Back in the old days "Hinulugang Taktak" was considered as a popular tourist destination in Antipolo City known for it's famous waterfalls with pristine and clear waters, and is one of the most iconic landscapes in the Province of Rizal. In fact, a folk song was composed in 1929 by Gerry Brandy which says:
“Tayo na sa Antipolo/ at doon maligo tayo/ sa batis na kung tawagin/ ay Hinulugang Taktak/ at doon tayo kumain/ ng mangga, suman, kasoy at balimbing.”
According to a local legend, townsfolk forced a local priest in the 16th century to drop a bell in the river due to its harsh and unbearably loud sound when rung during Angelus; thus the name “Hinulugan Taktak” originated from which literally means as “where the bell was dropped.”
Today, it was just a shadow of it's former glory, gone are the days where one can swim and bathe in it's waters. The waters cascading from Hinulugang Taktak directly came from Antipolo itself, thus one can only assume what city river is like- polluted and the water has a pungent smell.
But then again, a joint effort was made by the city government and DENR to rehabilitate the park and it reopened again on February 2015 with the facilities repainted and fixed. The park management is doing an extra effort to bring it back to what it was before; now it has a noticeable improvement compared to it's state a decade ago. The park is clean with no litter in sight, there is also a swimming pool where one can take a swim and dip for a very reasonable price. Though the smell near the falls somehow resembles Pasig River (blame it in the irresponsible people who does not properly dispose their trash).
How to Get There:
1. From Cubao/Shaw Boulevard you can ride jeepneys bound for Antipolo.
2. Alight in Antipolo City then you can ride a trike and tell the driver that you are going to Hinulugang Taktak
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