Calamba City, is a component city of Laguna, Philippines. It is the regional center of the Calabarzon region. It is situated 54 kilometres (34 mi) south of Manila, the city is known as the Resort Capital of the Philippines because of its numerous hot spring resorts, which are mostly located in Barangay Pansol, Bucal and Bagong Kalsada.
According to the 2010 census, the city has a population of 389,377 people, making it the most populous local government unit in Laguna. It is the 5th densest city in the province with more than 2,600 people per square kilometer after San Pedro, Biñan, Cabuyao and Santa Rosa. Based on the overall rankings of the 2014 Cities and Municipalities Index, the city ranked 18th in the overall competitiveness (cities ranking) and 1st among cities in the Calabarzon region.
The City of Calamba is the hometown of the Philippine national hero, Jose Rizal.
Etymology
The name of the city comes from a legend that during the early time of the Spanish period in the country, two "guardias civil" or soldiers were lost and passing through what is now Calamba. The soldiers met a young lady who came from a river carrying a jar of water and a clay stove. The soldiers unwittingly in Spanish language and in authoritative tone, to conceal the fact that they were lost, asked the local maiden the name of the place they were in. The lady, who speaks only her native language, naturally thought she was being interrogated about what she was carrying and nervously uttered "kalan-banga", meaning "clay stove" (kalan) and "water jar" (banga). Because the Spaniards could not pronounce it properly, the town has been called Calamba supposedly since then. This legend is immortalized with a large concrete water jar erected in the city plaza with the names of the city's barangays written on its surface. It is now known as Calambanga and is considered the "World's Biggest Claypot". This same jar is also found in the city's seal. The plaza was proposed by Dr. Agapito Alzona, then the town councilor to utilize the waste area where the old town market relocated from. The resolution was approved by the then town mayor Roman Lazaro and added additional P5,000 for the fence to the original P15,000 construction cost. It was completed in 1939.
Geography
Calamba lies on the northern slopes of Mount Makiling, a dormant volcano. The southern terminus of the South Luzon Expressway is in Calamba and this geographic position makes the city a gateway to the southern provinces of Luzon. The highway at the end of the South Luzon Expressway leads east to the other towns of Laguna and south towards the provinces of Batangas and Quezon.
Calamba City is bordered by Cabuyao City to the north, Los Baños to the east, by the province of Batangas to the south, specifically the municipalities of Santo Tomas, Tanauan City and Talisay, and by the province of Cavite to the west, with Tagaytay City and Silang. Laguna de Bay the country's largest lake, forms the city's northwest border. The provincial capital, Santa Cruz, is located 45 kilometres (28 mi) by road to the east.
Calamba covers a total land area of 14,950 hectares (36,900 acres), making it is the 2nd largest city in Laguna province in terms of land area after San Pablo City.
History
The oldest part of Calamba is believed to be Barangay Sucol where its first settlers remained. With the arrival of Spaniards, the whole area was converted into a hacienda, then a part of Tabuco (now known as Cabuyao City). Calamba became an independent pueblo on August 28, 1742, and formed into the town of Calamba in 1770. In 1813, Calamba was placed in the hands of "encargados" by the Dominican Brothers, who divided into portions and sold the haciendas to the natives during the American regime.
During the Japanese occupation in World War II, the city was the theater of a massacre during which the Imperial Japanese Army killed at least 2,000 civilians. The St. John the Baptist Church, established in 1859, was burned by the Japanese during World War II. It was reconstructed by Fr. Eliseo Dimaculangan. It was the christening site of José Rizal. The original baptismal font has been preserved and refurbished.
Cityhood
After a process of more than seven years, Calamba became the second component city of the Laguna by virtue of Republic Act No. 9024, "An Act Converting the Municipality of Calamba, Province of Laguna into a Component City to be known as the City of Calamba." R.A. 9024 was signed into law by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on March 5, 2001, at the Malacañan Palace. The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) then set the plebiscite for Calamba’s cityhood on April 21, 2001 where 15,056 residents participated. 3,413 or 22.67% voted "No" while the remaining 77.33% voted "Yes" to Calamba’s conversion into a component city.
Religions
Calamba is predominantly Roman Catholic (84.22%), followed by Members,Church of God International (MCGI or ADD)(4.5%), Protestants (3.43%), Iglesia Ni Cristo (3.14%), and Islam (0.26%).
Economy
Calamba City is known today as the "Second Richest City in Calabarzon", after Sta. Rosa City (according to the 2013 Commission on Audit Annual Audit Report), as it registered a total income of P2,191,286,734. Calamba is also considered as one of the "Next Wave Cities" for outsourcing firms.
The major income sources comes from manufacturing and economic plants, tourism, agriculture and services. There are many manufacturing and economic plants located in upland barangays like Canlubang, Real, La Mesa, Milagrosa, Makiling, Punta, Barandal, Batino and Prinza.
Cabadbaran is a city and the provincial capital of Agusan del Norte, Mindanao, Philippines. It has a population of 69,241 according to the 2010 census. Founded in 1894, the city rose from its Spanish period beginnings to become the premier town of Agusan del Norte. Its rich cultural heritage is evident in its preserved colonial period houses and its archaeological collections. Following its recent declaration as a city, it is also the officially designated capital of the province per Republic Act 8811.
Geography
Cabadbaran lies 9 degrees north latitude and 125 degrees and 30 minutes east longitude in the northeastern part of Mindanao. Its boundaries are Tubay and Santiago to the north, Butuan Bay to the west, Magallanes and R. T. Romualdez to the south, and Sibagat, Agusan del Sur to the east. It is 29 kilometres (18 mi) from Butuan City. It is generally flat with rolling hills and swamplands in its western part. The highest of all mountains in the Caraga Region, Mount Hilong-Hilong (with an altitude of 2,012 metres (6,601 ft) above sea level), rises in this city.
Climate
The city belongs to the Second Climatic Type of the Corona Classification. No definite dry season in the place and maximum rainfall occurs from October to January. The average rainfall is 171.29 millimetres (6.744 in) per month, average annual temperature 27.5 °C (81.5 °F).
History
CABADBARAN, as a community, is very old, so old that one could trace its existence back to 1200A.D. Traces of the existence of 12th century villages could be found along ancient waterways dissecting the territory now called Cabadbaran. Along the old creeks of Caasinan, Cambuayon and Capudlusan, pre-Spanish Cabadbaranons once lived, worked and died during the 9th-12th centuries, contemporaneous with the old archaeological sites in Butuan City. Artifacts from these pre-Spanish villages could be found today at the Cabadbaran City Artifacts Gallery now temporarily housed at the City Library.
We have no records of what is in Cabadbaran or what transpired therein during the early years of Spanish colonization except for the solitary site in Sanghan which exhibited Chinese ceramics made during the 15th-16th centuries.
Archival records showed that Cabadbaran was first mentioned in history as a small village chosen by Spanish authorities to become a new reduction which they called “La Reunion de Cabarbaran” in 1867. Added to the existing small population at that time were the inhabitants of Bunawan, Talacogon & Solibao who were coerced by Spanish authorities to migrate to La Reunion. Ten years later, in 1879, La Reunion was disbanded. Those from upper Agusan went back to their places of origin and the remnant population was attached to the town of Tubay.
In 1880-1881, Fr. Saturnino Urios revived the reduction but named it Tolosa in honor of his hometown in Spain. This reduction increased in population with migrants settling in coming from the Visayas. In 1880, its leadership under Teniente del Barrio Don Eduardo Curato, petitioned the Spanish authorities to approve its application for township which was granted in January 31, 1894 as archival documents showed. Separated now from Tubay, the new pueblo, still named Tolosa, increased in population and its economy was propped up by agriculture (rice production) and commerce (abaca trading). This steady growth was disrupted by the events of 1896, the revolution against Spain. But even at that time, no significant turmoil occurred in Cabadbaran until the coming of the American occupation forces in 1901.
Forced by the superiority in arms of the enemy, Filipino forces in Agusan, including those in Cabadbaran under Capt. Andres Atega were forced to surrender. Under American rule and tutelage, Tolosa which was now called again as Cabadbaran (due to Don Andres Atega’s proposal) became a center of growth in Northern Agusan.
Public education system was established in 1903 with George Bohner as the first American teacher. With the appointment of Dr. Pedro Malbas as Public Health Officer in the 1920s, public health was improved upon construction of sanitary toilets, deep wells & drainage canals. The American authorities also embarked in public construction of roads & bridges. Early local leaders who led the struggle but eventually surrendered to the Americans were appointed/elected to different government positions. Don Andres, for one, became Treasurer, Juez de Paz, Inspector of Public Schools and Member of the Provincial Board at one time or another.
New generation of leaders also emerged. Apolonio “Oyok” Curato, a son of Eduardo became a lawyer and represented Agusan in the 1935 Constitutional Convention. He became Governor and Congressman of the undivided province of Agusan.
In economy, Cabadbaran continued producing abaca but started abaca production from the extensive coconut plantations established at the start of the American occupation. Rice remained as staple crop grown in the ricefields of present day areas of Calibunan and Mabini. The Agusan-Surigao road became serviceable in the 1930s. Several Bus lines, among the MASTRANCO, started public service along this route, thus catapulting economic growth. The advent of World War II again disrupted not only the growth of Cabadbaran but the whole province as well. With the entry of Japanese forces in 1944 and the defeat of the fledgling Phil. Army and U.S. forces, it didn’t take long for anti-Japanese forces to get organized. Fil-Am Guerilla forces started resistance first in Buenavista then followed by actions in Cabadbaran. Foremost among these guerilla organizers were Judge Jose Villanueva, Capt. Benjamin Famador, Capt. Plenio Atega, etc. (see “Red Sun Over Agusan” by Florante Mori). These dark years under Japan were years when heroes, villains and traitors made their marks in the annals of history not only in Cabadbaran but the whole of Agusan and Surigao as well.
In July 4, 1946 after liberation, Philippine independence was formally granted by America but economic dependence on America was and still a knot that has yet to be untied until today. In spite of this hindering factor, economic growth continued to advance with gains in agriculture and technology. In Cabadbaran, copra, abaca, rice and corn remain as staple crops. But new sources of wealth were now derived from the forests and mountains of Agusan.
Although small-scale gold mining had already began earlier, the entry of Manila Mining Corp. in the 1960s in the rich gold lode in Pirada, Del Pilar brought in jobs and income to many people of Cabadbaran and even until today gold is still a fabulous source of wealth to many who have gambled their lives and fortune to seek this metal. Logging, a bane to the environment but a boon to those who invested in this industry became also a rich source of income to Cabadbaranons in the 1960s until the 1970s.
Together with economic growth, strides were also made in the field of education as attested by the establishment of different high schools and lately, colleges in Cabadbaran. In politics, the rise and fall of presidents of the republic flow side by side with the rise and fall of political forces in Agusan, most of which are family centered. Among others, the Curatos, Ategas, Rosaleses, Aquinos, Calos and the Plazas have indelibly left their marks in the administration of the province one of which is the division of the lone province of Agusan into two: Agusan del Sur and Agusan del Norte.
Lately, the political forces that coalesced under the strong leadership of the Amantes contributed a great bearing on the current status of Cabadbaran. With a considerable mass support base all throughout Agusan del Norte and Butuan City, the Amantes have been able to push through their development advocacies over the years. Since then, the Amante clan remained a formidable force in the whole of Agusan del Norte.
But, little is known about how home-grown values have shaped the socio-political landscape of Cabadbaran from the time of its establishment in 1894 and onwards. Fully enmeshed into the consciousness of every proud Cabadbaranon, they served their purpose by acting as moral forces that bind its people together as they fall and rise across time and generation. Nowhere have these ideals been more manifest than in Cabadbaran’s protracted struggle towards cityhood - the defining moment for all Cabadbaranons.
Cabadbaran’s bid for cityhood began in April 12, 2007 by virtue of Republic Act 9434, authored by Representative Maria Angelica Rosedell Amante-Matba which converted Cabadbaran into a component city of Agusan del Norte. The man at the helm of this refurbished strip is Mayor Dale Bokingo Corvera, who had just assumed office after the local election of the same year as Municipal Mayor. The conversion of the then municipality into a component city of Agusan del Norte had opened the doors for more opportunities. At that time, however, Cabadbaran needed a major facelift on all fronts. Having received a fresh mandate, it was Mayor Corvera as the first City Mayor of Cabadbaran, who undertook the bold move of instituting fundamental reforms while at the same time streamlining the local bureaucracy, among others. The development of the fledgling city could have set off earlier during his term were it not for the legal brawl that embroiled the city for the next four years. Despite the insurmountable odds heaped against him, the new mayor was able to rise up from the rubbles of adversity.
It was in early 2007 prior to the conduct of the plebiscite on July 28, 2007 when the League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP) challenged the cityhood laws as unconstitutional by filing a petition before the Supreme Court for that purpose. They argued that the 16 newly-converted cities (known as the League of 16) failed to qualify the statutory criteria for income requirements as set forth by Republic Act 7160 or the Local Government Code of 1991 thereby allegedly reducing the internal revenue allotments of the existing cities nationwide. However, Congress had already expressed an earlier stand that the 16 newly-converted cities were exempted from the income requirements mandated by law. The LCP however refused to accept Congress’ position and even went into great lengths to have the cityhood laws declared unconstitutional.
It must be noted that the cityhood case shook the entire legal community because it exhibited a divided Supreme Court. Since it first declared the cityhood law unconstitutional in November of 2008, the High Court had been receiving quite a number of criticisms from legal luminaries for the flip-flopping of its decision. When it initially declared unconstitutional the law in 2008, no one expected that the Court would overturn its own decision later on. That is why when it did in 2009---after two failed attempts of the League of 16 to move for a reconsideration---the LCP cried foul and itself filed a motion for reconsideration. In August of 2010, the Supreme Court, in the most unusual way, invalidated the 2009 decision of constitutionality and reinstated the 2008 decision of unconstitutionality, only to be reversed again in February of 2011 where the legal cartwheel finally ended. This time, however, the decision to uphold the constitutionality of the city hood law was meant to be final forever. It is worth mentioning that Cabadbaran City was ably represented by legal hawk, Atty. Estilito Mendoza, in its legal fiasco before the Supreme Court.
The resolution of the cityhood controversy is considered one of the liberating episodes in Cabadbaran’s history. For four long years, it was unable to move at the crossroads, the controversy being fraught with so much excitement, frustration, division and total surrender. But because of the innate resiliency, bayanihan attitude and deep religiosity of the people, the insurmountable odds were prevailed over. At the center of all these efforts was the rallying cry of Mayor Corvera against the backdrop of the Cabadbaranons’ belief and faith in God.
During the height of the cityhood controversy, Mayor Corvera stood his ground. Realizing that the issue has already transcended beyond human fallibility, he surrendered the fate of Cabadbaran to God by summoning the help of all the sectors, particularly the spiritual leaders, in a meeting called for the purpose at the Beads Restaurant. Realizing that the matter is already within the realms of divine intervention, he pleaded assistance from pastors and priests for which the latter gladly accepted the challenge. That call for unification was a classic articulation of his leadership skills, his being an International Commissioner of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines having played a major part in the shaping of his character.
A week after that, the city government in cooperation with the religious leaders organized a prayer meeting dubbed as “Prayer for Justice and Fairness” which event gathered the people representing various offices, schools, barangays and other key sectors in Cabadbaran in a morning of intense prayer and supplication before a jam-packed crowd at the City Gymnasium. The extraordinary prayer gathering was full of emotion with the religious leaders pounding the heavens for divine intercession as the audience broke down into tears. Since then, the religious sector of Cabadbaran City has been very much actively involved in providing spiritual assistance as churches around the city started hanging streamers and banners expressing prayers of heavenly mercy in favor of the cityhood case.
The heavenly supplications continued all throughout the years 2009, 2010 and even until 2011. For the city employee’s part, they wasted no moment everyday by persistently doing their Monday morning convocations. The longer it has been consistently done, the more intense the prayers became. If there was anything good about that controversy, it would be the unity the people had shown in coming together for a unified purpose. For that reason, Mayor Corvera decided to institutionalize the Monday morning convocations until the finality of the cityhood case was sealed in June 28, 2011.
His people-centered and transparent governance having impacted his grass-roots constituents, Mayor Corvera obtained major headways under his leadership since he assumed office in 2007. Hence, in the national and local election of May 2013, he received a fresh mandate - his last term - unopposed. Since then, he had been at the forefront of institutional, economic, social and political reforms in Cabadbaran City by invoking his mantra of people’s participation, transparency and accountability at all levels of local governance.
Candon is a city in the province of Ilocos Sur, Philippines. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 57,884 people. Dubbed as the "Tobacco Capital of the Philippines" the city is the country's largest producer of Virginia-type tobacco. As the district center of southern Ilocos Sur, the city plays a vital role in the development of adjacent municipalities.
This once small resort town is known for making the heaviest and largest kalamay, a sweet and sticky snack made from sticky rice, coconut milk and sugar, in the world. 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 now but extinct in the area. Its patron saint is John of Sahagun and his feast day is celebrated every June 12.
Candon is the center of the 2nd district of Ilocos Sur. Government District offices are all located in the city. The city supports more than 100,000 citizens in terms of commercial and industrial services.
Etymology
Several theories exist about the etymology of the city. One is that the name of the city was derived from the now rare "candong" tree. It is said by locals that during Spanish times, the powerful chieftains of the area, after having a gathering called a "kaniaw," held a contest (called "gabbu," a wrestling contest) to decide the husband of Ineng, the daughter of the most powerful chieftain, Madal-ang, and his would-be successor, owing to his advancing age. The contest was held under the shade of the candong trees, the residence of Madal-ang. The winner was the chieftain named Kalinio, resident of the caves of Cauplasan who defeated Madal-ang and another chieftain named Abay-a from the caves of Cadanglaan. Kalinio and the daughter of the chieftain were wed under the shade of a candong tree in grandiose ceremonies.
During this wedding, a group of Spaniards, which included Captain Juan de Salcedo, passed by, and asked what was going on. Natives thought they were asking for the name of the tree, so they uttered, "Candong." Candon in Spanish would be pronounced as Candong.
Another theory is that the place was named after the town of Candon in Spain.
Geography
Candon City is situated in the lower central portion of the Province of Ilocos Sur. It has a "C" shape with elevations ranging from 10 – 500 ft above sea level. The city is bounded by the municipality of Santa Lucia in the south; the municipality of Salcedo is the southeast,; the municipalities of Galimuyod and San Emilio in the east; the municipalities of Santiago and Banayoyo in the north and the South China Sea in the west.
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 27 °C (81 °F). January is the coldest.
History
According to the city archives, Malayan settlers were the first residents of Candon City that later turned into a village. Settlers were mostly farmers, fishermen, woodsmen and craftsmen. The Village was then ruled by three local chieftains: Abay-a, Madalang and Kalinio. Madalang chose as his abode the shade of a gargantuan tree which stood in the center of the said village and under this large tree people converged to exchange pleasantries and goods. This is also where the elders and the chief settle disputes and offer advice. The Villagers named the large tree “Kandong”.
Upon the arrival of the Spanish colonizers in the 16th century, the symbolic tree was cut down upon orders of the friars and its lumber was used for the construction of the first Catholic Church in the area. The people were easily led into the new church and were converted to Catholicism. The Spaniards named the place Candon from their version of the “Kandong” tree. The cemetery yard in the Catholic Church located south of the Poblacion area was constructed in 1797. In 1780, the village was turned into a municipality. Under the Spanish rule, the village was quickly taken over by wealthy Spaniards employing the natives in conditions of near slavery. Famine occurred in 1881 and 1882. Then on March 25, 1898, a revolutionary government was declared and attacked the Spaniards. However, Spanish troops were able to re-occupy Candon. Most of the leaders and participants of the uprising were arrested and then summarily executed.
During the Japanese occupation in 1942, another revolution was staged. Several truckloads of Japanese forces and supplies perished along the national highway. However, the Japanese Soldiers retaliated back by burning the whole town in January 1942, which is considered the greatest event that ever happened in the history of Candon. Despite the hardships that the townsfolk went through during the World Wars, residents were steadfast to go through the process of redemption and rebuilding. And the tall acacia trees that now adorned the town plaza and municipal buildings are testimonies of the Candon’s steadfastness. Large trees now spans alongside the National Highway of the Poblacion which towers up to 15 meters high and 20 feet in circumference.
Commerce and industry
The Municipality of 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.
Many adjacent towns frequent Candon for commercial activities, catering to the commercial needs of an estimated 100,000 population. The City also has a supermarket and a shopping mall, banking and lending institutions, recreational facilities, tourism facilities, health and medical establishments.
Existing industries in Candon City 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 calamay making, chichacorn, bakeshop/bakery, and ice cream, and vinegar, furniture making shop, concrete products and Coconut Oil Processing Plant located at Barangay Talogtog. On the other hand, the cottage industry includes “balut” or egg production, fish re-drying, salt making, native delicacies, woodcrafts and handicrafts.
Service establishments are also present in Candon, such as sari-sari and grocery stores, carinderias, nightclubs, barber shops, beauty parlors, gasoline stations and stores/outlets for the following: auto parts, agricultural equipment and supplies, school and office supplies, photo and supplies, appliances, pharmaceuticals, hardware and electrical. There are also video centers, bazaars, gift shops, pawnshops and mineral/distilled drinking water store outlets, and real estate.
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 27 °C. January is the coldest.
Roman Catholic is the predominant religion in Candon City.
