Candelaria, officially the Municipality of Candelaria (), is a municipality in the province of Quezon, Philippines. According to the , it has a population of people.
It is the third most populous settlement of Quezon after Lucena and Sariaya. Among the municipalities in Quezon Province, Candelaria has the most desiccated coconut factories and oil refineries, such as Peter Paul Philippine Corporation, Primex Coco Products Inc., Pacific Royal Basic Foods, SuperStar Corporation, Tongsan Industrial Development Corporation, and others, which employ thousands of people.
History
Foundation Prior to 1885, the pioneering barangays of Candelaria in its western part, Taguan (Bukal), Kinatihan and Masin were parts of the Municipality of Tiaong, while Malabanban, Mangilag and Santa Catalina in the east, were under the jurisdiction of the town of Sariaya. Don Ciriaco Nadres, a local leader of Barangay Masin and his wife Sra. Doña Baltazara Bustamante, with the support of Don Simeon Nadres and wife Doña Everista Ona, Don Justo Argao, Don Elino de Gala, Don Apolinario Gonzales, Don Tomas Cabuñag, Don Ignacio de Ramos, Don Domingo de Alday, Don Tomas Regidor, Don Juan del Valle, Don Ambrocio Salazar, Don Buenaventura Cedeño and Don Hipolito Martinez, proposed the establishment of an independent government over these barangays. They became known as the founding families of the town.
It was on December 26, 1878, that a permit was granted by the Governor-General of the Philippine Islands, Domingo Moriones y Murillo for the establishment of an independent government over these barangays. Its boundaries were fixed by means of a treaty signed by the notable leaders of Tiaong, Sariaya and the founding families of Candelaria.
King Alfonso XII of Spain finally approved the establishment of Candelaria as an independent town on August 5, 1879.
American Era and Japanese Occupation In 1902, after the cessation of the general hostilities against the Americans, Candelaria was merged with the neighboring town of Sariaya. In 1907, Candelaria was again managed independently, as a fourth-class municipality. During the American regime, the town progressed by leaps and bounds. Many houses and public edifices were constructed, and commerce and industries grew, until the Japanese invasion brought a further wave of destruction.
Geography
Candelaria lies at the western part of the province, from the nation's capital Manila, from the provincial capital Lucena, and from Batangas City. To its northern part lies the famous Mount Banahaw, to the east is Sariaya, to the south is San Juan, and to the west are Dolores and Tiaong. The neighboring cities are Lucena, Tayabas, San Pablo and Lipa. It is traversed by the Pan Philippine Highway and the Philippine National Railways.
Candelaria has an area of about and is an agricultural municipality, situated in the southern part of Mount Banahaw. The town proper is wedged by two rivers, namely, Masin and Quiapo rivers.
Barangays
Candelaria is politically subdivided into 25 barangays, as indicated in the matrix below. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.
Barangay Barangay Captain (2025) Population (2024) Buenavista East Dionisio G. Aguila 2,582 Buenavista West Cepriano B. Delos Reyes 3,712 Bukal Norte William M. Navaliza 3,059 Bukal Sur Gauden M. Cornejo 8,577 Kinatihan I Buenaventura M. Reyes 1,884 Kinatihan II Redentor B. Hernandez 1,878 Malabanban Norte Conversion M. Lamoca 12,538 Malabanban Sur Perfecto C. Alcantara 9,684 Mangilag Norte Alfonso A. Semira 3,498 Mangilag Sur Benedicto M. Alcantara 8,786 Masalukot I Abel T. Caguitla 7,060 Masalukot II Ronilo G. Maligaya 3,172 Masalukot III Eugenia Laino 1,528 Masalukot IV Alberto M. Donadio 831 Masalukot V Roseller D. Belen 783 Masin Norte Nelson H. Punzalan 7,602 Masin Sur Reynaldo L. Cantos 6,213 Mayabobo Rufino C. Delgado 2,677 Pahinga Norte Manuel S. Ebora 17,425 Pahinga Sur Teodoro C. Mendoza 3,192 Poblacion Reynante N. Rasay 4,862 San Andres Librado M. Panaligan 5,152 San Isidro Ailene B. Panganiban 5,835 Santa Catalina Norte Peter S. Malaluan 7,161 Santa Catalina Sur Manolito D. Maniebo 8,242
Climate
There are two pronounced seasons in Candelaria: Dry and hot season from March to May, Wet season from June to December. Typhoons struck the municipality every three to five years. The most remarkable are Supertyphoon Angela (Rosing) in 1995, Typhoon Xangsane (Milenyo) in 2006, and Typhoon Rammasun (Glenda) in 2014.
Normal temperatures in Candelaria range from to . The temperatures became cooler in January with a range of about , while in April, the hottest month, may rise by up to .
Topography Candelaria is more elevated in the northern part since it lies at the southern slope of Banahaw and is predominantly agricultural. There are plantations of coconut and vegetables in its remote barangays. Most of the inhabitants are having poultry and livestock business and in the remaining part of the municipality are farmlands mostly of rice, corn, and other root crops.
Demographics
Candelaria has a population of 137,933 as of the 2024 census. The increase in population became rapid in the 1990s due to a major economic boom, in 1995, it has a population of 80,733 inhabitants, while in 2000, the population grew to 92,429, with an increase of about 15 percent.
In 2007, the official number of inhabitants in the municipality based on 2007 census is 105,997, or about 4,240 families or 21,243 households. Most Candelariahins reside in Pahinga Norte and Malabanban Norte, the adjacent barangays of the town proper.
As of 2007, almost 93 percent of the population are mostly Roman Catholics, 3.5 percent are Protestants, about 3 percent are members of Iglesia ni Cristo, 0.05 percent are of Islam, 0.97 percent are of other denominations such as Church of Christ/Christian Churches, Pentecostals, Baptists, Latter Day Saints, Seventh-day Adventist, Jehovah's Witnesses and others.
Language
Tagalog is widely spoken by the populace. However, their accent resembles the Tagalog dialect spoken in Batangas owing to its location, and history. Most of the residents came from the neighboring province of Batangas. This is likely due to the fact that most candelariahins actually lived in other places such as lipa, before moving to candelaria.
Economy
Candelaria is one of the most progressive municipalities in Quezon Province. Rapid progress have been felt since the 1990s where most of the commercial establishments have been built such as retail merchandising, supermarkets, hardware, fastfood outlets or restaurants, shopping mall, and others. The Candelaria Public Market, though it is adjacent to Barangay Poblacion, is located on Barangay Pahinga Norte.
In 2024, there is a total inventory of 812 registered establishments. Most are in retail trade, wholesale, and real estate leasing.
In agriculture, coconut is the most dominant crop of the municipality covering 5,243.50 hectares or 30% of the town's land area. In terms of livestock production, many locals raised poultry by 73.30% from the overall animal population.
Culture
Candle Festival The town fiesta is celebrated on February 5 to honor the patron saint of Candelaria, San Pedro Bautista. Since 2017, Rev. Msgr. Melecio Verastigue, started a dance to honor San Pedro Bautista, which is now known as Indak Pugay.
Since 2005, Msgr. Carlos "Charles" Pedro A. Herrera, the parish priest of the San Pedro Bautista Parish, started his devotion to Nuestra Senora de Candelaria and honored her with a Candle Festival every February 2. The celebration was concluded with a procession through the streets of the town featuring the street dancing by the youth of the community in honor of the Blessed Virgin. A parade of floats representing each of the 25 barangays was, also, featured during the festivities.
A project in honor of the Blessed Mother Mary that will renovate the patio of the San Pedro Bautista Parish Church had been developed on April 22, 2012. The renovated patio will convert the current parking lot into a multi-purpose open amphitheater for use of the people of Candelaria. It will provide a venue for children and toddlers playground, jogging/walking path, a rosary garden, a via Dolorosa, and a stage for performances complete with controlled theater lighting. The playground will be lit with lighting standards. The fundraising for the project will be accomplished through a 1000 Points of Light campaign.
Government
Elected officials Municipal council (2025-2028): Mayor: George D. Suayan Vice Mayor: Ireneo C. Boongaling Councilors: Davielyn A. Alcala Aileen M. Dellosa Estelito A. Sulit Joy Anne M. Pasumbal Numeriano S. Briones Anatalia R. Atienza Manuel Antonio V. De Luna Ma. Lourdes Bernadette G. Liwanag ABC President: Manuel S. Ebora SK Federation President: Ann Ivy Nicole B. Cuadro
Former heads and mayors (1879–2022)
Don Simeon Nadres, 1879–1883 Don Clemente Nadres, 1883–1887 Don Tomas Cabunag, 1887–1891 Don Apolinario Gonzales, 1891–1895 Don Pedro de Gala, 1895–1898 Don Benigno Nadres, 1898–1900 Don Elino de Gala, 1900–1902 Don Herminigildo Nadres, 1908–1912, 1919–1921 Don Juan Javier, 1912–1916 Don Generoso de Gala, 1916–1918 Don Gregorio Remata, 1918–1919 Don Francisco Fernandez, 1921–1922 Don Mansueto Javier, 1922–1925 Don David Reyroso, 1925–1928 Don Emilio de Gala, 1928–1931 Dr. Generoso Nadres Sr., 1931–1934 Dr. Vicente Macasaet, 1934–1937 Pastor Javier, 1937–1941, 1943–1944, 1945–1946 Juan Ramos, 1941 Francisco Malabanan, 1941–1943 Cresenciano de Gala, 1944–1945 Felix Ona, 1946–1947, 1955–1959 Eligio Manalo, 1947–1955 Venancio Dia, 1959–1967 Atty. Cipriano Maliwanag, 1967–1978 Pedro Cedeno, 1978–1986 David Emralino, 1986–1998, 2001–2007 Isidro de Gala, 1998–2001 Atty. Ferdinand Maliwanag, 1998, 2007–2016 Macario Boongaling, 2016-2022
Infrastructure
Transportation
Road network Three major highways pass through the municipality and the town proper. The South Luzon Expressway Toll Road 4 (TR4) stretching from Santo Tomas, Batangas to Lucena will pass through the northern part of the municipality, planned to be finished in 2028. The new expressway will occupy portions of Barangays Bukal Norte, Masalukot II, Masalukot I, Mayabobo, and Mangilag Norte.
The Pan-Philippine Highway (also known as Maharlika Highway or National Highway), passes through the municipality west–east from Barangay Bukal Sur to Barangay Mangilag Sur. It connects the municipality to its neighboring towns of Tiaong and Sariaya and cities like San Pablo in Laguna and Lucena, the provincial capital. Rizal Street is the two-lane main road and a segment of the Pan-Philippine Highway in Barangay Poblacion. It connects Barangay Masin Norte and Sur in the west and Malabanban Norte in the east. Some landmarks located here are the Municipal Hall, the Catholic Church, and Plaza Narra. The Candelaria–San Juan Road (also known as Candelaria-Bolboc Road) is a two-lane highway that starts at the Pan Philippine Highway junction in Barangay Malabanban Norte, going straight south to the municipality of San Juan, Batangas. This is an alternative road for commuters from Metro Manila via Batangas. The Candelaria Bypass Road (also known as Candelaria Diversion Road) is a two-lane bypass road that serves as an alternative road for commuters from Metro Manila to Batangas and the Bicol Region. Opened in 2012, this road bypasses Poblacion.
There are also major roads within the municipality. Cabunag Street also in Barangay Poblacion is the municipality's main business district. Most of the business establishments, such as hardware stores like Licup Builders, the oldest hardware store in town, RTWs, pharmacies, footwear, general merchandise, and restaurants are located here. It also serves as a thoroughfare for local commuters going to nearby barangays such as Pahinga Norte and Masalukot I.