VISION-MISSION

 

We envision Antipolo City to be the Pilgrimage Capital City of the Philippines through the preservation, enhancement and promotion of her culture, arts and environment as well as through educating her people for a sustainable tourism-friendly ecosystem.

 

Antipolo City Culture, Arts and Tourism Promotions Office (AnCCATPO)

 

The Antipolo City Culture, Arts and Tourism Promotions Office or AnCCATPO was created by virtue of City Ordinance 2007-271 as amended from City Ordinance 2005-215 and was implemented in the year 2009.

From a special program under the Office of Executive Assistants which dealt only with events management, AnCCATPO is now expanding its concerns not only for tourism but also for the promotions of culture and arts of Antipolo.

 

Three objectives have already been identified and these are the 3 E’s:

● educate her people on her history and culture
● enhance her culture, arts and environment
● entertain her people thru events and affairs related to her history and culture

We have already identified the divisions needed for the improvement of our services specified as follows:

● Records, Archives, Research and Data Gathering
● Development Programs, Planning and Infrastructure Development
● Cultural Enhancement, Events Management and Promotion

 

We are continuously coordinating with the church regarding religious events which will help in the promotion of our city, like the “Paggunita ng Paglikas ng mga Taga Antipolo Kasama ang Mahal na Birhen Patungong Sitio Colaique, yearly Alay Lakad, Semana Santa, Maytime Pilgrimage Season and the likes.
.
In making our city tourist-friendly, we started organizing our frontliners including constant communication with the TOPCOP or Tourism-Oriented Police, Community-Oriented Police and have been regularly coordinating with the Pasalubong Vendors Association to continuously educate them on the city’s history, values formation and others.
. 
The organization of an association for tourism-related establishments is also in process to inform our private sector on tourism programs and projects and help them also in promoting their own establishments through accreditations.

 

The Investment Briefing and Strategic Planning that were held last year also helped us to determine other areas of concern regarding tourism. We learned the importance of creating a strategic framework for the identified areas of Tourism namely the Religious, Agri-Business, Health and Wellness and Information Communication Technology (ICT) which will also gear the city to a haven of investment opportunities. 

 

In relation to this, we are continuously attending seminars for our continuing professional education.  Such seminars that we had attended for the last two years were about the Tourism Act of 2009 and the Heritage Conservation and Domestic Tourism which is important for the preservation of the city’s culture and heritage.

 

We also started talking with the different Barangays on the establishment of barangay tourism offices and for the improvement of data gathering for the creation of a database for tourists arrivals..

 

We have also identified various tourist destinations both public and private. The preparation of the directory of tourism-related establishments is still on-going for uploading in the city’s website.  This year, we will continue our data gathering, archives collection and research especially on history and authentic culture.  Introduction of tourism infrastructures can also be done this year such as a museum and parks.

The identification of the Annual Calendar of Events for Antipolo City has already been plotted as follows:

 

 

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

 

19 FEBRUARY 

 

    PAGLISAN NG MGA ANTIPOLEÑO KASAMA
ANG MAHAL NA BIRHEN PATUNGONG SITIO COLAIQUE

 

On the 19th day of February 1945, the people of Antipolo decided to abandon their homes to escape from the wrath brought about by the Japanese occupation during the outbreak of World War II. They brought with them the image of the Virgin of Antipolo through the initiative of the sacristan mayor, Procopio Angeles, which miraculously hid them from the aerial view of the Tora-Tora planes while the people were on their way to their temporary sanctuary, the Sitio Colaique.

 

12 MARCH   

 

                          LIBERATION DAY OF ANTIPOLO                                                           

Almost a month after the devastation of Antipolo caused by the Japanese forces on March 12, 1945, the people returned back to the town proper of Antipolo because the Americans successfully secured the place which liberated the people from the Japanese army.

04 APRIL  

 

                              ANTIPOLO CITYHOOD:  THE ANNUAL GOLDEN TIPOLO AWARDS
                                                        
The creation of Republic Act 8508 on April 4, 1998 paved the way to the cityhood of Antipolo which is now a progressive component city of the Province of Rizal.

 

As a thanksgiving and to make the celebration more meaningful, the city government through the initiative of AnCCATPO decided to hold a yearly “Gabi ng Parangal” which gives recognition to outstanding and/or deserving citizens of the city.

 

HOLY WEEK   

 

                      ANNUAL ALAY LAKAD and PENITENTIAL WALK                           

                  
The Philippines being a predominantly Catholic nation, Filipinos observe the Holy Week with fervour and devotion. The Filipino culture of having closely knitted ties is also very evident during this Lenten Season.

 

Unfortunately uncaptured by tri-media, throngs of people, estimated at more than 2 million annually and majority of whom are youths, trek to the city on the eve of Maundy Thursday for penitence as well as for paying homage to Nuestra Señora dela Paz y Buen Viaje. All roads going East of Metro Manila are leading to Antipolo City because the city is located atop the metropolis. This is attributed to the fact that when people want answered prayers, they seek higher places.

 

One of the most important facts about this gathering aside from having an attendance of more than 2 million is that it is not planned and is unannounced. It is simply the initiative of every individual or every small group in a community to do their penitence.

 

Hopefully, this annual penitential walk will be captured by media and inspire more people in the observance of the Season of Lent.

 

EASTER SUNDAY

 

                            KAPITANES AND KAPITANAS: THE ANNUAL EASTER BALL

 

Celebration of Easter Sunday in Antipolo City is one of the notable events of its kind in the country dating back early 1900’s. It is a gathering of young lasses and gentlemen of the city for thanksgiving wherein 2 ladies and 2 gentlemen are chosen a year before their reign to represent the youths of the city in the different religious activities of the parish during the Lenten Season. Each person symbolizes an emblem of the Catholic Faith.

 

The Kapitanes and Kapitanas join the Blessing of Fire and Water on the night before Easter and an important entourage in the “Salubong” early Sunday morning, dressed in full regalia and witnesses to the meeting of the Virgin Mary and her son Jesus in a procession.

 

An Easter Ball is hosted by these Kapitanes and Kapitanas in the evening at the park where they are presented to the public and social dances are showcased.    

30 APRIL     

 

                           ANNUAL WALK FOR PEACE

 

This religious practice is done yearly every 30th day of April as a prelude to the Pilgrimage Season.
The event commences with a motorcade of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage, the Virgin of Antipolo, in the morning of April 30 from her shrine to the Minor Basilica of Quiapo. In the evening, this walk for peace together with the blessed image starts after a farewell Mass at the Basilica and goes back to Antipolo. The procession arrives at the Antipolo Cathedral early morning of May 1, Labor Day, an official holiday.

 

1st Week of May 

 

                   ANG TIPULO FESTIVAL

 

The City of Antipolo found her name from a tree called “Tipulo” where folklore tells that whenever the image of the Blessed Virgin disappears in the altars of the parishes she was enthroned before, she was always found on top of the Tipulo tree that made her enshrined permanently in Antipolo.

 

From this tree came the official name of the festival celebrated during the opening of Maytime Festivities of the City of Antipolo within the 1st week of May.

 

The event, previously called “The SUMAKAH Festival” for Suman, Mangga, Kasoy and Hamakah, is a celebration of the history of the city mostly attributed to Nuestra Señora dela Paz y Buen Viaje , the rich culture, tradition and values of its people and the native delicacies the city is known for. The official song, the infamous “Tayo Na Sa Antipolo”, must always be included in the music used for the Street Dancing Competition of the 16 Barangays of Antipolo City.

 

Every weekend thereafter within the month of May, street dances are showcased at the Dimasalang Park.

May to July     

 

 

                       PILGRIMAGE SEASON

The Pilgrimage Season of Antipolo in honor of Nuestra Señora dela Paz y Buen Viaje is the longest in the country which runs for 63 days consisting of 7 Novenas.Opening of the Pilgrimage Season:
Procession to and Thanksgiving Mass at Pinagmisahan Hill

 

This event is observed every 1st Tuesday of May to start the opening of the Pilgrimage Season. A procession of the blessed image is held going to Pinagmisahan Hill and a Thanksgiving Mass is celebrated atop to commemorate the olden time when an epidemic hit Antipolo and was stopped only when the blessed image was placed on one of the highest spots overlooking the then town of Antipolo.  
Another procession is held in the afternoon of the same day to start the 7 Novenas.

 

7 Processions at the End of Each of the 7 Novenas.

 

After the opening on the 1st Tuesday of May, 7 Novenas are observed and a procession within the city proper is done at the end of each Novena after the 5 PM Mass.

 

It is worthy to note that all days of the week do have the procession such that it starts on Tuesday, then Thursday, Saturday, Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday and finally Tuesday again.

 

The SANTACRUZAN

 

This signifies the founding of Santa Elena of the Holy Cross done in a procession of the different characters paraded in colourful and creative “arko” with the mother of Santa Elena at the end. In the city, it is done usually on the 2nd weekend of May after the festival but still part of the Maytime Tipulo Festivities.

 

Flores De Mayo

 

May is the flower month which is very timely for floral offerings to the Blessed Virgin by the little girls. This event is spearheaded by the Parish of the Immaculate Conception and is done within the first 2 weeks of May.   

 

Closing of the Pilgrimage Season

A High Mass is concelebrated at 5 o’clock in the afternoon, usually on the 1st Tuesday of July after 63 days from the 1st Tuesday of May, to officially close the Pilgrimage Season. A grand procession is held after the High Mass and a grand fireworks display is showcased after the said procession, traditionally done to honor the Blessed Virgin of Antipolo.

 

07 DECEMBER   

 

                  BISPERAS NG FIESTA

                   Grand Parade

 

A grand parade is held within the city proper a day before the City Fiesta celebrating the Feast Day of the Immaculate Conception, the patroness of the parish. This is spearheaded by the city government participated in by the incumbent officials, government employees, DepEd officials, the 16 Barangays with their officials and contingents, marching bands, drum and lyre corps, NGOs and some private sectors.

 

Marching Band Extravaganza

 

This is a showcase of marching band exhibitions at the park coming from the 5 Barangays within the city proper in full regalia and with alluring majorettes competing among themselves. This is done after the grand parade.

 

Drum & Lyre Exhibition

 

The drum and lyre corps mostly coming from different schools in the city also performs at the park in the afternoon to a huge crowd.

 

   Serenata @ the Park

 

The marching bands that performed in the morning come back in the evening at the park to serenade the people with their classical, OPMs and modern music until a little past midnight to a crowd of elderly people but beginning to attract the younger generations.

 

08 DECEMBER

                     FEAST OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION

 

Hourly Masses are celebrated at the cathedral and a procession of the image of the Immaculate Conception is done in the evening within the city proper. Grand fireworks are displayed after the procession.

 

16-24 DECEMBER   

 

             MISA DE GALLO

Traditionally before the rooster crows, Novena Masses are celebrated every early morning at 4AM at the cathedral for 9 days before Christmas. Native delicacies of the cold season are served after the Mass within the vicinity of the church such as “puto bumbong”, “bibingka sa uling”, “arroz caldo”, “sotanghon” and “tsokolate”.

 

The city is a feast for the eyes at night with all the Christmas lanterns and decors all around the city.

 

24 DECEMBER

 

                    MISA DE AGUINALDO

A Christmas tradition inherited from the Spaniards during their colonization and Christianization of our country, Filipino Christmas celebration will not be complete without the Misa de Aguinaldo which is officiated at least an hour before Christmas eve in time for the Noche Buena where children traditionally open their gifts.

 

In the Antipolo Cathedral, thousands flock to attend the said Mass which starts 2 hours before midnight of December 24. Churchgoers not only come from the local parish but also from different parishes outside of the city because of the environ, ambiance and the climate that make the people feel the cold breeze, the warm spirit and the true essence the Christmas brings. 

 

25 DECEMBER  

 

                   CHRISTMAS DAY

Antipolo City is very fortunate because of the triple role the church represents:  the National Shrine of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage, the cathedral as the seat of the diocese and the Parish of the Immaculate Conception. This makes the church a priority place of worship for Catholics in and outside the diocese. This is the reason why even during Christmas Day, the church and the church patio are full of churchgoers in her hourly Masses.

 

27 DECEMBER 

 

                   SUMULONG DAY

One of the icons of Antipolo is the late Don Juan Marquez Sumulong because he was the first Antipoleño who became a Senator.

 

Every December 27, his birth anniversary, a special commemoration is observed in his honor participated in by government officials and the City Division of the Department of Education.

 

30 DECEMBER   

 

                  RIZAL DAY

In commemoration of the death anniversary of our national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, the City Government of Antipolo holds simple yet meaningful program every December 30 at the Dimasalang Park where his monument is enshrined.

 

 

 

Engr. NORBERTO L. MENDOZA

 

OFFICE OF THE CITY TOURISM Tel: 661-1880 ,4th Floor, Antipolo City Government Building M.L. Quezon Corner Carigma Street, Antipolo City, 1870