita, Teresita Luz, Roman Antonio, Agustin Claro, Anafe, Serena, and Josefina Pureza.
When the Cebu Chapter of the Partido Democrata was organized during the visit of party president Emiliano Tria Tirona on January 1920, Agustin was appointed part of the executive committee. The party officers along with Agustin Kintanar were Nicolas Rafols as chairman, Vicente Rama as vice chairman, the executive committee (Agustin included): Vicente Pelaez, Francisco Arias, and Andres Abellana.
During the Partido Democrata party convention on January 15, 1921 held at the residence of Nicolas Rafols which was in preparation for the 1922 elections, Agustin Kintanar was chosen the party's candidate for the 4th congressional district.
The other candidates were Pastor Noel for governor, Vicente Pelaez for the 1st district, Vicente Sotto for the 2nd district, Vicente Rama for the 3rd district, Rosalio Reyes for the 5th district, Nicolas Rafols for the 6th district, and Juan Pilapil for the 7th district.
In the 1925 elections, the Partido Democrata in Cebu chose again Agustin Kintanar to be its candidate for the 4th congressional district. On that party convention held on March 21-22, 1925, Vicente Sotto was chosen as its senatorial candidate while Juan L. Orbeta was nominated candidate for governor.
Agustin Kintanar was excluded from the provincial directorate of the Partido Democrata. This was during the party's meeting in April of 1930, in preparation for the June 2, 1931 elections. However, the party's candidate for the 4th district Casiano Carin withdrew during the middle of the campaign and he was replaced by Agustin Kintanar.
In 1934 when the country's leading political party was divided into pro and anti, Agustin Kintanar and Vicente Rama joined the antis. Joining Kintanar were the Sotto brothers, Vicente and Filemon, and Mariano Jesus Cuenco.
Agustin Kintanar failed to win in the elections from 1922, 1925, 1928, and 1931. He repeatedly lost to fellow town mate Atty. Juan Alcazaren. He won in the elections held in 1934 and thereafter successively won in the elections in 1938, 1941 and 1946. In 1953 Agustin decided not to run anymore for reelections, he was replaced by Isidro Kintanar who served for four terms as representative of the old 4th district of Cebu.
During the first election for president (this was in accordance with the Tydings McDuffie Law) held on September 17, 1935, Agustin Kintanar supported the candidacy of Manuel L. Quezon and Sergio Osmeña Sr. the presidential and vice presidential candidate of the Nacionalista Party.