Antipolo Things to Do

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One of the best ways to keep off the holiday pounds, stay in shape and reduce stress may be found at the overlooking layered pool of Boso Boso Highlands Resort and Convention Center. Nestled in a lush valley along the marcos highway in mountain of Sitio Cabading Baranggay San Jose Antipolo City, you will find this beautiful Resort & Hotel named Boso Boso Highlands Resort & Convention Center perfect for travellers , adventure seekers & nature lovers! The amazing view of Sierra Madre ranges, the natural smell of cashew trees and the peaceful mountain settings is pure relaxation. A perfect place for the perfect hide-away!

Loreland Farm Resort is a nirvana tuck away in the heart of Antipolo. It is a miniature garden of eden minus the forbidden fruit. The resort boasts of playgrounds, wooden cottages, barbeque grills, a wishing well, 12 swimming pools, a sauna, a gacuzzi, a volleyball court, etc...

The resort opens at 8:00 am. Previously an abandoned piece of land, the place has been transformed into a resort with a jungle-like theme. Entrance fee is PHP120.00 for adults for a day trip and PHP80.00 for children below four feet. For those who are planning on staying for the night, entrance fee rises up to PHP144.00 for adults and PHP90.00 for children below four feet...

it was fun going to hinulugang taktak on a rainy day, We go there last saturday. Entrance fee is 8 pesos.

From cubao take fx going to antipolo church, fare is P45. Then from Antipolo church, Ride a tricycle going to hinulugang taktak, fare is P40.

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Before our trip, I read the Antipolo government website comparing Hinulugang Taktak to Niagara Falls with its swirling waters, so inviting to swimmers. At the Sumulong Highway, we saw a billboard sign of Hinulugang Taktak with the caption "Protected Landscape". With that, we expected to see a beautiful, majestic waterfalls.

On the contrary, the falls was still in dismal state, as asserted by environmentalists who cried for lack of government will power and interest to save it. OMG! Seeing the catch basin with giant detergent foams and foul odor, it can be said that the people of Antipolo themselves don't seem to care less, otherwise, why will they make Hinulugang Taktak such a dirty mess?
It is a pity that such a majestic natural water formation is allowed to reek and deteriorate.

I encourage everyone who has personally witnessed Hinulugang Taktak's deplorable state to help create awareness of the need to save and rehabilitate it.

See my related Warning Tip for other info & pictures.

In the center of Antipolo is the religious shrine of the Virgin of Antipolo (Birhen ng Antipolo). Its origin dates back to Spanish era, when galleon trade between the Philippines and Mexico was at its height

On March 25, 1626, Don Juan Nińo de Tabora left the shores of Mexico aboard the galleon El Almirante, to sail to the Philippines, bringing along the brown image of our Blessed Virgin Mother. For three months, the El Almirante safely braved the dangers of the stormy seas and a fire aboard the ship, arriving in the port of Manila on July 18, 1626. Realizing that the safe and successful journey was due to the image of the Blessed Virgin on board the ship, he called for the pompous celebration of the image's arrival. Amidst pageantry and fireworks, the religious procession started from the Jesuit Church of San Ignacio in Intramuros, up to the Manila Catholic Cathedral on 26 November 1626. Thus it was named "Nuestra Seńora de la Paz y Buenviaje".

After Tabora's death in 1632, the Blessed Image was turned over to the care of the Jesuit fathers who were then constructing a church in Antipolo. Actually, a church was to be built in the nearby barrio of Sta Cruz. But attempts to move the image were futile because somehow, as if in protest of leaving this place, the holy image was always found on the trunk of a tree called "the Tipolo" (Ang Tipolo -> Antipolo) which grew in the original site of the old Antipolo church. Because of these manifestations, a pedestal was curved out of the trunks of the said tree, and the Blessed Virgin became locally known as the Virgin of Antipolo.

During the Japanese occupation, the Blessed Image was evacuated to the mountains of Angono, then at Santolan. For a while, it was housed in the Quiapo Church until October 15, 1945, when it was finally transferred back to the Church of Antipolo. Every year, devotees commemorate this transfer, as they join the "Alay Lakad" from Quiapo Church to the Antipolo Cathedral starting at around 8:00 PM (30th of April) until dawn of the following day (1st of May).

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PACEM Eco-Park in Antipolo was set up by the Assumption Sisters to raise consciousness and concern for the environment, and promote biodiversity through its Wildlife Sanctuary. I imagined PACEM to be as beautiful as how it was featured on TV many years ago, its garden and mini forest as refreshing as the Good Shepherd gardens in Baguio City and the La Mesa Ecopark in Quezon City,and its wildlife sanctuary as beautiful as Chavit Singson's Baluarte in Ilocos Sur. Looking forward to taking pictures of exotic flowers, healthy organic plants, nice animals in their Wildlife Sanctuary and a wide collection of butterflies in the Butterfly Farm, I imagined PACEM Eco-Park to be another Eden-like ecopark.

Sad,but the place wasn't as I imagined it to be. I'm not saying it is ugly. It's just that I had too much expectations... I can't blame the Assumption Sisters though; in fact, they need our support because they don't have the wealth of Chavit Singson nor the network of Bantay Kalikasan to hire many personnel to maintain such a big place. I wish that some wealthy persons/politicians/NGOs will help PACEM. La Mesa Ecopark is well maintained because of Bantay Kalikasan's successful Adopt-a-Tree/Hectare Program. Maybe the animal-lovers can adopt animals of their choice and sponsor their food,shelter,health & grooming needs. Gardening Clubs can also sponsor parts of the Botanical Garden.

The Assumption Sisters have planted the seed for this eco-park; we must all help cultivate it.

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The Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace & Good Voyage is a popular Pilgrimage Church in the Philippines. It enshrines the original brown image of the Blessed Virgin Mary which was brought from Mexico by then Governor, Don Juan Nino de Tabora in his travels/conquests in 1626. He attributed his safe and successful journey to this brown image which was then honored and given the title, Nuestra Senora de la Paz y Buenviaje.

When Gov. Tabora died in 1632, the image was turned over to the Jesuit Fathers who were then constructing a church in Antipolo. Another church was also being planned to be constructed in honor of Our Lady in Barrio Sta.Cruz. However,the brown image always "got lost" and was always found on the trunk of the Tipolo tree that stood on the original site of the old church. The Fathers and local folks took this as a sign that the image didn't want to leave that place so they made a pedestal carved out the trunk of the Tipolo tree. Henceforth,the image was referred to as the Virgin of Antipolo

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At P650, a two-hour package includes hydromassage shower, eucalyptus-scented sauna bath, steam room scented with lemon grass, and a hot and cold twin Jacuzzi with floating petals, kafir leaves, pandan, and lemon, plus a small pot of hot herbal tea. This package, called Affordable Escape, ends with a massage that combines Swedish-reflex and Thai massage, using a formula of special oils intended to put anyone to sleep.