Candon City, Ilocos Sur Etymology
- Jack Maico
- Apr 10
- 3 min read
The word “CANDON” comes from “Kandong,” the name given by the natives to a big tree in the village around which life, culture, and beauty are centered. This village, so the legend says, was ruled by three local chieftains: ABAY-A, MADALANG, and KALINIO.
Madalang chose as his abode the shade of this gargantuan tree and lived there with his only daughter, the beautiful Ineng. Abaya and Kalinio, for their part, lived with their tribes in caves somewhere in Kadanglaan and Kauplasan, respectively.
“I am growing old fast, Ineng,” Madalang said to his daughter. “One day, I wish to see you married before Kabunyan calls me to the great beyond. But for my child, I would only want a son-in-law who could defeat me in “Gabbu” (wrestling). What do you say, Ineng?” Ineng could only answer, sobbing, “I submit to your wishes, dear father.”
And so one day, after the “Kaniaw” was over, the sound of gongs, cymbals, and gangza intermingled and reverberated far and wide. Subsequently, the junta, composed of elders, announced the wrestling competition.
It was Abaya who first took the challenge. At the sound of the cymbal, the protagonists fought savagely like wild beasts. By some bad luck, Abay-a, in his unguarded moment, stumbled over a root of a Kandong Tree and lost his balance. Madalang took advantage of the situation and mercilessly sent Abay-a reeling to the ground with several broken ribs. That was the end of the bout.
Three weeks passed, and this time, Kalinio, who was reputed to possess extraordinary strength, took up the challenge. Just then, a crow going for its mate flew carelessly overhead as if to augur the impending disaster that would follow. Moments later, the fight began, and both protagonists stood their ground, and each manifested signs of being victorious.
Madalang, who was reputed to be the strongest man in the village, tried his old ruse to send Kalinio off balance but was outwitted by his elusive foe. At the end, Kalinio emerged as the winner. So Ineng was married to victorious Kalinio.
Just as the celebration was going on, the Spanish conquistadores, who were on their way to colonize Northern Luzon, passed by and attacked the merrymakers. Some offered futile resistance, while others fled in confusion and fear.
Subsequently, the friars assigned in this village ordered the cutting of the Kandong Tree, and in its place was planted the first cross of evangelization. The timbers taken from the tree were used in the construction of the first Roman Catholic Church in the 16th century.
According to tradition, when the colonizers set foot upon this 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.
Sources: https://candoncity.gov.ph/history
Special credits: https://www.facebook.com/CandonCityTourism/photos/d41d8cd9
Church in Town: 𝐒𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐚𝐡𝐚𝐠𝐮𝐧 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐂𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐡
Saint John of Sahagun Parish Church, commonly known as Candon Church, is a Roman Catholic church in the city of Candon, Ilocos Sur, Philippines. It is under the jurisdiction of the Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia. Constructed with an Earthquake Baroque design, the church's four-storey octagonal bell tower has alternating open and blind apertures, a balustrade, and is topped by a campanile (bell tower).
In 1591, the Augustinians accepted Candon as a house while Father Pedro Bravo, OSA initiated building one of the early churches in 1695. It was severely damaged in the 1707 earthquake that struck the country but was rebuilt under the supervision of Father Jose Carbonel, OSA, until 1710, and Father Diego del Castillo, OSA until 1713.
𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲
Madarang by His Eminence, D. Mariano de Conquera, an Agustinian Friar. Like other towns, Candon has its history, and foremost among them is the Candon uprising, popularly known as the “IKKIS TI CANDON,” as a response to the abuses and oppression perpetrated by the Spaniards.
𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐧:
- Carino House and Candon City Museum
𝐅𝐚𝐦𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐧:
- Gabriela Silang
𝐏𝐢𝐧𝐨𝐲 𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬, 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐧:
- None in the list
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