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

thumb|left|Aerial view of Candelaria (2012)

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.

<!--NOTE: Latest barangay elections were held in 2018, the data below is outdated.-->

{| class = "wikitable sortable"

|-

! 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

thumb|right|Busy downtown, Hacienda Inn

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. These are the Candelaria East Schools District Office, and Candelaria West Schools District Office.

Primary and elementary schools

  • Brentley Montessori School
  • Brisbane Integrated School
  • Buenavista East Elementary School
  • Buenavista West Elementary School
  • Bukal Norte Elementary School
  • Bukal Norte Elementary School (Mayapyap Annex)
  • Bukal Sur Elementary School
  • Candelaria Elementary School (Main)
  • Candelaria Elementary School (Annexes 1)
  • Candelaria Elementary School (Annexes 2)
  • GRABSUM School (School View)
  • Headstart Christian Learning Institute
  • Kinatihan I Elementary School
  • Kinatihan II Elementary School
  • Manuel Luis Quezon Elementary School (Cheng Hua Chinese School)
  • Manuel S. Enverga University Foundation
  • Malabanban Norte Elementary School
  • Malabanban Sur Elementary School
  • Mangilag Norte Elementary School
  • Mangilag Sur Elementary School
  • Masalukot I Elementary School
  • Masalukot II Elementary School
  • Masalukot III Elementary School
  • Masalukot IV Elementary School
  • Masalukot V Elementary School
  • Masin Elementary School
  • Mayabobo Elementary School
  • Newton Science School
  • Pahinga Norte Elementary School
  • Pahinga Sur Elementary School
  • San Andres Elementary School
  • San Isidro Elementary School
  • Santa Catalina Norte Elementary School
  • Santa Catalina Central School
  • Southeast Asian Comprehensive Montessori School (SEACOMS)
  • Tayabas Western Academy
  • The Lady Mediatrix Institute
  • Trinity Christian Academy
  • United Evangelical School

Secondary schools

  • Atty. Celso M. Reyes Integrated National High School
  • Bukal Sur National High School
  • Dolores Macasaet National High School
  • Dr. Panfilo Castro National High School
  • GRABSUM School
  • Manuel S. Enverga University (Junior and Senior High School)
  • Newton Science School
  • Santa Catalina National High School
  • The Lady Mediatrix Institute
  • Tayabas Western Academy (Junior and Senior Highschool)

Tertiary

  • GRABSUM School
  • Compskill Learning Academy
  • Chrisville Institute of Technology
  • Manuel S. Enverga University Foundation
  • Tayabas Western Academy

Notable personalities

<!--NOTE: Only add people with existing Wikipedia articles as per Wikipedia:Notability policy. If you are a resident of Candelaria, do NOT add yourself here.-->

  • Raimund Marasigan, rock musician of the band Eraserheads, Pedicab, Sandwich, Cambio, Project 1, Squid 9, and Gaijin
  • Ahtisa Manalo, Miss Universe Philippines 2025 and Miss International 2018 1st Runner-Up
  • Rio Locsin, actress
  • Cirilo Rigos, Member of the 1986 Constitutional Commission and pastor

References

  • Candelaria Profile at PhilAtlas.com
  • [ Philippine Standard Geographic Code]
  • Philippine Census Information
  • Local Governance Performance Management System
  • Quezon Province Business Directory and Travel Guide
  • Quezon Province Web Portal
  • Lucena City Community Website