Antipolo Diaries: The Good, the Bad, and the Traffic Jams
so i moved to antipolo last year thinking it'd be all breezy hillside vibes and quiet mornings. spoiler: it’s not. it’s chaos. beautiful chaos, but chaos. i’m writing this as a freelance photographer, so my pros and cons are gonna be a bit skewed toward light, scenery, and how easy it is to get a decent shot without getting run over by a jeepney.
let’s start with the pros. first off, the view. you get these insane skyline shots of metro manila from pinto art museum or even your balcony if you’re lucky. golden hour here? chef’s kiss. second, rent is cheaper than manila. i pay like 12k a month for a decent one-bedroom with a view. in QC that’d be a shoebox with a window facing a wall. third, the food scene is popping. silo at kalye hart, egg wallet, cafe agnes marie-all worth the drive. and fourth, the people. antipoleños are warm, chatty, and weirdly into karaoke at 2pm on a tuesday.
now the cons. traffic is a nightmare. like, i’ve seen snails overtake cars on marcos highway during rush hour. public transport? don’t even. tricycles will quote you triple the fare if you look like a tourist (and i still get hit with it and i’ve been here a year). internet can be spotty depending on your area-i’ve had to hotspot from my phone more times than i care to admit. and finally, the hills. great for cardio, terrible for bike commuting. my legs still haven’t forgiven me.
here’s a quick data table i threw together based on numbeo and my own broke freelancer budget:
| Cost of Living (Monthly) | Amount (PHP) |
|---|---|
| Rent (1BR) | 12,000 |
| Utilities | 2,500 |
| Internet | 1,500 |
| Food (groceries) | 6,000 |
| Transport (Tricycle/Jeep) | 2,000 |
| Leisure (Coffee, etc.) | 3,000 |
| *Total | 27,000* |
weather-wise, it’s cooler than manila, which is a blessing until the rainy season hits and your street turns into a water park without the fun slides. nearby cities like cainta and taytay are just a short drive away if you need a break from the hills. also, pasig is like 30 mins if there’s no traffic, which is... rare.
overheard gossip from a barista at silo: “yeah, antipolo’s chill until you need to go to the airport. then you’re basically playing a game of will-i-make-it-or-will-i-miss-my-flight.” another local warned me about the zigzag road at night: “that thing eats headlights for breakfast.”
if you’re into hiking, check out mount purro nature reserve. it’s a solid day trip and your instagram will thank you. for food recs, yelp has a decent list of antipolo cafes and restaurants. and if you want the unfiltered local take, the r/antipolo subreddit is where it’s at.
final thought? antipolo is not for the faint of heart or the impatient. but if you can handle the hills, the traffic, and the occasional brownout, it rewards you with views, vibes, and a slower pace that’s hard to find in the metro. just bring a power bank, a good playlist, and maybe a prayer for the ride home.
You might also be interested in:
- https://topiclo.com/post/pekanbaru-unfiltered-skateboarders-guide-to-rolling-the-city
- https://topiclo.com/post/wherever-this-isa-quick-dispatch
- https://topiclo.com/post/sanaa-afterschool-hustle-where-kids-actually-go-and-where-they-dont
- https://topiclo.com/post/zamboanga-a-chaotic-mess-of-a-city
- https://topiclo.com/post/kochis-hidden-threads-a-vintagepickers-dirty-beautiful-scavenger-hunt