Antipolo City - A Nice Place to Settle Down

A Glimpse of the Past

It's more than 10 years now since we moved in the City of Antipolo. The year was 1996; and almost half of the city was still surrounded by lush greens. It was a whole lot of jungle out there. And by the year of 1998, Antipolo embraced its cityhood.

Since then, a lot of areas began to rapidly develop. Varieties of establishments grew in number, which include fast food joints, supermarkets, bars and restaurants, private schools, medical clinics, other business establishments and a lot more. And the development did not halt nor slowed down.

And now, 2014, Antipolo City has boomed into one of the finest cities in the Philippines. It's economic progress never stops, and so, opportunities for business and employment continue to grow.

Asides financial and economic prosperity, there is but one aspect that really stands out. It is the value of living and becoming one with the City of Antipolo.

My Reasons for Settling here in Antipolo

Manila is actually where I was born. And a lot of my relatives still live in Manila. But ever since we moved in Antipolo, peace and tranquility embraced my soul. The city's beauty has captured my heart. There were no second thoughts. I decided to reside and school here permanently. Now what were the true reasons why I love it here in Antipolo? What could be so significant why I decided to stay?

Here are my few good reasons why:

Hinulugang Taktak Falls - Antipolo City

1. The temperature here is way cooler, and the pollution greatly lessened. 

A Farm Lot at the Edge of the City

If you've ever stayed in Metro Manila, then you'll know what it feels like living there, unless it's the exclusive subdivisions or condominiums. Even so, you'd still feel the hot humid air that lingers on your skin. And it's only a matter of time before your sweat crawls out. But a little perspiration is just fine and perfectly normal. Only to realize that you don't stop sweating at all. Or you may not be a sweaty type of person, but the heat is really uncomfortable. So you'd rather stay inside places with air-conditioners, or somewhere not blazing hot.

But what about the City of Antipolo?

A Residential House Built on a Mountainous Area

Well, the city is actually situated on a plateau, at the slopes of the Sierra Madre mountain ranges. Yes, we're living high atop the mountains and surrounded by lots and lots of greeneries, not to mention the few areas where agriculture is still the means of production. It is a city with still a good area for crops and farms. Living here is like living close to Mother nature.

However, the main source of pollution in the city comes from the major type of transportation utilized here, which is the "tricycle". I'm telling you, there are plenty of tricycles here. I sure do hope that the local government will be very strict in the implementation of vehicle and transportation laws, more specifically about gas emissions of vehicles.

2. Antipolo is not densely populated.

Well, unlike the uber dense residential areas in some parts of Metro Manila, Antipolo still has a great room to breathe in. Therefore, it is quieter and more peaceful to live here.

Townhomes in Antipolo City

3. The city sits close to the Urban Cities and the Metro.

More to the specifics: it's less than 2 hours travel to the airport, about 1 and a half hour travel to Ayala (Makati City) and the University Belt, 1 hour travel to Market-Market Mall (Taguig City), 1 hour travel to SM Megamall (Ortigas City), and 45 minutes travel to Eastwood City (Pasig City). These are just approximates, and may go beyond or earlier depending on the traffic.

View of Manila from an Overlooking Bar and Restaurant in Antipolo

For this reason, citizens of Antipolo have a great range of opportunities when it comes to employment, education and even places to unwind.

4. Antipolo now caters a wide growing variety of commercial establishments, and is also known for its good number of resorts and private pools.

These establishments I've mentioned are fast food chains, clothing stores, boutiques, merchandise stores, malls and et cetera et cetera. I remember when I moved here a couple of years ago, there were only Jollibee, McDonald's, Goldilocks, Padi's Point and 7-eleven. But now their variety is countless, and I can not keep track of them all. They just sprouted there like mushrooms of different colors.

Photo of Casa Ibiza by Mac Centeno

If you're not the long-travel type to buy your needs and wants, just roam around the city and you'll never fail. Actually, it has come to my attention the sudden influx of supermarkets and banks in just a short course of time.

And if you're looking for a place to relax or hang out, or even planning to hold an event like parties, wedding, birthdays, Antipolo has got a couple of places for you. There's a nice number of private pools, resorts, exclusive resorts, bars, restaurants, sight-seeing spots, and sports clubs complete with catering services. I'll write down a blog about these places, with pictures, very soon.

Most importantly, Antipolo is not Antipolo without the Antipolo Cathedral.

Inside Antipolo Cathedral

"The church is also known as the National Shrine of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage as it houses a brown image of Nuestra Señora de la Paz y Buenviaje, which was seen by Spanish Governor Don Juan Niño de Tabora in his conquests sometime in 1626. The governor named it so as his thanksgiving for the safe voyages that he has been to."

- wowrizal.com

5. Most importantly, Antipoleños are heartwarming, welcoming people who lives to show what Filipino hospitality really means.

A Common Scene at Antipolo's Pasalubong Center

Just as the city's song goes,
"Tayo na sa Antipolo at doon maligo tayo sa batis na kung tawagin ay Hinulugang Taktak..." (Let's go to Antipolo, and there let us bathe in the stream called Hinulugang Taktak)

That song is actually very old, and could be older than my parents. Then this just means that Antipolo is already a tourist spot long before we moved here. And the folks here are used to welcoming travelers from all around the country and even from all around the world.

6. And oh, the women of Antipolo!

There's not much to say about it, since an Antipoleña (female Antipolo citizen) is always a Filipina (female Filipino). But what's in a Filipina?  Well, I do know that a Filipina preserves her modesty and integrity at all costs. And if in a relationship, their sweet and caring nature never fails to capture the hearts of their partners.

Klaudine Palma - Miss Antipolo Philippines-Earth 2011

To better describe, I once asked an OFW (Overseas Filipino Worker),

"You're working in a foreign country with lots of beautiful women: blondes, tall, blue-eyed, et cetera. Still, you want to settle with a Filipina, why?" 

"It's very simple, young man. A Filipina won't ever leave me for another man. For that is how they love. It is love in the purest form. You will always be their only one."

In my next blog, I will write down all the nice places you can visit, including hotels and places to stay, just in case you plan for a vacation. After that, I'll list down a couple of residential areas (mostly townhomes or subdivisions), which might be of interest to you.
Who knows, your heart might want to stay here.
All photos posted here come from different URLs.