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
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
After six years as a city, Candon has spread its horizons in northern
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
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
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
The baroque-style
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
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 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
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
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)
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