Antipolo City

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City of Antipolo Lungsod ng Antipolo
Seal
Nickname(s): The Pilgrimage City
Motto: Tayo na sa Antipolo! (literally, Let's go to Antipolo)
Map of Rizal it uses bands showing the location of Antipolo City
City of Antipolo Location in the Philippines
Coordinates: 14°35′N 121°10′E / 14.583°N 121.167°E / 14.583; 121.167
Country	Philippines
Region	CALABARZON (Region IV-A)
Province	Rizal
Districts	1st and 2nd districts of Antipolo City
Barangays	16
Founded (settlement)	1591
Established (town)	1650
Cityhood	April 4, 1998
Government
- Mayor	Danilo O. Leyble (KAMPI/NPC)
- Vice Mayor	Lorenzo M. Zapanta (KAMPI/NPC)
- Sangguniang Panlungsod	Councilors 1st District Marino B. Bacani Mario G. Garcia Juanito G. Lawis Alexander S. Marquez Troadio L. Reyes Eufracio M. Tapales Bernard Leo U. Zapanta 2nd District Nixon R. Aranas Corazon C. Braga Esting M. Gatlabayan Jesus Y. Huertas Ronaldo L. Leyva German C. Mata Edward R. O'Hara Lorenzo Juan Y. Sumulong III ABC President Catalino M. Leyva SK Federation President John Robin G. Say
Area
- City	306.10 km2 (118.19 sq mi)
Elevation	156 m (512 ft)
Population (2007)
- City	633,971
- Density	2,071.12/km2 (5,364.2/sq mi)
- Metro	Manila
Time zone	PST (UTC+8)
ZIP code	1870
Area code(s)	2
Website	www.antipolo.gov.ph/

Antipolo is a city in the Philippines located in the province of Rizal; it is about 25 kilometers east of Manila. It is the seventh most populous city in the country with a population of 633,971 in 2007.

It was converted from a municipality into a component city of Rizal Province on April 4, 1998 under Republic Act No. 8508. A new provincial capitol was inaugurated in the city in March 2009 to replace the old capitol in Pasig City which has long been outside the jurisdiction of Rizal Province; after Pasig was included in Metro Manila in 1975. With the transfer of the provincial government to Antipolo, it is highly favored to be officially designated as the new capital of the province.^[1]

The city is popular for being a pilgrimage site. It prides itself as the "Pilgrimage Capital of the Philippines."^[2] The Marian image of the Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage or the Virgin of Antipolo, which was brought in from Mexico in 1626, and enshrined in the Antipolo Cathedral has a continuous following among Filipinos Catholics since the Spanish era.^[3] A popular custom of pilgrims to the Virgin of Antipolo is the trek going to its shrine on the eves of Good Friday and May 1 from various locations in Rizal Province and Metro Manila. Some pilgrims would begin the trek from Quiapo Church in Downtown Manila following the procession of the image.^[4] There is also an existing custom to have new cars blessed at the church in the belief that this will ensure the safety of the car and its passengers.^[5]

Its higher elevation than that of Metro Manila affords it a scenic view of the metropolis, especially at night. Its locally grown mangoes and cashews are popular among tourists, as well as suman – a local delicacy made out of sticky rice. The Hinulugang Taktak National Park, which was once a popular summer get-away is being restored to become again one of the city's primary attractions.^[6]

Geography

Antipolo is in the northern half of Rizal Province, close to its meridional center. It stretches the entire width of the province.

It is found on the slopes of the Sierra Madre Mountain Range. Much of the city sits on a plateau averaging 150 meters. It has the second largest area in the province with an area of 306.10 km². The northern and southern sections of the city are in the dense forest areas of the Sierra Madre.

Antipolo is landlocked; bounded to the north by San Mateo and Rodriguez; to the northeast by Gen. Nakar in neighboring Quezon Province; to the southeast by Tanay; to the south by Angono, Taytay and Teresa; and to the west by Cainta and Marikina City in Metro Manila.

Demography

Antipolo's population in 2007 was enumerated at 633,971. It grew at an annual rate of 4.19 percent from the 2000 figure. Annual population growth rate has slowed but relatively remains above the annual the national average of rate of 2.04 percent.^[7] The 2007 figure is three times the population of the city in 1990.

Residents of the city are mostly Tagalogs. Indigenous Dumagat communities are found in Barangay Calawis.^[8][9]

History

The city was named after the Tipolo (breadfruit) tree (Artocarpus incisa) which was in abundance in the area. Antipolo was also derived from the Greek words "antirl" meaning "a source of many products".

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.

Antipolo "Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage" image

In 1639, the Chinese revolt reached Antipolo and burned the church to the ground; however, the image was unharmed^{[citation needed]}. 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. A replica of the image of the Birhen ng Antipolo is now enshrined in the U.S. for all the immigrant Filipinos. The Oratory of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage, is located at the northeast corner of the Crypt Church of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. A gift of the Filipino Catholic Community in the United States and around the world, this oratory honors a Marian devotion dating from the 1600s.

The village of Antipolo was made into a town in 1650 as part of the Province of Tondo. When 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.

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.

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.

The railway no longer exist. A paved road now lies over what used to be the railway which is called daang-bakal (railway). What used to be a station masters office is now inhabited by squatters. Not sure what the city government is planning to do with what is supposed to be a national heritage building/site.

World War II and Japanese occupation

During the World War II two guerrilla units continued the struggle during the Japanese occupation. They were the Hunters ROTC under Miguel Ver and Terry Adevoso and the Marking Filipino & American Troops 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; Ambrosio Masangkay, Alfonso Oliveros and Atty. Francisco C. Gedang Sr.

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. To protect the image from being destroyed, Procopio Angeles, then the sacristan mayor, and members of the community 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, Filipino soldiers and local guerrillas 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.

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. Specifically on November 26, 1949 the establishment of the Locale of 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.

Cityhood

The 1995 Census registered Antipolo's population at 345,000. On February 13, 1998 then Pres. Fidel V. Ramos signed Republic Act No. 8508 making the Municipality of Antipolo into a component city of Rizal Province and on April 4, 1998 it was ratified it in a plebiscite.

Government

Similar to other cities in the Philippines, the government structure of Antipolo is prescribed in the Local Government Code of 1991 and further codified in its city charter. It is headed by a city mayor who serves as its chief executive and exercises overall supervision of its administrative agencies.

Its second highest official — the city vice mayor, primarily serves as presiding officer of the Sangguniang Panlungsod and assumes the position of city mayor in the event of its vacancy. As presiding officer of the Sangguniang Panlungsod, the vice mayor does not vote except in cases to break-a-tie.

Sangguniang Panlungsod

The city's Sangguniang Panlungsod or city council is composed of 16 elected members, two ex-officio officers and an option to have at most three sectoral representatives. The 16 barangays Antipolo is divided into are grouped into two districts. Each of this district elects at-large eight city councilors, while the two ex-officio officers are the city's Liga ng mga Barangay president and Sangguniang Kabataan Federation president.

Apart from legislating city ordinances it also reviews the ordinances enacted by its barangays and makes recommendations for its modification if they are found to be inconsistent with the law and city ordinances.

Elective city officials serve a term of three years and may serve up to three consecutive terms.

Political divisions

Antipolo is politically divided into 16 barangays. Barangays Dela Paz, San Isidro, San Jose and San Roque or parts of it is within the core of the city proper or the poblacion.

Representation

Antipolo's barangays are grouped into two districts, with each district electing a representative each to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan and the House of Representatives.^[10]

Economy

As of the latest local government income classification of the Department of Finance in 2005, Antipolo is classified as a "First Class City".^[11] In 2007, the city registered a total revenue of ₱993.1 million, an increase of 5.6 percent from the previous fiscal year. Its proximity to Metro Manila has continuously spurred the growth of the real estate industry and by 2007, revenue from real property taxes has ballooned by 32.1 percent from 2006 to ₱146.2 million as there are also about 456 residential subdivisions in the city.^[12]

Amenities

Indoor arenas

• Ynares Center

Education

The Department of Education maintains a school division in Antipolo, which supervises the 56 public schools (40 elementary schools, 16 high schools) in addition to 138 accredited private schools.

There are two universities operating satellite campuses in the city, the state-run University of Rizal System and the Our Lady of Fatima University.

Universities and colleges

• DATAMEX Institute of Computer Technology-College of St. Adeline
• The Center for Biblical Studies
• AMA Computer College East Rizal Campus
• World Citi Colleges
• Sumulong College of Arts and Science (SCAS)
• ICCT Colleges
• La Salle College Antipolo
• Unciano Colleges

See also

• Legislative districts of Antipolo City
• Roman Catholic Diocese of Antipolo

	San Mateo, Rizal	San Mateo, Rizal Rodriguez, Rizal	Rodriguez, Rizal Gen. Nakar, Quezon
	Marikina City Cainta, Rizal		Tanay, Rizal
		Antipolo City
	Cainta, Rizal Taytay, Rizal Angono, Rizal	Angono, Rizal Tanay, Rizal Teresa, Rizal	Tanay, Rizal

References

External links

• Antipolo City Official Site
• Antipolo City UnOfficial Site
• Antipolo Philippines
• Antipolo City - Brgy Dalig Official Site
• Philippine Standard Geographic Code
• 1995 Philippine Census Information
• 2000 Philippine Census Information
• 2007 Philippine Census Information
• 2007 Philippine Census Information