Do you want to find a place of solitude and pilgrimage? Or to be somewhere you could wander of and try to think of the things you have marveled with these past years of your existence? Or you are just merely craving to escape the city; feel and hear the hum of the trees and breathe some fresh air?
Around 25 km away from the active and bustling world of Manila is the plain yet magnificent and serene place of Antipolo—also known as “The City of Pilgrimage”.
If you want to unwind and fly somewhere to take a break, go and invade Antipolo!!! Ready your backpack and yourself to indulge yourself gazing in awe as you wonder in many ecological and religious discoveries people should behold in this place.
Hamaka Park
Hamaka Park is along the P. Oliveros Street. It has bronze figures of Antipolo’s mark of distinction such as the hamaka tradition, Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage and town sellers of the city’s major products (suman, kasoy and mangga).
Hinulugan Taktak
The history of Hinulugan Taktak is as rich and colorful as that of Antipolo itself. Legend has it that sometime during the 16th century, the townsfolk of Antipolo were bothered by a church bell that produced harsh, unbearably loud sounds when rung during Angelus. They demanded that the local priest get rid of the bell. Bowing down to the clamor, the priest had it dropped in a nearby river. This explains the name, “Hinulugan Taktak” which means ‘where the bell was dropped’. As Antipolo became a religious site, the waterfalls also become a prominent destination for bathing and sightseeing. In the 1980s, it was declared a National Park by the government.
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Boso-boso Church
The Boso-boso church is a vestige of a centuries-old church which was destroyed during the Second World War. It stands in the grandeur of old stone with wild vines and plants growing on top of the church. The church continues to posses its full splendour which will give every visitor nostalgic flashbacks the Spanish era. A small chapel was built inside the church offering Sunday services to the parishioners.
Antipolo Cathedral
Be dazzled by the Antipolo Cathedral’s magnificence, an hour or two of travel would definitely not be put into waste. The home of Antipolo’s renowned miraculous icon, the Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage (Nuestra Senora de la Paz Y Buenviaje) is extremely beautiful.
It is said that if you are planning to go out of the country, this is the perfect place to pray for a safe journey. This very cathedral is also popular for those who want to get married. Savor yourself with the city’s delicacies just right outside the cathedral, where numbers of stalls are located.
Right after you full your stomach with the yummy food, it’s time to head to more of the Antipolo’s finest. Via Dolorosa!
Via Dolorosa
It is formerly known as “the White Cross”, now called as Via Dolorosa at Pinagmisahan Street. Since the road is very steep and quite small, only small vehicles can pass by it like tricycles. The breeze that touches your skin gives you that “province-like feeling” which is truly relaxing.
On top of the Pinagmisahan Hills are the enormous White Cross and the outsized image of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage. It is a grotto-like hill that welcomes pilgrims from everywhere. It is a very spectacular site for the wanderers where regular masses and alay-lakads are held.
Expect to come across with life-sized images of the station-of-the-cross along the way to the top of the hill to sacredly replicate the passion, death and resurrection of beloved Jesus Christ. This is a must place especially during Lenten season.
Folks of this place say that when the popular icon, the Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage, was mysteriously missing before, it was miraculously found in the place of Via Dolorosa. It is said that it was on top of a tree but what was really amazing is that it is said that it was not hanging by the branches but as if it standing on it. When one of the villagers laid his eyes upon it, he shouted “Tipolo!’. And the rest is said to be history.
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