# Cardona, Rizal

Cardona, officially the Municipality of Cardona (Filipino: Bayan ng Cardona), is a municipality in the province of Rizal, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 50,143 people.

## Etymology

An oral folklore tells how the name “Cardona” was derived from the Spanish word “caldo” referring to a native rice broth. Supposedly, a stranger walking through the street of the town happened to ask the name of the town from a native, who at that time was enjoying a bowl of hot “caldo”. Thinking that the stranger was inquiring as to what he was eating, the native answered "Sapao! Caldo!"
Another story tells that the town of Cardona in the Province of Barcelona, Spain is believed to be the eponym of the town. Settlements in the area during the Spanish-era were on the hills and the place surrounded by waters of the Laguna Lake. Early missionary Franciscan friars have seen its resemblance to the Spanish town which is also located on a hill and is almost surrounded by the waters of the river Cardener. Parts of the present-day Barangays Calahan, Patunhay, Del Remedio, Iglesia, San Roque, Dalig, and Looc are set on these hills.

## History

In 1855, Cardona was created as a town of the District of Morong, with boundaries set in 1857. Later in June 1901, Cardona formed part of the newly created Province of Rizal through Act 137 promulgated by the Philippine Commission. In 1903, Act No. 942 annexed the town to the Municipality of Morong. Eleven years then, the Executive Order 108 issued by Governor-General Francis Burton Harrison has established the town as an independent municipality.

### Philippine independence

Cardona native and World War II veteran Frisco F. San Juan, a civil engineer, was elected congressman of Rizal's second district in 1965, and was reelected to a second term in 1969.

## Geography

Cardona is part of the 2nd Congressional District of Rizal.
Cardona is 23 kilometers (14 mi) from Antipolo and 40 kilometers (25 mi) from Manila. With the continuous expansion of Metro Manila, the municipality is the easternmost part of Manila's built-up area.

### Barangays

Cardona is politically subdivided into 18 barangays,  11 of which are on the mainland and 7 on Talim Island. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

#### Mainland

* Calahan
* Dalig
* Del Remedio
* Iglesia
* Looc
* Nagsulo
* Patunhay
* Real (Poblacion)
* Sampad
* San Roque (Poblacion)
* Ticulio

#### Talim Island

* Balibago
* Boor
* Lambac
* Malanggam-Calubacan
* Navotas
* Subay
* Tuna

### Climate

Climate data for Cardona, Rizal :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 26 (79) | 27 (81) | 29 (84) | 31 (88) | 31 (88) | 30 (86) | 29 (84) | 29 (84) | 29 (84) | 29 (84) | 28 (82) | 26 (79) | 29 (84) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 22 (72) | 22 (72) | 22 (72) | 23 (73) | 24 (75) | 25 (77) | 24 (75) | 24 (75) | 24 (75) | 24 (75) | 24 (75) | 23 (73) | 23 (74) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 58 (2.3) | 41 (1.6) | 32 (1.3) | 29 (1.1) | 91 (3.6) | 143 (5.6) | 181 (7.1) | 162 (6.4) | 172 (6.8) | 164 (6.5) | 113 (4.4) | 121 (4.8) | 1,307 (51.5) |
| Average rainy days | 13.4 | 9.3 | 9.1 | 9.8 | 19.1 | 22.9 | 26.6 | 24.9 | 25.0 | 21.4 | 16.5 | 16.5 | 214.5 |
| Source: Meteoblue (Use with caution: this is modeled/calculated data, not measured locally.) ||||||||||||||

## Demographics

In the 2020 census, the population of Cardona, Rizal, was 50,143 people, with a density of 1,800 inhabitants per square kilometer or 4,700 inhabitants per square mile.

### Religion

Christianity is the major religion in the town, and the majority of all Christian denomination is Catholicism where 82% of its inhabitants are baptized Roman Catholics. The town has a minority of UNACAED members, Iglesia ni Cristo, Born Again sects, Jehovah's Witnesses and more. The town is also the home of the famed and miraculous image of Nuestra Señora del Santísimo Rosario — La Virgen de Sapao, which was granted the honor of pontifical coronation by Pope Francis, through his representative Cardinal José Fuerte Advíncula, the Archbishop of Manila, on 7 October 2022.

#### Catholic churches

* Diocesan Shrine and Parish of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary
* Our Lady of Lourdes Parish

#### Protestant denominations

* Cardona Bethel United Methodist Church
* Cardona Church of Christ
* Cardona Christian Church
* Dae Heung Presbyterian Church
* United Christian Baptist Church
* Cardona Baptist Church

#### Religious sects

* Different Born Again sects
* Iglesia Ni Cristo
* Jehovah's Witnesses (church defunct)
* Jesus is Lord
* Members Church of God International - Ang Dating Daan
* Unión de Adoradores Cristianos Al Espiritu Divino Inc. (UNACAED)
* Samahan ng Mananampalataya sa Espiritu ng Kadiyosan - Tres Picos

## Economy

Poverty incidence of Cardona
* 5
* 10
* 15
* 20
* 25
* 30
* 2000 24.76
* 2003 10.04
* 2006 6.50
* 2009 5.54
* 2012 9.73
* 2015 10.12
* 2018 4.73
* 2021 9.23
* Source: Philippine Statistics Authority

## Education
### State-run institutions

Mainland: :
| Preschool level | Kindergarten ⎯ elementary level | High school level | College level (university) |
| 1. Different Barangay Daycare Centers | 1. Mariano C. San Juan Elementary School | 1. Bernardo F. San Juan National High School | 1. University of Rizal System ⎯ Cardona Campus |
| 1. Different Barangay Daycare Centers | 2. Patunhay-Calahan Elementary School | 2. Cardona Senior High School | 1. University of Rizal System ⎯ Cardona Campus |
| 1. Different Barangay Daycare Centers | 3. Dalig Elementary School | 2. Cardona Senior High School | 1. University of Rizal System ⎯ Cardona Campus |
| 1. Different Barangay Daycare Centers | 4. Looc Elementary School | 2. Cardona Senior High School | 1. University of Rizal System ⎯ Cardona Campus |
| 1. Different Barangay Daycare Centers | 5. Tadlak Elementary School | 2. Cardona Senior High School | 1. University of Rizal System ⎯ Cardona Campus |
Talim Island: :
| Preschool level | Kindergarten ⎯ elementary level | High school level |
| 1. Different Barangay Daycare Centers | 1. Tuna-Balibago Elementary School | 1. Tuna-Balibago National High School |
| 1. Different Barangay Daycare Centers | 2. Boor Elementary School | 2. Catalino D. Salazar National High School |

### Private schools

* Castle for Achievers Learning School
* CJ Learning Center
* Lyceum Internation of the Far East (permanently closed)
* Mother Most Chaste School
* MV Montessori School
* Queen Mary Help of Christians Educational Center
* San Francisco Parish School
* Talim Island Academy Foundation
* Mother Most Chaste School

## Healthcare
### Public health services

* Rural Health Unit (RHU) - Health services are offered at the municipal facility, and health services centers in individual barangays. Cardona RHU is headed by Dra. Eloida Silao M.D.

### Private hospitals

* Queen Mary Help of Christians Hospital (Calahan)
* Carlos Medical and Maternity Hospital (Looc)