Antipolo

Antipolo, officially City of Antipolo (Tagalog: Lungsod ng Antipolo) and simply referred to as Antipolo City is a city in theprovince of Rizal, Philippines located about 25 kilometres (16 mi) east of Manila. It is the most-populous city in the CALABARZONregion and the seventh most-populous city in the country with a population of 776,386 in 2015.^[4]

Antipolo 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 building was inaugurated in the city in March 2009 to replace the old capitol in Pasig 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.^[5] On March 14, 2011, Antipolo was declared a "highly-urbanized city" by President Benigno Aquino; such proclamation however still needs to be ratified in a plebiscite.^[6]

The city is popular for being a pilgrimage site. It prides itself as the "Pilgrimage Capital of the Philippines."^[7] 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 Filipino Catholics since the Spanish colonial era.^[8] 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. The most notable of these pilgrims would begin the trek from the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene (Quiapo Church), in Quiapo, Manila following the procession of the image.^[9] 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.^[10]

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