Honoring the legacy of Candon’s fearless son, Isabelo Abaya—revolutionary leader and hero of the Cry of Candon. His courage ignited the flames of resistance, forever etching his name in the fight for Philippine independence. A tribute to a man who turned local defiance into a national revolution.
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HISTORY OF
CANDON CITY
Etymology
The name "CANDON" originates from "Kandong," which was what the locals called a large tree in the village that served as the center of their life, culture, and beauty.
This village, as the legend says, was ruled by three local chieftains: ABAY-A, MADALANG and KALINIO. Madalang chose as his abode(place) 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 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 echoed far and wide. Afterward, the ruling junta composed of elders issued the announcement regarding 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 match.
Three weeks passed, and this time, Kalinio who was happen to possess extraordinary strength took up the challenge. Just then, a crow going for its mate flew carelessly overhead as if to predict the impending disaster that would follow. Moments later, the fight began and both protagonists stood their grounds, and each manifested signs of being victorious.
Madalang who was reputed to be the strongest man in the village, tried his old trick to send Kalinio off balance but was outwitted by his elusive opponent. 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 tried to fight back, but their efforts were ineffective, 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 logs 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.
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