Candon, officially the City of Candon (; ), is a component city in the province of Ilocos Sur, Philippines. According to the , it has a population of people. Thus, surpassing the provincial capital Vigan as the most populated city in the province.
Dubbed the "Tobacco Capital of the Philippines", the city is the country's largest producer of Virginia tobacco.
The town is known for making the world's heaviest and largest kalamay, 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 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 of Ilocano (Cyrtophyllum fragrans), a native species of tree with very hard wood also known as or in other places in the Ilocos region.
History Historically, 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 Ilocos region like Aparri, Lingayen, and Vigan).
The settlement also had a long history of trading ties with Cordillerans in the highlands of Luzon, 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 Don Juan P. Madarang by the Augustinian friar 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 industry, as well as a livestock industry.
During the Philippine Revolution, 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 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, another revolution was staged. Several truckloads of Imperial Japanese 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 trees at the town plaza 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
Candon became a legally-designated city following a plebiscite in 2001.http://candoncity.gov.ph/new/about-the-city/28-citihood
Geography Candon is situated in the lower central portion of the province of Ilocos Sur. It has a C-shape with elevations ranging from 10 – 500ft above sea level.
Candon is situated from the provincial capital Vigan City, and from the country's capital city of Manila.
Barangays Candon is politically subdivided into 42 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios. It is bordered by Santiago, Banayoyo, Lidlidda, 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 2024 census, the population of Candon was 61,315 people, with a density of .
Language The dominant language 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%
Economy
Candon 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.
Existing industries in Candon 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 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.
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 Ilocos Sur, 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
+ Members of the Candon City Council (2025–2028) Position NameDistrict Representative(2nd Legislative District the province of Ilocos Sur) Kristine Singson-MeehanChief Executive of the City of Candon Mayor Eric D. SingsonPresiding Officer of the City Council of Candon Vice-Mayor Kristelle G. Singson Councilors of the City of Candon Jaime M. Singson Vincent Jan N. Tudayan Rolando P. Toquero Eric Owen G. Singson Jr. Lerisa M. Llanes George T. Valdez Johnny Nestor R. Itchon Caren Joy G. Lozano Oseas I. Diasen Aristeo V. Valdez
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” led by Don Isabelo Abaya of March 1898 and to commemorate the ratification of its Cityhood charter under Republic Act 9018 on March 28, 2001.
Attractions
Candon Church (Saint John de Sahagun Parish Church) Candon City Arena - Opened in 2023, the 8,000-seater arena has hosted various sporting events and concerts. Candon City Aquarium and Park - opened in 2025, the aquarium is the first of its kind in Ilocos Sur and features a wide variety of marine life such as stingrays and coral reefs. Darapidap Beach Tobacco Festival - Celebrated every month of March as thanksgiving for the city's vast harvest of tobacco Feria de Candon (Trade Fair) - held every first week of December in honor of Santa Barbara (December 4)
Transportation Candon 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 and the upland municipalities of Ilocos Sur. The Darapidap Beach Road or the Samonte Boulevard where you can find the 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 Manila, Baguio and Laoag. Mini-Buses provide short trips to neighboring municipalities and the nearby cities of Vigan and San Fernando, La Union. 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 Viron Transit Inocencio Aniceto Transportation Fariñas Transit Company GV Florida Transport
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