Candon City Feature

Candon:

The fast rising city of North Luzon

Candon from its creation in 1870 up to present has always been at the forefront of the province Ilocos Sur.

It has cemented itself as the center of education, trade and commerce in the second district of the province and the most populous local government unit in the province.

After six year a city, it has made ground to spread its horizons in north Luzon owing to its favorable geographic location and robust economic growth.

Banking on this year’s P181 million city budget excluding its average 16 million tobacco excise tax, expect the city to further climb to the economic ladder in the next years.

Under the stewardship of City Mayor Allen Singson, the city government is aiming high to provide all the basic needs of its about 60, 000 population and in wider perspective, establish the city as one of the economic centers in north Luzon.

More so that Singson’s father, Deputy Speaker Eric Singson of the House of Representatives, has always been supporting the city programs and projects as reflected in the huge amounts poured in the city from his district share of tobacco excise tax and other funds under his disposal.

The city dubbed as the tobacco capital of the country is situated 347 kilometers north of Manila and 63 kilometers south of the Ilocos Sur capital, Vigan City.

The city government after attaining cityhood focused its attention is completing all the foundations for its economic take off.

In 2005, its four- storey city hospital started its operation. It has more than enough capacity to be of service to all Candonians and the neighboring towns.

In 2006, the city government transferred to its new state of art and elegant city hall to better accommodate all the Candonians.

The four-storey P100 million city hall situated in Calaoa-an, Candon city, so far is also turning to be a tourist attraction as it is built along the National highway.

This year, the Candon Water district will be operational to complete all the basic foundations.

The city government main trust to help its people

Tourism destination

Candon is turning also to excellent tourist destination as it has also its long beaches, rocky mountains and enough accommodations space.

It has its own collection of old Spanish houses along the center district of city including a city museum where memorabilia and old articrafts are displayed.

It can easily serve as convergent area for tourist to explore the whole province and in particular the second district.

The second district of the province composed of 22 towns and Candon City has array of tourist destinations to show up.

The Tirad Pass of Gregorio Del Pilar of Gregorio Del Pilar town which is about 1 hour ride east of the city.

Other historic site is the Bessang Pass in Cervantes town which can be reach in three hours ride.

The baroque built church of Santa Maria town which is inscribed in UNESCO as one of the world heritage site.

The tourist can take comfort in the hotels and inns in the city which are mostly located near the beaches, west of the city.

All year round festivities

As part of drumming up to attract foreign and domestic tourist attention are the different city fiesta activities.

The calamay festival in promoting the product which is the city’s top delicacy.

Calamay ( glutinous rice cake) gain huge media mileage after the city government sponsored the baking of one huge calamay placed at the city plaza in 2005.

It follow up it with bigger size and weight in its attempt to break the current Guinness World record of 2, 097 kilos owned by Japan in 2002.

It was able break it as 45 calamay bakers were able to churn out 2, 547 kilos.

The calamay needed 200 gantas of ground glutinous rice, milk from 2, 000 coconuts, 1,200 kilos of white and brown sugar mixed and cooked in 125 vats.

This year the city government did not produced another huge calamay as it opted to have the first calamay eating and packaging contest as another way of promoting the production.

Aside from calamay festival, the city is totally backing the tobacco industry with its tobacco festival as the main draw of its week long city fiesta.

It has the panagdubla ( tobacco rolling contest) and the invitational street dancing with tobacco as motif.

The city government for the last two years has sponsored the Feria Exposicion 1892 commemoration which is being held at the month of December.

The historic trade fair which was the first and most successful that time based on historic accounts was enough indication that the city was already an economic well-off that time.

History

The most widely known origin of the city’s name is from “Kandong”, the big tree in the village that time.

According to tradition, when the colonizers set foot upon the place and inquired as to its name, the natives answered, “Kandong” referring to the tree. Since time on, the place came to be called Candon.

There are however two other theories, the medical plant found existing at the coming of the Franciscans and the “Candone”, a latin word meaning “outspoken, honest, upright and hospitable.”

Candon was created as town in 1780 upon the installation of the first civil government under the Cabreza de Barangay, Don Juan P Madarang by his Eminence D. Mariano de Conquera, an Agustinian Friar.

Cry of Candon

Like other towns, Candon has its own history and foremost among them is the Candon uprising popularly known as the “IKKIS TI CANDON,” in 1898 as a response to the abuses and oppression perpetrated by the Spaniards.

The revolution was led by the city’s top local hero Don Isabelo Abaya.

Candon first crack to gain cityhood was initiated by Congressman Eric Singson in the 10th Congress. It reached the senate but it was overcome by 1998 elections and politics.

It was re-filed by then Congresswoman Grace Singson and eventually Candon become a component city under Republic Act 9018 in May 5, 2001 after it was signed by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo at the Malacanang palace.

Like the Kandong tree, Candon towers among the other towns in the province in terms of economy and will continue to do so as it has always a big brother and role model to them.

It will always espouse honesty, hospitability and uprightness as taken from the origin of its name. ( Leoncio G. Balbin, Jr)

Demography of Candon City

Total land area - 10, 328 hectares

Built-up area - 7, 306.44 hectares

No. of barangay - 42 ( four of which are urban)

Total population - 54, 107 ( as of 2004)

Total no. of households – 11, 387 ( as of 2004)

Average size per household - 5 persons

Population dependency rate - 54 percent

Population growth rate - 2 percent per annum

Available manpower - 30, 590 ( as of 2004)