Cardona, Rizal

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.

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.^[7] Eleven years then, the Executive Order 108 issued by Governor-General Francis Burton Harrison has established the town as an independent municipality.

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.^[8][9]

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.

Cardona is politically subdivided into 18 barangays, as indicated below and in the image herein, ^[10] 11 of which are on the mainland (Calahan, Dalig, Del Remedio, Iglesia, Looc, Nagsulo, Patunhay, Real (Poblacion), Sampad, San Roque (Poblacion), and Ticulio) and 7 on Talim Island (Balibago, Boor, Lambac, Malanggam-Calubacan, Navotas, Subay, and Tuna). Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

In the 2024 census, the population of Cardona was 51,493 people,^[13] with a density of 1,800 inhabitants per square kilometer or 4,700 inhabitants per square mile.

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.^[19] The town has a minority of UNACAED members, Iglesia ni Cristo, Born Again sects, 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.^[20][21]

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

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

• Different Born Again sects
• Iglesia Ni Cristo
• 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

Poverty incidence of Cardona

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority^{[22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29]}

The Cardona Schools District Office governs all educational institutions within the municipality. It oversees the management and operations of all private and public, from primary to secondary schools.^[30]

• University of Rizal System ⎯ Cardona Campus