Anniversary of the Cry of Candon in the Philippines Date in the current year: March 25, 2024

Candon is a city in the Philippine province of Ilocos Sur situated on the island of Luzon. It originated as a village established by Malayan settlers. The settlement was named Kandong after a tree species that was abundant in the area, The Spanish colonized the village in the 16th century and hispanicized its name as Candon. In 1780, Candon was converted into a municipality.

During the Philippine Revolution, Candon was one of the key centers of resistance against the Spaniards. The Revolution started in August 1896, when the secret revolutionary organization Katipunan was discovered by the Spanish authorities and forced to engage in armed struggle earlier than planned.

On March 25, 1898, local Katipuneros (members of the Katipunan) led by Isabelo Abayo launched an attack on the Spanish garrison in Candon. They captured the convent and the town’s center, killed the parish priest, raised the revolutionary flag in the main square, and proclaimed the establishment of the Republica de Filipinas Katipunan de Candon.

Unfortunately, their victory was extremely short-lived. Two days later, the Spanish brought in reinforcements and recaptured Candon. Even though the Republica de Filipinas Katipunan de Candon was dissolved, Abayo did not give up. He and his people retreated into the mountains and joined the revolutionary forces that were fighting the Spanish in Northern Luzon. Abayo also fought for Philippine independence in the Philippine-American War; he was eventually captured and executed by the Americans.

During the Japanese occupation of the Philippines in World War II, the residents of Candon once again revolted against the occupiers and blew up several truckloads of Imperial Japanese supplies and personnel. The Japanese retaliated by burning the town in January 1942.

However, the people of Candon were nothing if not resilient. Once the war was over, they rebuilt the town, and it soon began to grow. In 2001, Candon was granted cityhood, becoming the second city in the province of Ilocos Sur. Today, Candon is known as the largest producer of Virginia tobacco in the Philippines. It is also famous for its kalamay, a sweet delicacy made of ground glutinous rice, coconut milk, and brown sugar; Candon even hosts an annual kalamay festival.

The Cry of Candon was one of the earliest uprisings against the Spaniards that occurred during the second phase of the Philippine Revolution. Even though its success was short-lived, it inspired people not to give up fighting. Due to this, the anniversary of the Cry of Candon was declared a special non-working holiday in the city of Candon in 2003 by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. It is marked by special events and activities to honor the memory of those who died for freedom during the Philippine Revolution.