Cardona, officially the Municipality of Cardona (), is a

municipality A municipality is usually a single administrative division having municipal corporation, corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate. The term ''municipality' ...

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 ...

of Rizal, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 50,143 people.

Etymology

An oral folklore tells how the name “Cardona” was derived from the

Spanish Spanish might refer to: * Items from or related to Spain: **Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain **Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many countries in the Americas **Spanish cuisine **Spanish history **Spanish culture ...

word “caldo” referring to a native rice broth. Supposedly, a stranger walking through the street of the town happened to ask the name of the town from a native, who at that time was enjoying a bowl of hot “caldo”. Thinking that the stranger was inquiring as to what he was eating, the native answered "Sapao! Caldo!" Another story tells that the town of Cardona in the

Province of Barcelona Barcelona (; ) is a province of eastern Spain, in the center of the autonomous community of Catalonia. The province is bordered by the provinces of Tarragona, Lleida, and Girona, and by the Mediterranean Sea. Its area is .Spain Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featuring the Punta de Tarifa, southernmost point of continental Europe, it is the largest country in Southern Eur ...

is believed to be the eponym of the town. Settlements in the area during the Spanish-era were on the hills and the place surrounded by waters of the Laguna Lake. Early missionary

Franciscan The Franciscans are a group of related organizations in the Catholic Church, founded or inspired by the Italian saint Francis of Assisi. They include three independent Religious institute, religious orders for men (the Order of Friars Minor bei ...

friars have seen its resemblance to the Spanish town which is also located on a hill and is almost surrounded by the waters of the river Cardener. Parts of the present-day Barangays Calahan, Patunhay, Del Remedio, Iglesia, San Roque, Dalig, and Looc are set on these hills.

History

In 1855, Cardona was created as a town of the District of Morong, with boundaries set in 1857. Later in June 1901, Cardona formed part of the newly created Province of Rizal through Act 137 promulgated by the

Philippine Commission The Philippine Commission was the name of two bodies, both appointed by the president of the United States, to assist with governing the Philippines. The First Philippine Commission, also known as the Schurman Commission, was appointed by Pre ...

. In 1903, Act No. 942 annexed the town to the Municipality of Morong. Eleven years then, the Executive Order 108 issued by

Governor-General Governor-general (plural governors-general), or governor general (plural governors general), is the title of an official, most prominently associated with the British Empire. In the context of the governors-general and former British colonies, ...

Francis Burton Harrison Francis Burton Harrison (December 18, 1873 – November 21, 1957) was an American-Filipino Politics of the United States, statesman who served in the United States House of Representatives and was appointed Governor-General of the Philippines ...

has established the town as an independent municipality.

Philippine independence

Cardona native and World War II veteran Frisco F. San Juan, a civil engineer, was elected congressman of Rizal's second district in 1965, and was reelected to a second term in 1969.

Geography

Cardona is part of the 2nd Congressional District of Rizal. Cardona is from

Antipolo Antipolo, officially the City of Antipolo (), is a Cities of the Philippines#Legal classification, component city and capital of the Provinces of the Philippines, province of Rizal (province), Rizal, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, ...

and from

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 ...

. With the continuous expansion of

Metro Manila Metropolitan Manila ( ), commonly shortened to Metro Manila and formally the National Capital Region (NCR; ), is the capital region and largest List of metropolitan areas in the Philippines, metropolitan area of the Philippines. Located ...

, the municipality is the easternmost part of Manila's built-up area.

Barangays

Cardona is politically subdivided into 18

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, as indicated below and in the image herein, 11 of which are on the mainland and 7 on Talim Island. 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 ...

. ;Mainland * Calahan * Dalig * Del Remedio * Iglesia * Looc * Nagsulo * Patunhay * Real (

Poblacion ''Poblacion'' (from Spanish '' población'', meaning "population"), sometimes abbreviated as Pob., is a term used in the Philippines to refer to the administrative center, downtown, old town, or commercial area of a city or municipality. It ...

) * Sampad * San Roque (

) * Ticulio ; Talim Island * Balibago * Boor * Lambac * Malanggam-Calubacan * Navotas * Subay * Tuna

Climate

Demographics

In the 2020 census, the population of Cardona, Rizal, was 50,143 people, with a density of .

Religion

Christianity Christianity is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion, which states that Jesus in Christianity, Jesus is the Son of God (Christianity), Son of God and Resurrection of Jesus, rose from the dead after his Crucifixion of Jesus, crucifixion, whose ...

is the major religion in the town, and the majority of all

Christian denomination A Christian denomination is a distinct Religion, religious body within Christianity that comprises all Church (congregation), church congregations of the same kind, identifiable by traits such as a name, particular history, organization, leadersh ...

Catholicism The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwid ...

where 82% of its inhabitants are baptized Roman Catholics. The town has a minority of UNACAED members,

Iglesia ni Cristo The (INC; ; ) is an independent Nontrinitarianism, nontrinitarian Christianity, Christian Christian denomination, church founded in 1913 and registered by Felix Manalo, Félix Manalo in 1914 as a corporation sole, sole religious corporation ...

Born Again To be born again, or to experience the new birth, is a phrase, particularly in evangelical Christianity, that refers to a "spiritual rebirth", or a regeneration of the human spirit. In contrast to one's physical birth, being "born again" is d ...

sects,

Jehovah's Witnesses Jehovah's Witnesses is a Christian denomination that is an outgrowth of the Bible Student movement founded by Charles Taze Russell in the nineteenth century. The denomination is nontrinitarian, millenarian, and restorationist. Russell co-fou ...

and more. The town is also the home of the famed and miraculous image of Nuestra Señora del Santísimo Rosario — La Virgen de Sapao, which was granted the honor of pontifical coronation by

Pope Francis Pope Francis (born Jorge Mario Bergoglio; 17 December 1936 – 21 April 2025) was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 13 March 2013 until Death and funeral of Pope Francis, his death in 2025. He was the fi ...

, through his representative Cardinal José Fuerte Advíncula, the Archbishop of Manila, on 7 October 2022.

Catholic churches

* Diocesan Shrine and Parish of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary * Our Lady of Lourdes Parish 1Diocesan Shrine Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Cardona 29

Protestant denominations

* Cardona Bethel

United Methodist Church The United Methodist Church (UMC) is a worldwide mainline Protestant Christian denomination, denomination based in the United States, and a major part of Methodism. In the 19th century, its main predecessor, the Methodist Episcopal Church, was ...

* Cardona

Church of Christ Church of Christ may refer to: Church groups * Christianity, the Abrahamic monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ * Christian Church, an ecclesiological term used by denominations to describe the true body of Christia ...

* Cardona Christian Church * Dae Heung

Presbyterian Church Presbyterianism is a historically Reformed Christianity, Reformed Protestantism, Protestant tradition named for its form of ecclesiastical polity, church government by representative assemblies of Presbyterian polity#Elder, elders, known as ...

* United Christian

Baptist Church Baptists are a denomination within Protestant Christianity distinguished by baptizing only professing Christian believers ( believer's baptism) and doing so by complete immersion. Baptist churches generally subscribe to the doctrines of ...

* Cardona Baptist Church

Religious sects

* Different Born Again sects *

Iglesia Ni Cristo The (INC; ; ) is an independent Nontrinitarianism, nontrinitarian Christianity, Christian Christian denomination, church founded in 1913 and registered by Felix Manalo, Félix Manalo in 1914 as a corporation sole, sole religious corporation ...

''(church defunct)'' *

Jesus is Lord "Jesus is Lord" () is the shortest credal affirmation found in the New Testament, one of several slightly more elaborate variations. It serves as a statement of faith for the majority of Christians who regard Jesus as both truly man and God. I ...

Members Church of God International The Members Church of God International (), abbreviated as MCGI, is an international Christian religious organization with headquarters in the Philippines. It is popularly known in the Philippines as ''Ang Dating Daan'' (; abbreviated as AD ...

- ''

Ang Dating Daan (English language, English: The Old Path, Portuguese language, Portuguese: ''O Caminho Antigo'', Spanish language, Spanish: ''El Camino Antiguo'') is a Religious broadcasting, religious Radio program, radio and television program produced by ...

'' *''Unión de Adoradores Cristianos Al Espiritu Divino Inc''. (UNACAED) *''Samahan ng Mananampalataya sa Espiritu ng Kadiyosan - Tres Picos''

Economy

Education

State-run institutions

Private schools

*Castle for Achievers Learning School *CJ Learning Center *Lyceum Internation of the Far East ''(permanently closed)'' *Mother Most Chaste School *MV Montessori School *Queen Mary Help of Christians Educational Center *San Francisco Parish School *Talim Island Academy Foundation * Mother Most Chaste School

Healthcare

Public health services

*Rural Health Unit (''RHU'') - Health services are offered at the municipal facility, and health services centers in individual barangays. Cardona RHU is headed by Dra. Eloida Silao M.D.

Private hospitals

*Queen Mary Help of Christians Hospital (Calahan) *Carlos Medical and Maternity Hospital (Looc)

References

External links

*
Cardona Profile at PhilAtlas.com
* Philippine Standard Geographic Code
Philippine Census Information

Local Governance Performance Management System
{{Authority control 1850s establishments in the Philippines Municipalities of Rizal (province) Populated places on Laguna de Bay