Actually, Candaba Swamp was a lake-part of a chain of lakes that included Lake Canarem in Tarlac and Magabol Swamp in Pangasinan, both of which have also dried up due to silting from the Agno, Chico and Pampanga river network.
In 1939, anthropologist H. Otley Beyer found prehistoric burial sites in Porac; after World War II interrupted his work, he declared that Pampanga offered the best field for his next systematic exploration and that "the work should not be delayed."
In 1959, archaeologist Robert Fox dug in the same area and found 300 grave sites with metal tools, spindle whorls and jars, including one that contains the bones of a child and two iron bracelets. (Nearby, he found an adobe quarrying site, which turned out to be the source of the material used to build the Angeles church during the Spanish period.)
Fox declared that Porac was "the most extensive archaeological excavation in the history of the Philippines."
An excavation on a similar scale should be done in Candaba, too. They believe archaeologists will be even more surprised about what they'll find there. Remember, the Candaba Adze, which dates back to 3000 years before Christ, or around the time the Egyptians were building the pyramids, was found in the area. (A replica of the adze is on display at the Center for Kapampangan Studies.)
The archaeological site (or sites) should be secured so that all excavations can proceed with dispatch before the next floods come. After that, the Mayor can include the site as one of the town's tourist destinations.
The Ibon-Ebon Festival has evolved into a major tourist attraction in Candaba mainly because of the Mayor's efforts, the brilliant cultural performances, and the town's success in integrating the sale of agricultural produce in the celebration.
Tourists go to Boracay for the beaches, to Batanes for the dramatic landscape, to Baguio for the temperate climate, and to Bohol for the heritage churches. And then they come here for the food, which is unlike any other in the islands.
In Candaba, they expect to be served pritung dumara and burung asan, so the locals should sell these unique delicacies in their homes, the way, for example, the residents of Lumban, Laguna have converted their houses into shops and stores selling embroidered barong material. So while tourists walk through a neighborhood admiring Candaba's heritage houses, they can easily stop by for a quick bite or a takeout.
Candaba being home to many Kapampangan poets including the great Jose Gallardo, should capitalize on this literary tradition by giving poets a prominent role in cultural and tourism events. Kapampangan poetry should be taught in public schools so that we raise another generation of poets who will keep the tradition alive.
For his part, the parish priest of Candaba should restore, not renovate, the Santa Catalina Church, one of the oldest and most beautiful churches in Pampanga. This church has many quaint details, including a piedra de china (granite slab) at the church entrance with an untypical Chinese inscription. (Some scholars believe it was put there in memory of the Chinese residents who were among those massacred during the British Occupation in 1762.)
Lastly, Pampanga River should be developed as an alternative highway between the province and Manila. The Pampanga River Cruise that the province has been planning for the longest time should also be revived now that Governor Pineda herself has expressed personal interest in it. She should take advantage of her formidable stature and the unprecedented unity and harmony between the Capitol and the Pampanga Mayors' League to push a project as complicated as this one.
The route of this cruise should start in Candaba, because the river starts getting shallow farther upstream, and also because among the towns lining the river, it is Candaba that has the most persuasive mayor.
With his influence, the Mayor can get investors who will put up the port and the fleet of boats and barges and then convince his fellow mayors downstream to put up their own ports and refueling stations, dismantle all illegal fish pens that block the route, and remove all unsightly garbage dumps from the riverbanks.
Candaba represents the lowest point in Central Luzon Region of Luzon Island. The neighboring municipality of San Miguel (San Miguel de Mayumo) in Bulacan province used to be part of Candaba until San Miguel became a municipality itself. Candaba's municipal boundaries are: Municipality of Arayat, Pampanga, and Municipality of Cabiao, Nueva Ecija, to the south; Municipality of San Miguel, Bulacan, and Municipality of San Ildefonso, Bulacan, to the east; Municipality of Baliuag, Bulacan, to the north; Municipality of San Luis, Pampanga, and Municipality of Santa Ana, Pampanga, to the west.
Candaba is politically subdivided into 33 barangays.
Bahay Pare, Bambang, Barangca, Barit, Buas (Poblacion), Cuayang Bugtong, Dalayap, Dulong Ilog, Gulap, Lanang, Lourdes, Magumbali, Mandasig, Mandili, Mangga, Mapaniqui, Paligui, Pangclara, Pansinao, Paralaya (Poblacion), Pasig, Pescadores (Poblacion), Pulong Gubat, Pulong Palazan, Salapungan, San Agustin (Poblacion), Santo Rosario, Tagulod, Talang, Tenejero, Vizal San Pablo, Vizal Santo Cristo
Like rest of the area in Central Luzon, there are two seasons in the area, the wet season and dry season. The wet season occurs during the months of May to October, and the dry season the rest of the year.
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Climate data for Candaba, Pampanga, Philippines |
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Month |
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
Year |
|
Average high °C (°F) |
29 |
31 |
32 |
34 |
34 |
31 |
30 |
30 |
30 |
30 |
30 |
29 |
30 |
|
Average low °C (°F) |
20 |
19 |
21 |
22 |
23 |
23 |
23 |
23 |
23 |
22 |
21 |
20 |
21 |
|
Precipitation cm (inches) |
1.7 |
0.7 |
0.5 |
2.4 |
15.3 |
35.5 |
50.4 |
51.6 |
37.4 |
22.5 |
16.3 |
6.8 |
240.8 |
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Population Census of Candaba |
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|
Year |
Pop. |
±% p.a. |
|
1995 |
77,546 |
— |
|
2000 |
86,066 |
2.08% |
|
2007 |
96,589 |
1.65% |
|
2010 |
102,399 |
1.95% |
The Candaba Swamp (Pinac, Pinak) absorbs most of the flood waters that flow from the western slopes of the Sierra Madre Mountain Range. During the rainy season, the Pampanga River overflows and the swamp is submerged. But it is relatively dry during thedry Season, hence making the land suitable for many agricultural production.
Candaba is noted for its production watermelon, that are sold worldwide. The swamps are communal fishing grounds encompassing some 430 km² of highly arable farmlands. Candaba swamps are very fertile due to its sustained deposits of humus and decaying plant residues. Migrant wild ducks and various wildlife bird from Siberia, New Zealand, Mongolia and other parts of Asia use Candaba as their yearly sanctuary.
Candaba due to its geographic location and nature of the lands have few paved roads. A large part of the area gets submerged during the wet season.
Public transport is mainly done by means of jeepneys and tricycles. Jeepneys have their routes as an itinerary route for various places.
Candabas telecommunication facilities and telephone services are provided by the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company(PLDT), PSE.DGTL, Datelcom, Evangelista Telephone Company and the Pampanga Telecom Company.
Waterworks
Candaba will soon have modern waterworks, following the start of a 24 million Peso water supply development project of the Candaba Water District (CWD) with the financial and technical assistance of the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWU. ]Other means to get Drinking water are Water wells.
Electric power
The municipality receives it electric power in from the Pampanga Electric Cooperative (PELCO) and from Manila Electric Company(MERALCO).
Land:
Jeepney : Candaba via San Fernanando
Candaba via SM- Robinsons
Tricycle Special Trip
Bird Watching at Candaba Swamp
Artemio Panganiban- former Chief Justice of Philippine Supreme Court
Bangus and Tilapia, Burung dalag, Balo-balo, Melon and Honeydew
Bank of Florida Bank
Located at Poblacion Candaba, Pampanga
Located at Poblacion Candaba, Pampanga
(045) 632-1348
Located at Poblacion Candaba, Pampanga
Located at Poblacion Candaba, Pampanga
Located at Poblacion, Candaba, Pampanga
Located at Poblacion Candaba, Pampanga
(045) 436-6870
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