History of Candelaria

According to the records from the documents available and information gathered from old folks, Municipal Government of Candelaria, Zambales, was found on December 2, 1870. The ranking official was Don Candido Hebron who was unanimous votes as the first gobernadocillo which is equivalent to a Municipal Mayor today. Candelaria derived her name to the wife of provincial governor of Zambales. Candelaria of today was former barrio of San Vicente which is one of the barrio of Masinloc, Zambales. It was in the year when the folks initiated and recommended that Barrio San Vicente be separated from Masinloc, Zambales. But the established could not support and cannot stand by itself. And because of limited income, Municipal government of Masinloc not until Don Victoriano Fontelera was elected the first president of the municipality of Candelaria in the year 1910 with the following list of local officials namely; Pantaleon Ela as Vice President, Cayetano Ilirra as Secretario, Basilio Eliazo as Tresorero.

Leo Ermitano the first chief of police with him is Maximo Ermitano and Pedro Ela as member with unknown rank. This is during the incumbency of Don Jose Ebalo as Municipal president from 1912 - 1926, successor of Don Victoriano Fontelera.

Police headquarters was located at the first floor of the municipal building which made of barb wire until succession of chief of police under Spanish regime, namely Teodoro Monsalud, Eulogio Eata, Celedonia Damasco, Evaristo Eclevia and Martin Elefane Sr.

There were only ten barangays or barrios of Candelaria namely Uacon, Sinabacan, San Roque or Malabon, Panayonan, Poblacion, Libertador, Lauis, Catol, Babancal, and Binabalian. Pinagrealan as sitio Lauis; Malimanga, the sitio of San Roque; Yamot, a sitio of Lauis; Dampay, an independent barangays of Candelaria.