Candon is a city in Ilocos Sur province of the Philippines. One of two designated cities in the province, it is overshadowed by the more famous capital, Vigan, but takes pride as the province's economic center and largest city.
Understand
[edit]Candon is one of the oldest settlements in Ilocos Sur, having existed in the precolonial era as a coastal trading post for Chinese, Japanese, Ilocano and Cordilleran traders traders. It was officially founded by the Spanish in 1591, and prospered further as a prime growing site for tobacco. It became a legally-designated city in 2001.
Candon was the site of multiple anti-colonial revolts and saw widespread destruction, resulting in unsavory aesthetic comparisons to the provincial capital, Vigan. Despite this, it has retained some reminders of the Spanish era, including its Roman Catholic church and 22 bahay na bato houses belonging to the city's current and former elite families. In contrast to Vigan's cramped land area, Candon's territory extends from the foothills of the Cordillera mountains to the long stretch of beaches along the South China Sea, allowing visitors tired of historical monuments to enjoy something else.
Get in
[edit]Candon is along Route 2 (Manila North Road), which passes through downtown. It has direct bus connections with Metro Manila. To alleviate traffic along this chronically congested thoroughfare, a bypass road was built east of the town.
Candon is also the terminus of the Candon-Galimuyod-Salcedo-Del Pilar Road, which leads to highland Ilocos Sur and Mountain Province.
Get around
[edit]Tricycles are the main form of transportation in town, particularly as downtown Candon is further inland from the coast.
See
[edit]- 1 Saint John of Sahagun Parish Church (Candon Church), Manila North Road, San Juan. Candon's main Roman Catholic church, built during the Spanish era in the Baroque style in 1710 and featuring exquisite ceiling paintaings.
- 2 Cariño House, Dario corner Gaerlan Streets, San Antonio. An 18th century colonial residence where the Silang Revolt, the largest anti-Spanish uprising in the Ilocos Region before the Philippine Revolution of 1896, was planned. It now houses the city's local history museum.
- 3 Dario Ancestral House, Dario corner San Juan Streets, San Juan. A Spanish-era colonial residence that now houses an art museum.
- 4 Candon City Ecopark, Palacapac. A sprawling 395 hectares (980 acres) nature reserve in the highlands of Candon, featuring flower gardens, bamboo groves, farm animals and houses of the indigenous Bag-o tribe.
- 5 Samonte Memorial Park, Manila North Road, San Juan (in front of Candon Church). Leafy public square with civic monuments and a memorial to the Cry of Candon, which marked the outbreak of the Philippine Revolution in the Ilocos Region in 1898.
- 6 Candon City Aquarium and Park, Darapidap. 10AM–7PM. The only public aquarium in Northern Luzon. ₱250.
- 7 Darapidap Lighthouse, Darapidap. A lighthouse overlooking the South China Sea.
Do
[edit]- 1 Candon City Arena, Candon Diversion Road, Bagani Camposanto. A stadium with a seating capacity of 8,000. Opened in 2023, it hosts national-level competitions for indoor sports such as basketball and volleyball.
Buy
[edit]- 1 Candon City Public Market, Manila North Road, San Isidro (in front of Samonte Memorial Park).
- 2 Savemore Candon, Manila North Road, San Antonio.
- 3 Candon City Farmers' Market, Darapidap Barangay Road, San Nicolas.
Eat
[edit]Drink
[edit]Sleep
[edit]- 1 Hotel Van Gogh, Candon Diversion Road, Bagani Camposanto (beside Candon City Arena).
- 2 TNT Bar and Lodging, Darapidap.
- 3 Candon Beach Resort, Darapidap Trisection, Darapidap.
- 4 MJ Cottages, Darapidap.
Connect
[edit]Go next
[edit]| Routes through Candon |
| Vigan ← Santiago ← | N  S
|
→ Santa Lucia → San Fernando |
| END ← | W  E
|
→ Galimuyod → Salcedo |