JANUARY: ANTIPOLO CITY

Tayo na sa Antipolo (Let's go to Antipolo).....We can ride a passenger Jeep or passenger Fx from Araneta Center, Cubao, Quezon City or from EDSA Crossing beside SM Megamall going to Antipolo City. Click me for directions using Google Earth 3d maps.
This has been my home city since 2007. I live in a mountainous barangay or village of  San Luis. My village is the home of La Salle College, Antipolo and the famous Mystical Cave of Antipolo.

Part of my Village (Phase 3)

Beneath this Cross is the Mystical Cave.
This is a view from my terrace.

Click for more photos of the Mystical Cave, that shows the images of some religious figures through natural rock formations.
ANTIPOLO CITY is located in Rizal Province. This city prides itself as the "Pilgrimage Capital of the Philippines". The Image of "Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage" or the "Virgin of Antipolo" was brought in from Mexico around 1626 and enshrined in Antipolo Cathedral.

Antipolo Cathedral on a Sunday Morning

On the left side front of the Cathedral is a new shopping building; Victory Park and Shop; If you came here by car, you can park and shop here after attending the mass service. Starbucks Coffee and Mc Donald  is on the ground floor as well as Pure Gold grocery store. And a lot more shops and restaurants is in here for you to enjoy.

Victory Park and Shop

On the right side of the Cathedral is the City Plaza and City Hall of Antipolo; Across the street on the side of the City Hall is a shopping street (M.L. Quezon street) as well as fast food chain restaurants like KFC, Jollibee and  Chowking are on this street.

Antipolo City Hall

The Sumulong street, east direction, crossing M.L. Quezon street is the Antipolo Market; where you can buy fresh fruits and vegetables, poultry, fish and meat, the local delicacies of Antipolo like suman, bibingka, sapin-sapin, puto and more.....further ahead is Budget Lane Superpalengke where I usually buy my groceries.

BudgetLane

If you came with friends and wants to treat them in "Eat All You Can" restaurant, head to the Antipolo Circle. Click me for photos and direction to get here.

Antipolo is on higher grounds than that of Metro Manila, which shows a scenic view of the metropolis especially at night. Its locally grown mangoes and cashews are popular among tourist, as well as "suman" and "bibingka" - a local delicacies made out of glutinous rice. Suman and bibingka are available, freshly baked, in the market place every day. I always love to cook bibingka, although, a variety of this traditional Filipino dessert is available in the market every day. I still prefer to prepare my own, following my mother's recipe. Once a week, I go to the market and buy a grated coconut and glutinous rice to prepare this kind of snack. I like preparing this "meryenda" at home, my family loves it. Try making it and enjoy the sweet savory taste of a traditional Filipino dessert.

Main Ingredient of the month: COCONUT FRUIT

RECIPE:
GLUTINOUS RICE DESSERT (BIBINGKA)
Ingredients:
2 cups long grain glutinous rice
1/2 cup dark brown sugar
1 whole medium size mature coconut, (I buy it freshly grated in the market place)
Pinch of salt
Sprinkle of Master Foods Mixed Spice (cinnamon, all spice, and nutmeg)
1/2 cup dark brown sugar for the toppings.
PREPARATION:
Prepare the Coconut Milk: Put the freshly grated coconut meat in a big bowl, add 1 cup of water and stir it slowly. Using a cheese cloth, squeeze the coconut meat in another bowl, set aside; this is the thick coconut milk. You will need 2 cups of thin coconut milk to cook the glutinous rice. To get the thin milk, add 2 cups of water again, into the coconut meat and follow the same procedure in getting the thick coconut milk.
Rinse and drain the rice well then put it in a cast iron wok/pan or a non-stick wok/pan. Add the 2 cups of thin coconut milk, stir in the dark brown sugar and a pinch of salt. Cover over high heat. When the mixture is boiling, lower the heat stirring constantly then add the thick milk; Sprinkle Mixed Spice and continue stirring constantly until thickened. Put the cooked rice in a large plate then prepare the toppings.
Toppings: In a non stick pan, caramelized the dark brown sugar.
Spread the toppings evenly on the glutinous rice then cut into pieces. Serve warm or cold.

Bibingka

HOME REMEDY
Coconut oil: Use 1 medium size mature coconut.
To prepare your own coconut oil; using a cast-iron or non-stick pan/wok, boil the thick coconut milk over high heat for 2-3 minutes, without cover. Then lower over medium heat, stirring occasionally until a white semi-solid residue forms a tiny circles, when that residue becomes golden brown or roasted, your coconut oil is ready.

Coconut Oil 

The coconut oil can be use as hair/scalp care, skin care and stress relief, as well as for cleaning your ears.
There's a folklore that if you made your coconut oil on Good Friday, it has a better healing effect; like headache, gas pain, rushes.......use a small drop to massage your temple to heal a headache, to your tummy for gas pain and apply to the skin to cure rushes and dry skin. 

Maximize your visit in Antipolo City and visit Hinulugang Taktak Falls of Antipolo.
This is one of our old scenic spots known universally where tourist and excursionists rejoice in its natural beauty, to remind one of the Niagara Falls.
For outdoor lovers, the Hinulugang taktak National park is available for picnics. A fee of Php 8 serve as entrance fee, entitles one to enter the park, a picnic tables or shades under coconut and mango trees. My last visit here was Sept.2011. Click me on how to get there!

Come and enjoy my city, best known as the Pilgrimage City of the Philippines.

To be continued...........
Next month: Joy ride with my Yamaha Mio from Antipolo City to Tanay, Rizal....