Candon: The Gateway to the Ilocos and Cordillera

Candon: The Gateway to the Ilocos and Cordillera

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

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

After six years as a city, Candon has spread its horizons in northern Luzon owing to its favorable geographic location and robust economic growth.

Banking on this year's P181 million city budget excluding its average P16 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 residents 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.

It is bounded by municipalities of Santiago and Banayoyo in the North; the rugged terrains of the municipalities of San Emilio, Galimuyod and Salcedo in the East; the sprawling plains of Sta. Lucia in the South; and the immense South China Sea down west.

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.

Tourism destination

Candon is turning also into a convenient tourist destination as it has also its beaches, verdant fields and rocky mountains.

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 is composed of 22 towns and Candon City has an array of tourist destinations to show up.

The Tirad Pass of Gregorio Del Pilar of Gregorio Del Pilar town is only about an hour ride east of the city. Another historic site is the Bessang Pass in Cervantes town which can be reached in three hours.

The baroque-style Church of Santa Maria town which is inscribed in UNESCO as one of the world heritage site in also a few minutes away.

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

All year round festivities

Festivals have been part of the Candonian's life for centuries.

The calamay festival is the city's way of promoting the product which is the city's top delicacy. Calamay (glutinous rice cake) gained huge media mileage after the city government sponsored the baking of one gigantic calamay displayed at the city plaza in 2005.

It followed it up with an even bigger and heavier version in its attempt to break the current Guinness World record of 2,097 kilos owned by Japan in 2002. It was able to break it as 45 calamay bakers from Candon were able to churn out 2,547 kilos of calamay. 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 produce another huge calamay as it opted to have the first calamay eating and packaging contest as another way of promoting the production.

Aside from the calamay festival, the city has the Tobacco Festival to give tribute to an industry which it started in the 1950s and still dominate up to now.

Its Tobacco Festival is one-week of frenzied activities centered on tobacco making. It has the panagdubla (tobacco-rolling contest) and the invitational street dancing with tobacco as the 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.

That Feria Exposicion, which was widely covered by the press at that time, showed that Candon was already the center of trade in the Ilocos more than 100 years ago.

History

The most widely accepted 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 that 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 10^th 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)

World's biggest rice cake

WORLD"S BIGGEST RICE ( CALAMAY)- The City of Candon through the Bagar calamay makers churned out 2,547 kilos of calamay (glutinous rice cake) besting , the 2, 097-kilo rice cake baked in Niigata, Japan in 2002 to claimed the tagged as the producer of world’s biggest rice cake (glutinous rice cake)
The Candon calamay used 200 gantas of glutinous rice, milk from 2, 000 coconuts and 1,200 kilos of brown and white sugar, using 132 vats.

HISTORY OF CALAMAY

After World War II, the Philippines was totally devastated and Candon was not exempted.

But in the village of Bagar, several coconut trees were left standing.

During that time, six elderly women in a casual conversation thought of coming out with new ways of using the food materials spared from the war including the said coconuts.

They were able to amass brown sugar, glutinous rice, vat and, of course, coconut.

Maximizing the coconut, they included its milk. They mixed all the ingredients and stirred it up until it became sticky.

They cooked it and when they tasted it, much to their surprise, it was pleasantly delicious.

Thus started the making of Calamay (glutinous rice cake ) in Candon.

More than six decades had passed and yet the same style of cooking as well as the same ingredients were being used in the now City of Candon.

Only the preparation of materials like the mechanized grounding of glutinous rice was improved due to the advent of technology and the increase of demand.

Lisa Abaya, President of the Calamay Vendors Association of Candon City, said that calamay was then consumed only locally in Bagar until other people tasted it and it became a hit.

Abaya, now in her 40's, said that one of the six elder women, Rosa del Rosario, was her grandmother.

Abaya said it was she who transferred the knowledge of making calamay to her mother, Caridad Dario and, later, to them.

Abaya said that calamay was initially sold in containers made of coconut shells and wrapped in banana leaves during 1960's.

They changed the banana leaves into plastic because the former easily spoils the calamay. Abaya knew what she was talking about as she could still remember when she was a little girl helping and joining her mother in cooking and selling the product.

She however admitted that she could not recall how the product got its name.
Her guess is it could have been derived from the early manner of cooking.
Since it involved practically all manual or using of hands, its name may be coined after the Pilipino word kamay.

Calamay up to now is baked and cooked with the same formula.

They first cook the young coconut slivers in boiling water and then add the coconut milk. They then mix the ground glutinous rice and sugar. They stir it until it become sticky and nearly dry.

Calamay in Candon has gone a long way even if it stayed the same.

It is the city's choice as its One Town One Product entry to the Department of Trade and Industry project.

The product has circled the entire world as it is a favorite pasalubong (present) by Candonians and Ilocanos to their relatives in the country and abroad.

In 2006, it placed the city in the world map when arguably the world biggest rice cake was baked here.

The Bagar calamay makers churned out 2,547 kilos of calamay, besting the 2, 097-kilo rice cake baked in Niigata, Japan in 2002.

The Candon calamay used 200 gantas of glutinous rice, milk from 2, 000 coconuts and 1,200 kilos of brown and white sugar, using 132 vats.
( Leoncio Balbin, Jr)

candon city festival 2008 panagdubla (tobacco rolling)

A Contestant of the panagdubla (tobacco rolling) tries furiously to produce smoke out of the one-meter long rolled cigar. The winning team is the first to puff smoke. The competition is one of the highlights of the 2008 Tobacco Festival of Candon City, Ilocos Sur, Philippines.

candon city festival 2008 panagdubla (tobacco rolling)

Panagdubla (tobacco rolling) contest- participants of the panagdubla (tobacco rolling) try to out do each other to roll as many cigar as they can in five minutes time period. It is one of the contest during the festivities of the 2008 Tobacco Festival of Candon City, Ilocos Sur, Philippines.

candon city festival 2008 panagdubla (tobacco rolling)

Panagdubla (tobacco rolling) contest- participants of the panagdubla (tobacco rolling) struggle to produce smoke in the one-meter long cigar. The first team to produce smoke wins. The competition is part of the 2008 Tobacco Festival of Candon City, Ilocos Sur, Philippines.

candon city festival 2008 panagdubla (tobacco rolling)

Panagdubla (tobacco rolling) contest- participants of the panagdubla (tobacco rolling) struggle to produce smoke in the one-meter long cigar. The first team to produce smoke wins. The competition is part of the 2008 Tobacco Festival of Candon City, Ilocos Sur, Philippines.

candon city festival

Deputy Speaker Eric Singson delivers his message during the administration night of the week long celebration of 2008 Tobacco Festival in Candon City, Ilocos Sur, Philippines.

candon city tobacco festival photos

Participants of the street dancing contest show their wares during the 2008 tobacco festival of Candon City, Ilocos Sur, Philippines.

candon city tobacco festival photos

City Employees of Candon join the annual grand parade of Tobacco festival.

longest cigar paraded during tobacco festival

The 104.6 meter long rolled cigar was carried by city employees of Candon during the annual grand parade of its Tobacco festival. The more than 300 kilos cigar which is considered the longest ever in the Philippines was rolled by 10 people in two weeks.

Candon city officials join grand parade

City Vice Mayor Nestor Itchon (4th in front row)waves to the crowd led other city officials in the grand parade of the Candon City's Tobacco festival. Join him were city councilors (left to right) Fredelino "Angel" Balagot,

Jr, Aristeo "Aris" Valdez, Rosario "Charo" Villalobos, SK Fed. Pres. Angela Itchon and Rhodana "Rhoda" Abrero. Behind them are city employees.

The making of the philippines' longest cigar in candon city

The 104.6 meter long cigar is considered the longest ever rolled in the Philippines. It took 10 persons in two weeks time to finished it. It eventually weigh more than 300 kilos. Joining the rollers was City Mayor Allen Singson (white t-shirt). It was carried by city employees during the grand parade of the city's Tobacco festival.

candon city Mayor Allen Singson joins grand parade

Candon City Mayor Allen Singson rides his horse as waves to the crowd and leads city officials in the annual grand parade of the 2008 Candon City's Tobacco festival.

It’s sunrise once again for Ilocos’ golden leaf

Inquirer Money / Top Stories
It’s sunrise once again for Ilocos’ golden leaf
By Leoncio Balbin Jr.PDI Northern Luzon BureauPhilippine Daily Inquirer
Posted date: May 24, 2008

CANDON CITY, Philippines—Thanks to the increase in prices of dried tobacco early this year, the Ilocos tobacco industry has been revived and is well on its way to good health.
“The industry is facing its sunrise again,” Estrella de Peralta, acting manager of the National Tobacco Administration (NTA) here, says. The local NTA covers the second congressional district which produces about 55 percent of the province’s tobacco harvest and about 40 percent nationwide.
De Peralta said traders bought flue-cured tobacco at prices higher than the agreed floor prices.
The industry went down on its knees in the last five cropping seasons after farmers reported losses from poor buying prices, erratic weather conditions and increasing costs of farm inputs.
It saw rays of hope after local leaders, led by Deputy Speaker Eric Singson and Gov. Deogracias Victor Savellano, supported farmers in pushing an increase in the floor prices of tobacco during last year’s tripartite meeting between tobacco farmers, cigarette manufacturers and the NTA.
The participants agreed to increase the buying price of Class AA tobacco from P51 to P61 a kilogram and of other grades by P9.50 a kg. It was the biggest increase that encouraged tobacco growers to replant and raise production.
“Had there been no substantial increase in prices, we were firm on asking our farmers not to plant tobacco anymore,” Singson says. He adds growers were bent on shifting to other crops, such as corn and vegetables, to improve their income.
Efraim Dayap, NTA-Candon supervisor, says the delivery of flue-cured tobacco to trading centers in the province was delayed this year as farmers had to plant more beyond the usual cropping schedule.
Dayap says only a few deliveries were reported in local trading centers in mid-February, which he described as unusual since trading usually peaked then.
“We had to rush in planting additional tobacco because of the good prices,” says farmer Ceasario Gapatan.
It was only on mid-March that the bulk of tobacco was sold. As expected, the flue-cured tobacco was sold high. Prices were steady and some high-grade leaves were bought at rates above the set floor prices.
Class AA tobacco leaves, pegged at P61 a kg, were bought for as much as P71 a kg. Even the lower grades were bought at higher prices.
By the time Candon celebrated its Tobacco Festival in late March, the farmers were given assurance of a good tobacco season. “They were able to pay most of their debts and loans. At least [we have] something to celebrate about,” Dayap says.
Candon is called the “tobacco capital” of the country, being the biggest producer of Virginia tobacco.
During the festival, the city government paraded a 104.6-meter rolled tobacco, which weighed more than 300 kg. The centerpiece was rolled by 10 people who took two weeks to complete the task.
By the time the festival was over, growers had set their eyes on the next cropping season, hoping that the Ilocos’ prized golden leaf would bail them out of the economic crunch.

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