Rizal is located in the eastern portion of Metro Manila. It is bounded on the north by Bulacan, on the southwest by Cavite, on the east by Quezon Province and on the south by Laguna de Bay.
The province was named after the country’s national hero, Jose Rizal. It originally consisted of 26 municipalities – 14 from old Manila and 12 from Morong. In 1975, the newly created Metro Manila incorporated the 12 towns of Las Piñas, Parañaque, Muntinlupa, Taguig, Pateros, Makati, Mandaluyong, San Juan, Malabon, Navotas, Pasig and Marikina. The remaining 14 towns were left to Rizal.
Rizal Province has large tracts of unspoiled forests and offers breathtaking views of Metro Manila and Laguna de Bay from the foothills of the Sierra Madre mountain ranges. In the early 90’s, the province became the focus of international attention, with the discovery of the Petroglyph artifacts in the mountainsides of Angono and Binangonan The Petroglyphs are a unique form of rock-art which are believed to be carved by hand and mortar during the Stone Age.
Antipolo City, the province’s capital and largest town, is also its religious and tourism center. Thousands of devotees flock in a month-long pilgrimage to the image of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage enshrined in the Antipolo Cathedral. The neighboring towns of Antipolo also have impressive churches like the St. Jerome Church in Morong, Boso-Boso Ruin Church and the Baras and Tanay Churches.
Rizal is also the hometown of many famous artists whose works are exhibited in numerous galleries in Angono and Binangonan such as the Rafael Pacheco Finger Painting Gallery, Nemiranda Arthouse and Artelier Gallerie, Vicente Manansala Historical Landmark, Tiamson and Blanco Art Galleries and the Angono Artist Village.
Like other provinces, Rizal has its own share of religious festivities. In Angono, the Carabao Festival is held in celebration of the Feast of San Isidro Labrador, the patron saint of farmers. The townspeople pay a special tribute to the farmers’ best friend, the carabaos. This festivity features a procession of carabao-pulled carts decorated with flowers, a carabao race across rice fields, and a priest blessing the kneeling beasts.
You can get to Rizal by jeep or by bus. Jeepneys bound for the different towns in Rizal are available near Farmers Market in Cubao, Quezon City and EDSA Crossing in Mandaluyong. Regular buses to Antipolo are available in Divisoria while Angono-bound buses are available at the EDSA Shaw Bouleward Terminal in Mandaluyong.
FACTS
Region: 4
Capital: Antipolo
City: Antipolo
Land Area: 1,860 sq. kms
Number of Towns: 14
1. Baras
2. Montalban
3. San Mateo
4. Cainta
5. Taytay
6. Angono
7. Antipolo
8. Binangonan
9. Teresa
10. Morong
11. Cardona
12. Tanay
13. Pililla
14. Jala-Jala
CHURCHES AND RELIGIOUS SHRINEs
Baras Church, Baras – Has an altar and lecterns that are stone artifacts unearthed from beneath the church.
Boso-Boso Ruin Church, Antipolo – A remnant of a centuries-old church that was destroyed during World War II.
St. Jerome Church, Morong – Built in 1615 by Chinese craftsmen as evidenced by the Chinese lion sculptures in the entrance. Made of stone and mortar with a three-story facade and an octagonal bell tower.
Tanay Church, Tanay – Has five altars with rococo designs and Stations of the Cross made of wooden sculptures.
Our Lady of Antipolo Shrine, Antipolo – This miraculous icon is said to have saved several Spanish galleons from British, Dutch and pirate attacks.
MAJOR ATTRACTIONS
Calinawan Cave, Tanay – Served as a shelter and a hideaway from the Japanese during World War II.
Daranak/Batlag Falls, Tanay – Daranak Falls is 14-meters in height and stands majestically beneath a running stream. The smaller cascades are called the Batlag Falls.
Hinulugang Taktak, Antipolo – It used to be a popular mountain resort with the waterfalls as main attraction.
Petroglyph Artifacts, Angono and Binangonan – A recent archeological breakthrough of the ‘90’s found in the mountainside of Angono and Binangonan. The Petroglyphs were validated by the National Museum, the UNESCO and KOMOS as one of the oldest in the Asia-Pacific Region. The Department of Tourism in coordination with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, is now engaged in the development of the site, the protection of the walls from damage caused by man and the elements, and the construction of viewing and rest areas.
Ugong Falls, Morong – A peaceful scenery that offers spectacular views of the Falls, the Laguna Lake and the town of Morong.
Wawa Dam, Montalban – Located at the foot of Sierra Madre Mountains and surrounded by limestone hills. It supplies water to Novaliches passing through large pipes.
