Candon, officially the City of Candon (; ), is a component city in the

province A province is an administrative division within a country or sovereign state, state. The term derives from the ancient Roman , which was the major territorial and administrative unit of the Roman Empire, Roman Empire's territorial possessions ou ...

Ilocos Sur Ilocos Sur (), officially the Province of Ilocos Sur (; ), is a Provinces of the Philippines, province in the Philippines located in the Ilocos Region in Luzon. Located on the mouth of the Mestizo River is the capital of Vigan, while Candon is ...

Philippines The Philippines, officially the Republic of the Philippines, is an Archipelagic state, archipelagic country in Southeast Asia. Located in the western Pacific Ocean, it consists of List of islands of the Philippines, 7,641 islands, with a tot ...

. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 61,432 people. Dubbed the "Tobacco Capital of the Philippines", the city is the country's largest producer of Virginia tobacco. This once small resort town is known for making the world's heaviest and largest ''

kalamay ''Kalamay'' (also spelled ''calamay'', literally "sugar") is a sticky sweet delicacy that is popular in many regions of the Philippines. It is made of coconut milk, brown sugar, and ground glutinous rice. It can also be flavored with margarine, ...

'', a sweet and viscous snack made from sticky rice, coconut milk and sugar. This city also has a rich historical background. In its legends, the name of the city is derived from the legendary "''kandong''" tree which is almost extinct in the area. Its

patron saint A patron saint, patroness saint, patron hallow or heavenly protector is a saint who in Catholicism, Anglicanism, Eastern Orthodoxy or Oriental Orthodoxy is regarded as the heavenly advocate of a nation, place, craft, activity, class, clan, fa ...

is John of Sahagún whose feast day is celebrated on June 12. Candon is the center of the 2nd district of Ilocos Sur and also the most populous city in that province. Government district offices are all located in the city, supporting more than 100,000 residents in terms of commercial and industrial services.

Etymology

The origin of the name of Candon is unknown. The name was rendered as Candón or Candon in old Spanish records. It might be named after the Spanish municipality of Candón in Huelva, Andalucia; or from a

Hispanicization Hispanicization () refers to the process by which a place or person becomes influenced by Hispanic culture or a process of cultural and/or linguistic change in which something non-Hispanic becomes Hispanic. Hispanicization is illustrated by spoken ...

of Ilocano (''

Cyrtophyllum fragrans The tembusu (, or ), is a large evergreen tree in the family Gentianaceae, native to Southeast Asia (from Indo-China to New Guinea). It is the Malay language, Malay name for ''Cyrtophyllum fragrans'' (synonym ''Fagraea fragrans''). It is also k ...

''), a native species of tree with very hard wood also known as or in other places in the

Ilocos region The Ilocos Region (; ; ), designated as Region I, is an Region of the Philippines, administrative region of the Philippines. Located in the northwestern section of Luzon, it is bordered by the Cordillera Administrative Region to the east, the Ca ...

History

During the pre-colonial period, Candon was a coastal trading settlement frequented by trade ships of Austronesian, Arab, Indian, Chinese, and Japanese traders (similar to other trading towns along the

Aparri Aparri (ibanag language, Ibanag: ''Ili nat Aparri''; ; ), officially the Municipality of Aparri, is a municipality of the Philippines, municipality in the Philippine Province, province of , Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a ...

, Lingayen, and

Vigan Vigan, officially the City of Vigan (; ), is a Cities of the Philippines#Legal classification, component city and capital of the Provinces of the Philippines, province of Ilocos Sur, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a populatio ...

). The settlement also had a long history of trading ties with Cordillerans in the highlands of

Luzon Luzon ( , ) is the largest and most populous List of islands in the Philippines, island in the Philippines. Located in the northern portion of the List of islands of the Philippines, Philippine archipelago, it is the economic and political ce ...

, which continued through the Spanish colonial period. The town of Candon features prominently in the accounts of Biag, the legendary 17th century folk hero and founder of Sagada. Candon also hosted missionaries who were converting the Itneg and other Cordilleran peoples in neighboring regions. The history of Candon in the early Spanish period is hazy. The first church in the settlement was established by an Augustinian mission in 1591. According to modern folklore, this church was built near a ''kandong'' tree, which is supposedly the origin of the name of the city. The church was later replaced with the Candon Church in 1695. Candon Church was damaged by an earthquake in 1707 and was restored in 1713. The church graveyard located south of the ''Población'' was opened in 1797. The settlement was organized into a municipality in 1780. The first civil government was established under the ''

cabeza de barangay A ''cabeza de barangay'' ("barangay head"), also known as ''teniente del barrio'' ("holder of the barrio"), was the head of a barangay or barrio political unit in the Philippines during Spanish rule.Scott, William Henry. ''Barangay Sixteenth-C ...

'' Don Juan P. Madarang by the Augustinian

friar A friar is a member of one of the mendicant orders in the Catholic Church. There are also friars outside of the Catholic Church, such as within the Anglican Communion. The term, first used in the 12th or 13th century, distinguishes the mendi ...

Mariano de Conquera. In the '' Diccionario geográfico, estadístico, histórico de las Islas Filipinas'' (Buzeta & Bravo, 1850-1851), Candon was described as being a city of around 3,000 households, with a port and a military fort named "San Martín de Tiagán". Candon was mainly agricultural. Its products consisted of rice, corn, sugarcane, vegetables, and fruits. It also had a cotton and

indigo InterGlobe Aviation Limited (d/b/a IndiGo), is an India, Indian airline headquartered in Gurgaon, Haryana, India. It is the largest List of airlines of India, airline in India by passengers carried and fleet size, with a 64.1% domestic market ...

industry, as well as a livestock industry. During the

Philippine Revolution The Philippine Revolution ( or ; or ) was a war of independence waged by the revolutionary organization Katipunan against the Spanish Empire from 1896 to 1898. It was the culmination of the 333-year History of the Philippines (1565–1898), ...

, Candon started forming local revolutionary groups in 1896. They planned to overthrow the local government by April 1, 1898. However, their plans were discovered when one of their members was captured by Spanish forces, forcing them to launch a premature assault. On March 25, 1898, the revolutionaries led by Isabelo Abaya attacked the Spanish garrison in Candon and managed to take the town. Abaya established the ''Republica de Filipinas

Katipunan The Katipunan (), officially known as the (; ) and abbreviated as the KKK, was a revolutionary organization founded in 1892 by a group of Filipino nationalists Deodato Arellano, Andrés Bonifacio, Valentin Diaz, Ladislao Diwa, José Dizon, an ...

de Candon'', a revolutionary government, and declared independence from the Spanish colonial government. The Spanish colonial government retaliated by deploying the '' Cazadores'', elite Spanish expeditionary troops. The better-trained and heavily-armed Spanish forces retook Candon and the rebels were arrested and summarily executed. During the Japanese Occupation in the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, another revolution was staged. Several truckloads of

Imperial Japanese The Empire of Japan, also known as the Japanese Empire or Imperial Japan, was the Japanese nation state that existed from the Meiji Restoration on January 3, 1868, until the Constitution of Japan took effect on May 3, 1947. From 1910 to 19 ...

forces and supplies perished along the national highway. However, the Japanese soldiers retaliated by burning the whole town in January 1942. Despite the hardships that the townsfolk went through during the war, residents resolved to rebuild. Tall

acacia ''Acacia'', commonly known as wattles or acacias, is a genus of about of shrubs and trees in the subfamily Mimosoideae of the pea family Fabaceae. Initially, it comprised a group of plant species native to Africa, South America, and Austral ...

trees at the town

plaza A town square (or public square, urban square, city square or simply square), also called a plaza or piazza, is an open public space commonly found in the heart of a traditional town or city, and which is used for community gatherings. Rela ...

and municipal buildings are testimonies to the people's steadfastness, with large trees up to 15 meters high and 20 feet in circumference now line the National Highway in the Población.

Cityhood

In the Charter of Candon City, Candon applied to become the second city in the Province of Ilocos Sur so it can undertake government programs with additional funding from the national government. These were intended to benefit the people in the field of social services, economic growth, peace and order, health, education, agriculture, and infrastructure development. Like the "''Kandong''" tree of yore, Candon is just beginning to spread out its branches to reach out for the skies in its own bid to become the next city in Ilocos Sur. From the start of House Bill No. 7260 seeking to convert Candon into a component city was filed by then Congressman Eric D. Singson in the 10th Congress and later re-filed by Congresswoman Grace D. Singson in the 11th Congress. Owing to the merits and qualifications of Candon as the leading town in Southern Ilocos Sur, the bill easily got the approval of the Committees on Local Government in both

House of Representatives House of Representatives is the name of legislative bodies in many countries and sub-national entities. In many countries, the House of Representatives is the lower house of a bicameral legislature, with the corresponding upper house often ...

and in the

Senate A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior (Latin: ''senex'' meaning "the el ...

. Until recently, the aspiration for Candon to become a city remained a dream, but its destiny inevitable when the counterpart Senate Bill No. 2242 was sponsored by then Senate President Aquilino "Nene" Pimentel Jr., Senators Frank Drilon, Sergio Osmeña III, and all the members of the Senate Committee on Local Government. It was subsequently approved unanimously by the Senate in plenary session, and now it is up to the townspeople to embrace this honor with an equally unanimous "YES to Cityhood" vote.

Geography

The City of Candon is situated in the lower central portion of the Province of Ilocos Sur. It has a C-shape with elevations ranging from 10 – 500 ft above sea level. Candon is situated from the provincial capital Vigan City, and from the country's capital city of

Manila Manila, officially the City of Manila, is the Capital of the Philippines, capital and second-most populous city of the Philippines after Quezon City, with a population of 1,846,513 people in 2020. Located on the eastern shore of Manila Bay on ...

Barangays

Candon is politically subdivided into 42

barangay The barangay (; abbreviated as Brgy. or Bgy.), historically referred to as ''barrio'', is the smallest Administrative divisions of the Philippines, administrative division in the Philippines. Named after the Precolonial barangay, precolonial po ...

s. Each barangay consists of

purok A ''purok'' () is an informal division within a barangay in the Philippines. While not officially considered a local government unit (LGU), a ''purok'' often serves as a unit for delivering services and administration within a barangay. ''Pur ...

s and some have

sitios A ''sitio'' (Spanish language, Spanish for "site") in the Philippines is a territorial enclave that forms part of a barangay. Typically rural, a ''sitios location is usually far from the center of the barangay itself and could be its own bar ...

. It is bordered by

Santiago Santiago (, ; ), also known as Santiago de Chile (), is the capital and largest city of Chile and one of the largest cities in the Americas. It is located in the country's central valley and is the center of the Santiago Metropolitan Regi ...

, Banayoyo,

Lidlidda Lidlidda, officially the Municipality of Lidlidda (; ), is a municipality in the province of Ilocos Sur, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it had a population of 4,705 people. It is home to the Lidlidda Protected Landscape, a protected ...

, and San Emilio to the north, Galimuyod to the northeast, Salcedo to the west, and Santa Lucia to the south. * Allangigan Primero * Allangigan Segundo * Amguid * Ayudante * Bagani Camposanto * Bagani Gabor * Bagani Tocgo * Bagani Ubbog * Bagar * Balingaoan * Bugnay * Calaoaan * Calongbuyan * Caterman * Cubcubboot * Darapidap * Langlangca Primero * Langlangca Segundo * Oaig-Daya * Palacapac * Paras * Parioc Primero * Parioc Segundo * Patpata Primero * Patpata Segundo * Paypayad * Salvador Primero * Salvador Segundo * San Agustin * San Andres * San Antonio (''Población'') * San Isidro (''Población'') * San Jose (''Población'') * San Juan (''Población'') * San Nicolas * San Pedro * Santo Tomas * Tablac * Talogtog * Tamurong Primero * Tamurong Segundo * Villarica

Climate

The climate is generally dry that usually occurs from the months of October to May. However, the southernmost portion is observed to be humid and rain is evenly distributed throughout the year while the eastern part is dry with rain not sufficiently distributed. August has the most rainfall while January and February have the least. The mean temperature in the province is . January is the coldest.

Demographics

In the 2020 census, the population of Candon was 61,432 people, with a density of .

Language

The dominant dialect spoken in Candon is Ilocano.

Religion

Candon City, located in the province of Ilocos Sur, is predominantly Christian, reflecting its strong religious heritage rooted in Spanish colonial influence and diverse faith traditions. ;Religious Demographics According to the 2015 data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) and the National Statistics Office (NSO), the religious composition of the city is as follows: * Roman Catholicism – 82.11% * Iglesia ni Cristo – 10.45% * Protestantism – 4.12% * Other Christian denominations – 3.32% * Islam – 1–2% * Indigenous or traditional beliefs – Less than 1% ;Major Religious Groups * Roman Catholicism is the dominant religion, a legacy of centuries of Spanish colonial rule. * Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) has a significant presence in the city, with active congregations and regular worship services. * Protestant groups in the city include Baptists, Evangelicals, and the United Methodist Church. * Other Christian denominations, such as the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Jehovah's Witnesses, and Pentecostal communities, also have established congregations. * A small Muslim population resides in the city, contributing to its religious diversity. * Some residents maintain indigenous or animist beliefs, though this group represents a very small portion of the population. ;Notable Places of Worship * Candon Catholic Church (St. John of Sahagún Parish) – A historic church under the Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia * Iglesia ni Cristo – Candon Locale * Candon Evangelical Church * United Methodist Church – Candon District ;Religious Festivals and Celebrations * Candon City observes a variety of religious festivals and events, including: * Holy Week (Semana Santa) – Marked by processions and church activities * Simbang Gabi – Traditional pre-Christmas dawn masses * Candon City Fiesta – Celebrated in honor of the city's patron saint * Fiesta de San Juan – Local celebration associated with St. John the Baptist ;Religious Institutions and Organizations The city is also home to religious educational institutions such as the Candon Catholic School, and hosts a number of community activities organized by churches and faith-based groups. Religious observances and festivals draw not only local devotees but also tourists, reflecting the city’s strong spiritual and cultural identity.

Economy

Candon City has a geographical setting and proximity to the national highway and other towns that encouraged greater mobility in terms of trade, economic, social and cultural activities. The Department of Trade and Industry termed the city as the "Center for Trade and Commerce" in Ilocos Sur. Many adjacent towns frequent Candon for commercial activities, catering to the commercial needs of an estimated 100,000 population. The city also has a supermarket and shopping mall, banking and lending institutions, recreational facilities, tourism facilities, health and medical establishments. Existing industries in Candon City are manufacturing, agro-industry and cottage industry. The manufacturing sector owns the Tobacco Stalk Cement Bonded Board Plant that produces particle boards for low cost housing and other construction needs. Other manufacturing establishments are based on ''kalamay''-making, ''chichacorn'' (deep-fried corn), baked goods, ice cream, and vinegar; furniture making, concrete products manufacturing, and a

coconut oil Coconut oil (or coconut fat) is an edible oil derived from the kernels, meat, and milk of the coconut palm fruit. Coconut oil is a white solid fat below around , and a clear thin liquid oil at higher temperatures. Unrefined varieties have a disti ...

processing plant located at Barangay Talogtog. On the other hand, cottage industries include '' balut'' egg production, fish re-drying, salt making, native delicacies, woodcraft and handicraft. Service establishments are also present in Candon, such as sari-sari and grocery stores, ''carinderias'' (small diners), nightclubs, barber shops, beauty parlors, gasoline stations and stores/outlets for the following: auto parts, agricultural equipment and supplies, school and office supplies, photo and supplies, appliances, pharmaceuticals, hardware and electrical. There are also video centers, bazaars, gift shops, pawnshops and mineral/distilled drinking water store outlets, and real estate. The city is the center of trade and commerce in the 2nd district of Ilocos Sur. Urban growth has a linear pattern along major thoroughfares in the city center and the national highway.

Government

Local government

Candon, belonging to the second congressional district of the province of

, is governed by a mayor designated as its local chief executive and by a city council as its legislative body in accordance with the Local Government Code. The mayor, vice mayor, and the councilors are elected directly by the people through an election which is being held every three years.

Elected officials

City seal

The official seal of the City of Candon was approved and adopted by the Sangguniang Panlungsod under Resolution No. 017-01 sponsored by Councilor David Gacusana. It is published to immortalize the “Cry of Candon” of March 1898 and to commemorate the ratification of its Cityhood charter under Republic Act 9018 on March 28, 2001. Explanatory notes: # The seal is patterned after the Official Seal of Ilocos Sur, which is also the general pattern being used by all the seals of the different provinces in the Philippines. # The emblem at the middle of the circle represents the Philippine Flag, which symbolizes the spirit of nationalism. # The TORCH at the middle of the flag represents the spirit of 1898 demonstrating an ever-burning desire of our people for “liberty, justice and democracy.” # The SABER and the RIFLE crossed below the torch are symbols of the readiness of the people to protect human rights. While the TOBACCO LEAVES behind them are like outstretched wings whereby the local agriculture economy thrives. # The date on top of the glowing flame is the date of the immortal “Cry of Candon” when our forefathers, led by the indomitable Don Isabelo Abaya, fought and successfully liberated Candon from the Spanish overlords a full three months before the National uprising of June 12, 1898. # Finally, the banner beneath the emblem contains the historic Candon City Charter – Republic Act 9018 of March 28, 2001, declaring Candon as a city.

Attractions

* Candon Church (Saint John de Sahagun Parish Church) * Darapidap Beach * Tobacco Festival - Celebrated every month of March as thanksgiving for the city's vast harvest of tobacco * Feria de Candon (Trade Fair) - Every first week of December in honor of Santa Barbara (December 4). * Candon City Arena - Opened in 2023, the 8,000-seater arena has hosted various sporting events and concerts.

Transportation

Candon City is accessible via the McArthur National Highway, which is also the city's main thoroughfare. Other major streets in the city are 25 de Marzo Street and San Juan Street, both parallel to the National Highway. Quirino Boulevard is a secondary highway that connects the city proper to the upland barangays of Candon City and the upland municipalities of Ilocos Sur. The Darapidap Beach Road or the Samonte Boulevard where you can find the Muslim Mosque aside of it. This Road connects the seaside barangays to the urban center. Tricycles and jeepneys are the major types of transportation in the city. There are over 3000 registered tricycles in the city, the highest number of registered tricycles in the province (as an individual local government unit.) Buses provide long-distance trips to major cities like

Baguio Baguio ( , , ), officially the City of Baguio (; ; ), is a Cities of the Philippines#Legal classification, highly urbanized city in the Cordillera Administrative Region, Philippines. It is known as the "Summer Capital of the Philippines", ...

and Laoag. Mini-Buses provide short trips to neighboring municipalities and the nearby cities of

and

San Fernando, La Union San Fernando, officially the City of San Fernando (; ), is a component city and the capital of the province of La Union, Philippines. It serves as the regional and administrative center of the Ilocos Region. The city also functions as a hub ...

. Major Bus Companies also established their terminals in the city, among them are: * Partas * Dominion Bus Lines *Santa Lucia Express and Martinez Trans (managed by Victory Liner) *Candon Bus Line

Education

The Candon City Schools Division Office oversees the operations of all Schools District Offices within the city. The Division Office is managed by the Department of Education (DepEd). There are two schools district offices (SDOs), namely: Candon City District I Schools District Office, and Candon City District II Schools District Office. They govern the operations of all private and public elementary and high schools throughout the city. Tertiary levels are governed by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).

Primary and elementary schools

* Allangigan Elementary School * Amguid Elementary School * Ayudante Elementary School * Bagani Elementary School * Bagani-Tocgo Elementary School * Bagar Elementary School * Balingaoan Elementary School * Bugnay Elementary School * Cabanela Preschool Center * Calaoa-an Elementary School * Calongbuyan Elementary School * Candon North Central School * Candon South Central School * Candon South Central School SPED Center * Caterman Elementary School * Caterman Mt. Zion Academy * Cubcubbuot Elementary School * Filomeno G. Gagarin Elementary School * Darapidap Elementary School * Langlangca Elementary School * Maranatha Christian Academy (Elementary) * Nicosat Colleges (Elementary) * Oaig-Daya Elementary School * Parioc East Elementary School * Parioc Elementary School * Patpata Elementary School * Paypayad Elementary School * Salvador Elementary School * San Andres Adventist Elementary School * San Juan de Sahagun (Parish) Pre-School Formation Center * St. Cecilia Early Learning Center (Elementary) * St. Joseph's Institute (Elementary) * Sto. Tomas Elementary School * Tablac Elementary School * Talogtog Elementary School * Tamurong Elementary School * The Shepherd Kiddie School * The Sto. Tomas UMC Children's Garden Learning Center * Ubbog Elementary School * UCCP - Nursery Kindergarten School

Secondary schools

* Candon City High School * Candon City Information Technology National High School * Candon National High School * Dr. Ricardo Gacula Memorial National High School * Maranatha Christian Academy * Nicosat Colleges (High School) * St. Cecilia Early Learning Center * St. Joseph's Institute * Sto. Tomas National High School

Higher educational institutions

* Ilocos Sur Polytechnic State College (ISPSC) * Nicosat Colleges * North Luzon Philippines State College - Formerly a campus of the University of Northern Philippines, founded as the Candon Community College before its merger with UNP by virtue of a bill enacted by then Congressman Eric Singson. * Saint Joseph Institute - a co-ed private school owned and administered by the Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres.

Media

AM stations

* DZTP 693 kHz Tirad Pass Broadcasting Network

FM stations

* DWRE 104.5 Radyo Natin

Sister Cities

Honolulu Honolulu ( ; ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Hawaii, located in the Pacific Ocean. It is the county seat of the Consolidated city-county, consolidated City and County of Honol ...

Hawaii Hawaii ( ; ) is an island U.S. state, state of the United States, in the Pacific Ocean about southwest of the U.S. mainland. One of the two Non-contiguous United States, non-contiguous U.S. states (along with Alaska), it is the only sta ...

, United States *

References

External links

* * Philippine Standard Geographic Codebr>Philippine Census InformationLocal Governance Performance Management System
{{Authority control Cities in Ilocos Sur Populated places established in 1780 1780 establishments in the Philippines Populated coastal places in the Philippines Component cities in the Philippines