Suman, Taktak and Prayers | A Visit to Antipolo City

I felt a sudden itch at my feet this morning, and I couldn't help it. So I browsed my "BL♥PH" page and saw Lea Salonga's line, "umakyat sa Antipolo, magsayaw sa Obando..."

Hello Antipolo City

Oh yes, I've never been to Antipolo yet. A fast day tour at Antipolo City will ease my itch since it's just a few kilometers away from my beloved city of Manila.

Then I did a quick research about Antipolo City, formulated my IT in just an hour.


Getting There

From my place in Sta. Mesa, I rode LRT Line 2 from Pureza Station to Santolan (P14). You will definitely not miss the Antipolo Simbahan Jeeps in front of the Santolan LRT Station, jeepney barkers will feast on you (sisigawan ka na itutulak ka pa). The byaheng langit jeep from Santolan Station to Antipolo City was only P22.

Antipolo fast ride

Antipolo Church

The jeep dropped me several meters from the Antipolo Church. From afar I see the church's dome and hear the ongoing mass (speakers are all over the city). Suman and other types of kakanin vendors line the streets.

Antipolo Church

Antipolo Church

It was very hot noon when I reached the church, and the people who were attending the mass are of great number. Devotees from all over the country do make pilgrimage to see the statue of Nuestra Señora De La Paz Y Buen Viaje. This statue of mama Mary is the city's patron. I rarely see a church with similar structure as the Antipolo Church, it's round and it has a large dome which resembles a Muslim mosque.

statues on every corner

church full of people

the dome

the patroness of the city, Nuestra Señora De La Paz Y Buen Viaje

while I'm doing my Antipolo tour, Pope John Paul II's beatification is happening at the Vatican

When I went just outside the church, I noticed the lengthy line of people who wished to touch the statue of mama Mary.

people's pilgrimage

long line to Mama Mary

The Plaza

The city's plaza, like the Quiapo's plaza Miranda, is filled with people. This is the bilihan ng pasalubong corner of the city. There are suman, manga, and kasoy vendors, and there are plenty of them. These three products are the city's pride, hence, they have a Maytime festival, the Sumaka Festival (suman, manga, and kasoy festival).

Rizal at the center of the plaza

the plaza, filled with people and businesses

candles for sale

pasalubong market

suman

Kasoy fruit, never tasted one yet, dapat bumili ako

kasoy nuts

Hamaka Park

From the plaza, I walked my way to Hamaka Park, in front of Rizal Provincial Capitol. The park has a showcase of statues that depicts the old type of transportation that the Antipoleños use. Through the hamaka or hammock, the people of Antipolo transport goods, people, or the VIPs.

statues

the hamaka or hammock

hamaka park

Hinulugang Taktak

I then traveled by trike (P30) into this famous Hinulugang Taktak. This waterfalls, declared as national park by President Quirino, is made famous by the song, "Tayo na sa Antipolo, at doon maligo tayo, sa Hinulugang taktak." Unfortunately though, I've heard that this wonderful place had turned into a sewage system. I wanted to check it myself so I still made a visit into this place.

I paid P8 for the entrance fee. There are additional fees if you'll use their picnic shed (+ P50), umbrella shed (+ P50), picnic table (+ P15), and an additional P15 if you'll swim at their public pool.

The sound of the plunging waters is a music to my ears, but as I walk nearer i started to sense its unpleasant smell, and finally when I saw it up close... I felt nothing but pure disappointment.   

the Hinulugang Taktak, do you see that black thing on the right side? that's garbage my friends

Hinulugang Taktak, no need for higher exposure.. talagang white yung water

foaming sewage

who would want?

you can also pray if you want, beside the falls

define public pool...

I immediately left the place after I've seen the unfavorable place, I just hope DOT and DENR will do something about this.

Via Dolorosa

I rode again a trike to Via Dolorosa (P40). It's not really that far from Taktak, feeling ko tuloy overpriced yung ticycle na nasakyan ko.

The trike dropped me in front of the gate of Via Dolorosa (way of suffering). There's a sign there that prohibits the use of camera inside. It's a sacred place, only for prayers. I respected naman their religious feelings so I kept my cam muna on my pocket. The entrance is free though you are expected to drop an amount at their donation box.

the gate to Via Dolorosa

no cameras ok...

The place is serene, perfect for a prayerful activity.

Next to the rosary garden is a long shed suited for celebrating a holy mass, seats and an altar are set there.

I then reached the Via Crucis (way of the cross). You'll meet there the life size statues of the stations of the cross. It was a long and tiring walk, I wanted to do sana a sneak snapshot of the place but everyone I met was seriously praying (nahiya naman ako). At the very end is a white cross where you can overlook Metro Manila.

Manila seen from Antipolo, hindi ako makatiis.. isang picture lang

I haven't taken my lunch yet so I rode again a trike back to Antipolo Church (P40) as soon as I left Via Dolorosa.

Yummy Tapsi

I ate at a tapsilogan in front of the plaza. One of the best tapsilog I ever tasted. I forgot tapsilogan's name but it's something like "Mommy's Tapsilogan". I really am not sure.

my lunch tapsilog in front of the plaza

 
Before I went back home, I bought first some suman (3 bundles for P50)


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