CRY OF CANDON

25 March 1898

Ilocos Sur

The Cry of Candon is recognized as one of the earliest of the uprisings that ocurred during the second phase of the Philippine Revolution. On 25 March 1898, a force of Ilocano Katipuneros led by Don Isabelo Abaya led an assault against the town of Candon and successfully captured the Convent and center of town from Spanish Forces.

Isabelo Abaya
The leader of this uprising was Isabelo Abaya, a native son of Candon born in January 1866. Not much is known about him prior to the events of 25 March 1898 but his impact on the Filipino struggle for freedom extends beyond the events of the Cry of Candon. After the dissolution of the Republica Filipina Katipunan, Abaya continued the fight for independence in August 1898 when he joined the growing ranks of Filipino republicans fighting the remaining Spanish forces in Northern Luzon.

He later organized the Igorot delegation at the inauguration of the First Philippine Republic on 23 January 1899 in Malolos, Bulacan. He became part of General Manuel Tinio’s Ilocos Brigade when he was designated as commander of Filipino forces in southern Ilocos from 1899 to 1900. He became a martyr for Philippine Independence when he was captured and executed by US Forces following the Battle of Pasoñgan.

Republika Filipina Katipunan
The triumphant revolutionaries proclaimed the established the Republika Filipina Katipunan which was also known as the Republica de Candon. The victory was short lived however as the Spanish rallied their forces and recaptured Candon after two days. The surviving katipuneros retreated into the fastness of the Cordillera mountains where they continued to organize and fight for independence. The event has since been referred to by Ilocanos as the Ikkis ti Candon.