Official Seal of Candelaria, Quezon
One of the premier towns in Quezon Province, the Municipality of Candelaria is located in the southwestern portion of the province, lying within coordinates 13°50’27.51”-14°04’01”N and 121°22’11.99”-121°28’35.85”E. It is bordered by Mount Banahaw on the north; by the municipality of San Juan, Batangas on the south; by the municipalities of Tiaong and Dolores, Quezon on the west and by the municipality of Sariaya, Quezon on the east.
Candelaria is comprised of 25 barangays, covering a land area of 17,515.74 hectares. Of these barangays, eleven (11) are deemed urban areas and the remaining fourteen (14) barangays are identified as rural areas. Barangay Poblacion serves as the municipality’s capital, and where government offices and the commercial district are found.
History
Prior to 1885, the pioneering barangays of Candelaria in its western part notably, Taguan, Kinatihan and Masin were parts of the Municipality of Tiaong, whileMalabanban, Mangilag and Sta. Catalina in the east were under the jurisdiction of the town of Sariaya.
Sr. Don Ciriaco Nadres, a local leader of Barangay Masinand 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.
This request was granted by Gobernador General Domingo Moriones y Murillo. It was declared as an independent pueblosibil on December 26, 1878 and from then became known as Candelaria. Its boundaries were fixed by means of a treaty signed by the notable leaders of Tiaong, Sariaya and the founding families of Candelaria.
The King of Spain, His Majesty Alfonso XII, finally approved the establishment of Candelaria as an independent town on August 5, 1879.
Environment Sector
TOPOGRAPHY
ELEVATION
The elevation of Candelaria ranges from50 to 1850 meters above sea level. Barangays Masalukot IV and V are located at the highest elevations, ranging from 400 to 1850 meters above sea level. Some barangays are located in the middle slopes to the foot hills of Mount Banahaw, with elevations ranging from 50 to 300 meters, while the rest lie on the plain regions.
SLOPE
Candelaria falls within four slope categories: flat land (0-3%), undulating to rolling land (3-18%), moderately steep to steeply mountainous (18-50%) and very steep slopes (greater than 50%).
Candelaria’s terrain is generally considered flat.The flat lands cover 8,402 hectares or 53.55% of the computed total land area of the municipality.The undulating to rolling lands of the municipality covers 5,517 hectares (35.17%), steeply mountainous slopes cover about 1,469.95 hectares (9.37%) while portions of Barangays Masalukot IV, Masalukot V and Mayabobo have slopes of 50% and above which covers 299.47 hectares or 1.91% of the computed total area of the municipality.
GEOLOGY
Candelaria’s land surface is characterized by different land formations, comprising of mountains, hills and plains. Mount Mayabobo and Mount Malasiña (Barangay Masin Norte) are actually hills because their elevations are below 2,000 feet (610 meters).
The mountainous portions of Candelaria are found near and at the peak of Mount Banahaw. These are included within the protected landscape under Presidential Proclamation No. 411 dated June 25, 2003.
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Institutional Sector
MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE
The Municipality of Candelaria has 20 officials composed of the Municipal Mayor, Municipal Vice-Mayor, 10 Sangguninang Bayan (SB) members, Municipal Treasurer, Municipal Assessor, Municipal Accountant, Municipal Budget Officer, Municipal Planning and Development Coordinator, Municipal Health Officer, Municipal Civil Registrar, and Municipal Engineer.
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Economic Sector
PRIMARY SECTOR
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION
Candelaria, despite being primarily agricultural is considered an urban first class municipality. Agriculture hasbeen evidently the main source of income for most households where crops are produced for local consumption as well as export commerce. According to the Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO), the production area covers 80.57% the total land area of Candelaria, which is 14,111.74 hectares. It is divided into agriculture, of about 74.56% and production forest which covers 6.01% of the total production area. It is estimated that the cultivated and cropped areas cover only 6,380.5 hectares which is 48.86% of the total agricultural area.
Rice production is done on irrigated and rain-fed farms. Irrigated rice production is highest in Barangays Sta. Catalina Norte and Sur, and Buenavista West. While rainfed rice production is mostly found in Barangays Sta. Catalina Sur, Kinatihan I and San Isidro.White corn production is dominant in Barangays San Andres, Mayabobo and Pahinga Sur. Eggplant production is highest in Barangays Mangilag Norte, Mayabobo, and Malabanban Sur; ampalaya in Barangays Mangilag Norte, Malabanban Sur and Kinatihan II. Banana is mostly produced in Barangays in San Isidro, Masalukot II and Kinatihan I; lanzones in Barangays Sta. Catalina Sur, Masalukot III and Sta. Catalina Norte. Lastly, citrus is highest in Barangays Bukal Norte, Masalukot III, and IV; and cassava in Barangays Masalukot II, Masin Norte and Mayabobo. Most of the agricultural crops of the municipality are sold either locally or transported to other parts of the county.
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Social Sector
DEMOGRAPHIC LOCATION
POPULATION
The total population of Candelaria as of 2020 is 137,881, PSA.
Pahinga Norte was the most populated barangay in the 2007, 2010 and 2015 censuses. Its 2015 population is 13,530.
AGE-SEX DISTRIBUTION
The 2010 population data from the CBMS was used to analyze the distribution of Candelaria’s population by age and sex. According to the data obtained, there was an almost 1:1 ratio of males to females in the municipality in 2010. Of the total household population 55,184 were males and 55,149 were females.