Antipolo City
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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| Location | |
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| Government | |
| Region | CALABARZON (Region IV-A) |
| Province | Rizal |
| District | 1st and 2nd Districts of Antipolo City |
| Barangays | 16 |
| Income class: | 1st class city, Partially Urban |
| Mayor | Angelito C. Gatlabayan (NPC) |
| Founded | 1591 |
| Cityhood | February 13, 1998 |
| Official Website | elgu2.ncc.gov.ph/antipolocity |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Area | 306.10 km² |
| Population | 470,866 1,538.3/km² |
| Coordinates | 14°35' N 121°10' E |
The City of Antipolo (Filipino: Lungsod ng Antipolo) is a 1st class component city in the province of Rizal, Philippines. It was recently made the capital of Rizal; however the provincial capitol is still in Pasig City in Metro Manila which was the former capital. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 470,866 people in 97,415 households. It has a land area of 306.10 square kilometers.
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[edit] Location
Antipolo City is located in the central part of Rizal Province. It is approximately 26 km. east of Manila. It is bounded to the north by the municipalities of San Mateo and Rodriguez; to the east by the municipality of Gen. Nakar in neighboring Quezon Province; to the southeast by the municipality of Tanay; to the south by municipalities of Angono, Taytay and Teresa; and to the west by the municipality of Cainta and the city of Marikina in Metro Manila.
[edit] Origin
The city was named after the Tipolo (breadfruit) tree (Autocarpus incisa) which was in abundance in the area.
[edit] History
[edit] Spanish Period
Franciscan missionaries arrived in Antipolo in 1578 and built a church in Boso-Boso. In 1591 they were replaced by the Jesuits who organized the village into a parish. They built a chapel at Sitio Sta. Cruz. By 1601 there are about 3,000 Christians residing in Antipolo. At about the same period, the Negrito population dwindled, as they moved deeper into the mountains.
On March 25, 1626 Governor-General Juan Niño de Tabora brought from Acapulco, Mexico the image of the Virgin Mary. Before he died, he bequeathed the image to the Jesuits for the Antipolo Church. Tradition has it that the image was installed in Sitio Sta. Cruz and have been lost several times and each time it was found on a Tipolo tree. Because of these unusual incidents, it was decided in 1632 to erect the church at the site.
In 1639, the Chinese revolt reached Antipolo and burned the church to the ground. Miraculously, the image was unharmed. The Virgin was taken to Sitio Ginapao and then brought to Cavite upon orders of the Governor-General. It stayed in Cavite for 14 years. Ten years after the incident the image was renamed "Nuestra Señora de la Paz y Buen Viaje" (Tagalog: "Ang Mahal na Birhen ng Kapayapaan at Mabuting Paglalayag"; "Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage") and traveled five more times to Acapulco, Mexico before it rested permanently in the town.
The village of Antipolo was made into a town in 1650 as part of the Province of Tondo. When the Tondo was divided into the Province of Manila and the District of Los Montes de San Mateo in 1853, it became part of the latter. The district was later known as the District of Morong.
The Recollects took over Antipolo in 1864. It was during these years that the Virgin of Antipolo gained thousands of devotees. Devotees from Manila and nearby towns and provinces flock to Antipolo on foot along mountain trails and springs.
[edit] Philippine Revolution
Two months after the declaration by Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo of Philippine Independence on June 12, 1898, Antipolo formally joined the Revolutionary Government and it was made the capital of the District of Morong. But when the country was occupied by the Americans on June 4, 1899 the Revolutionary Government was transferred to the town of Tanay.
[edit] American Period
After a civil government was established in 1901 by the Americans, Valentin Sumulong became the first Presidente (Alcalde) of the town. The province of Morong was renamed Rizal Province and some of the towns near Manila were made part of the province. In 1903, Antipolo, Teresa and Boso-Boso were merged under Act No. 1942 with Antipolo as the center of government.
On March 27, 1903 the Philippine Commission granted the Manila Railroad Company a franchise to construct and operate a railway going to Antipolo. The railway by 1906 was running from Pasig up to Taytay-Cainta it was not until December 24, 1908 that the first train reached Antipolo. In 1913, the sitios of Mayamot and Bulao became part of Antipolo, however on January 1, 1919, Teresa was separated from Antipolo.
[edit] Second World War and Japanese Occupation
During the Second World War two guerilla units continued the struggle during the Japanese occupation. They were the Hunters ROTC under Miguel Ver and Terry Adevoso and the Marking Fil-American Troop which was established and led by Marcos Villa Agustin more popularly known under the name Brig. Gen. Agustin Marking. Many inhabitants were tortured and killed by the Japanese, including Mayor Pascual Oliveros and his son Reynaldo, Padre Eusebio Carreon, Padre Ariston Ocampo, Sis. Ma. Elizabeth Cagulanas, RVM, Sis. Ma. Consuelo Recio, RVM; Antonio Masangkay, and Alfonso Oliveros.
The liberation of Antipolo from the Japanese forces was bloody and devastating. On February 17, 1945 Antipolo was heavily bombarded by American planes. Antipolo residents evacuated to Sitio Kulaike and up to the towns of Angono, Santolan, and Marikina. They brought with them the Virgin of Antipolo. The bombings on March 6-7, 1945 destroyed the church and after twelve days of battle the American 43rd Infantry Division liberated the town on March 12, 1945. After the war a temporary church was built and the Virgin of Antipolo was returned from the Quiapo Church on October 15, 1945.
[edit] Post-Independence
Devotees started to flock to the town and on May 6, 1947, the first procession of the Virgin of Antipolo was held starting at the hills of Pinagmisahan.
In 1948 a national committee was formed to undertake a nationwide fund raising campaign to build the Cathedral of Antipolo. It was about this time that the Iglesia ni Kristo came to Antipolo.
On June 15, 1952, Hinulugang Taktak was proclaimed a National Park by Pres. Elpidio Quirino and on January 14, 1954, the Bishops of the Philippines proclaimed the Cathedral of Antipolo as the official shrine of the Virgin of Antipolo.
In 1960s, the town proper or poblacion was widened and the Sumulong Highway was constructed. In the 1970s the Marikina-Infanta Road better known as the Marcos Highway was constructed traversing the mountains of Antipolo.
The Diocese of Antipolo was created on June 25, 1983, with Rev. Protacio G. Gungon, D.D as the first bishop of the diocese.
[edit] Cityhood
The 1995 Census registered Antipolo's population at 345,000. On February 13, 1998 then Pres. Fidel V. Ramos signed Republic Act No. 8505 making the Municipality of Antipolo into a component city of Rizal Province and on April 4, 1998 it was ratified it in a plebiscite.
[edit] Points of Interests
[edit] SUMAKAH Festival
SUMAKAH stands for Suman, Manga, Kasuy at Hamaka, a festival aiming to make Antipolo City the must – see destination for May, the fiesta month. Adopting “Tayo na sa Antipolo” as its official slogan, Gatlabayan’s SUMAKAH Festival seeks to familiarize tourist with all the fine facets of the city. Antipolo follows through with a whole new program to attract tourist attention. The SUMAKAH Festival begins with an “Alay Lakad” pledge walkathon. Billed as a “Penitential Walk for Peace”. The Participants fetched the Virgin of Antipolo from the Quiapo Cathedral, which the Virgin traditionally visits until April 30 every year.
[edit] Hinulugang Taktak
The Hinulugang Taktak falls is a part of Antipolo natural and cultural heritage. Its legendary origin dates back to the 15th century when legend has it that the waterfalls was where the townsfolk threw the large bell that caused undue disturbance whenever it was rung at Angelus. Its sound was so loud that the people could not endure it. They demanded that the local priest get rid of the bell. Thus Hinulugang Taktak, meaning the place where the bell was dropped. The place has since become a favorite spots for visitors and clients.
The Hinulugang Taktak waterfall is a living monument of the past. The City is a part and witnessed of that monumental years where people constantly attribute the place to the Patroness, the Our lady of Peace and Good Voyage.
The Hinulugang Taktak Recreation Area, which was reserved for scenic and recreaction purpose under Proclamation No. 330 dated July 18, 1952, has been converted into the Hinulugang Taktak National Park by virtue of Republic Act No. 6964 dated September 18 1990. This legendary 3.031 hectares park is located at Bgy. Dela Paz, Antipolo City.
The park is an alluring view of natural formation. After soul cleansing at the renowned Antipolo Lady of Peace Shrine, the park offers physical and spiritual cleansing for pilgrims.Unfortunately the falls is now filthy, saturated by wastes from sewages, piggeries, poultries but political efforts are passively being carried out.
[edit] Boso-Boso Church
Located at Old Boso-Boso Road, Barangay San Jose, Antipolo City. It was established in pre-Spanish colonization. Basically it was the oldest church in Antipolo City. The Our Lady of Peace and Voyage was brought there first, but transferred to Dela Paz when the church was damage in Japanese war. Through the years Boso-Boso church is still standing and it was renovated several years ago.
The Boso-Boso church is a remnant 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. A small chapel was built inside the ruins offering Sunday services to the parishioners.
[edit] Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage
The statue of Nuestra Señora de la Paz y Buen Viaje was brought from Mexico to Manila By. Gov. Juan Niño de Tavora in 1626 and upon his death in 1632 the blessed statue was turned over to the Jesuits for the Church of Antipolo. The statue experienced greater wonders, most notably in her journeys, which is why she was called the Virgin Voyager. She made eight galleon crossing to Acapulco, during dangerous times, on perilous seas: in 1641, 1643, 1645 to 1649 on the Encarnacion; 1650 on the San Diego; 1651 to 1653 on the San Javier; 1659 to 1662 on the San Jose; and in 1746 to 1748 on the Nuestra Señora del Pilar. The statue of Nuestra Señora de la Paz y Buen Viaje was "canonically crowned" on November 26, 1926, by the most Rev. Michael J. O Doherty, Archbishop of Manila, at the Luneta, Manila, in the presence of at least one hundred thousand people.
Antipolo is known to be the home of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage (Nuestra Señora de la Paz Y Buen Viaje). Historians say that this miraculous icon has sailed back and forth between Manila and Acapulco eight times and on several occasions was credited with saving her galleon from destruction by pirated and Dutch and British blockades. The galleon’s safe arrivals were attributed to the miraculous powers of the statuette. During the month of May thousands of devotees, especially those intending to travel abroad, come to pay homage at the Shrine of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage.
[edit] Inday Nelly’s Mystical Cave
Mystical Cave is a natural attraction but can be considered a religious site because the images formed by the water are religious images.
Inday (Tagalog term referring to a woman) Nelly Deles discovered the Cave in 1970. When she was 7 she had a dream every night and saw visions of this cave and when she grew up she decided to find the cave. From Iloilo she traveled around the country just to find the cave and when she got to Antipolo, she found the place. The hole of cave was just the size of a one peso coin, but with the use of dynamite she made a larger hole. The peak season of Mystical cave is during the Lenten Season.
[edit] Via Dolorosa
Via Dolorosa is a mystically hallowed place for worship. It is a sanctuary which holds life-sized Way of the Cross images, depicting the suffering of Jesus Christ during His dolorous journey to Calvary, and even a Rosary Garden and a chapel. Begun in 1992, Via Dolorosa is a non-profit venture dedicated to God and His followers.
Nestled on a hill eight hundred feet above sea level, thousands are provided with a place to pay homage to God. Via Dolorosa serves as a retreat for both Christians and Non-Christians, with its serene surroundings, overlooking the metropolis.
[edit] Barangays
Antipolo City is politically subdivided into 16 barangays.
| Barangay | Land Area (ha.) |
Population (2000) |
Density People/ha |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bagong Nayon | 301.34 | 33,787 | 112.12 |
| Beverly Hills | 28.76 | 1,973 | 68.60 |
| Calawis | 5,581.12 | 2,510 | 0.45 |
| Cupang | 1,568.23 | 56,131 | 35.79 |
| Dalig | 406.48 | 31,109 | 76.53 |
| Dela Paz (Pob.) | 597.99 | 45,185 | 75.56 |
| Inarawan | 959.9 | 11,040 | 11.50 |
| Mambugan | 368.21 | 31,305 | 85.02 |
| Mayamot | 540.74 | 40,784 | 75.42 |
| Muntindilao | 473.11 | 7,922 | 16.74 |
| San Isidro (Pob.) | 479.7 | 39,242 | 81.81 |
| San Jose (Pob.) | 13,787.77 | 55,136 | 4.00 |
| San Juan | 3,327.69 | 5,583 | 1.68 |
| San Luis | 502.99 | 37,667 | 74.89 |
| San Roque (Pob.) | 723.25 | 36,431 | 50.37 |
| Santa Cruz | 725.52 | 35,061 | 48.33 |
[edit] Transportation
Antipolo is well served by public transportation from various points in Metro Manila. There are regular bus, jeepney and shuttle trips from Divisoria in Manila, Cubao in Quezon City, Ortigas Center in Mandaluyong City, Ayala Avenue in Makati City and Marikina City.
[edit] Reference
- History of Antipolo URL Accessed on May 3, 2006
