I first heard about Cloud 9 from my college blockmate who used to live in Rizal. Cloud 9 is one of the best-recommended places to visit in Antipolo, Philippines if you want a stunning overlooking view of the metro’s city lights. During my college years, I had it on my list of must-visit spots.
While college life was fun and lighthearted, students were often buried in papers and deadlines — and I was no exception. My goal of visiting Cloud 9 was forgotten, and five years passed before my wish unexpectedly came true.
Last year, my UP friends (with me as the only Thomasian in the group) and I had an unplanned trip to Tagaytay, which turned out fantastic. We had a great time talking about life while admiring the picturesque view of Taal and munching on pizza.
This year, on April 18, they planned to visit Antipolo Church, and I suggested maximizing our day by also visiting Cloud 9! When we visited the church, a wedding was taking place, so we quietly prayed on our own, lit candles, and went to the second floor to see the image of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage.
After that, we finally headed to Cloud 9! The road going up was quite steep, but the adventure was worth it.
Cloud 9 Restaurant
It was 5 PM when we arrived, and we were absolutely famished! There were no other restaurants around except for the Cloud 9 Restaurant. The spacious restaurant isn’t air-conditioned, but that’s perfectly fine — after all, we were on top of the world, and the cool breeze made air conditioning unnecessary.
Cloud 9 Restaurant Overlooking View
We were taking pictures of the view right after the waiter took our order. If my memory serves me right, these were the conversations we had when we saw the stunning cityscape. We tried hard to capture the moment through our photos, but in reality, it was the moment that captured us because…
“Shet ang ganda! Kaso di ko makuha yung gusto kong makuha(litrato)”
“Kasi di lahat ng nakikita mo makukuha mo.”
“May mga bagay talaga na mga mata mo lang ang makakakita.”
“Kaya enjoyin mo na lang kung ano yung meron ngayooooooon.”
“Real na real! Dan-dan-dan, dalandan”
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Cloud 9 Restaurant Food
Our Filipino dishes arrived — four servings of rice, Kare-Kare, and Liempo were served at our table, and I couldn’t complain about the food because it was delightful. I believe they also serve beers. As the night crept in, more and more people started coming in, transforming the once quiet afternoon into a lively evening. By the way, our total bill for the food was P700+.
Cloud 9 Displays
The parking area and the restaurant have no barrier, so you can literally see the people coming in. There were some antique displays that made me feel like the place was an extension of Cubao X.
Cloud 9 Hanging Bridge
After that, we decided to climb to the 360 View using the hanging bridge! The watcher asked if we were guests, and we said yes. After presenting the receipt from Cloud 9 Restaurant, we conquered our fear by crossing the swaying bridge.
It was both terrifying and exciting because it was already dark, and the breeze had gotten stronger and cooler as we continued climbing to the top. There were plenty of shouts and screams, especially when one of us backed out. Lol. Anyway, there’s an easier way to reach the 360 View by entering the gates of 7th Heaven, which my other friend chose instead.
For those of us who took the hard way… as we reached the middle of the bridge… boom! Fireworks burst in vibrant colors on our right side, as if cheering us on for making it halfway across. (Thank you, Rea, for the effort of taking the photo. Hahaha!)
Truth is, while we were trekking the steep road earlier, we saw a romantic setup in front of Cloud 9. We figured it might be the reception area for the bride and groom who were exchanging vows earlier at Antipolo Church. Anyway, thank you for the perfect timing, newlyweds! (Big grin) Best wishes!
After that, everything went smoothly, and before we knew it, we were already on the flat surface, mesmerized by the 360 View. We found a spot to hang out for a while, and Robin played music from her iTouch.
“Sobrang relaxing. Ang sarap ng parang wala kang ibang iniisip. Dito na lang tayooooo. Ang liliit ng sasakyan, parang langgam.”
“Alam kaya ng mga mga taong yan na paulit-ulit lang yung ginagawa nila?”
“Oo nga eh. Kakasawa kaya. Wala ka namang ibang choice.”
“Who are we? Just a speck of dust within the galaxy?” – Adam Levine
“Huy anong iniisip mo, parang ang lungkot mo. Share naman!”
“Finally, Ariel happen to me.”
Cloud 9 Sports and Leisure Club address: Bgy. Sta. Cruz, Sumulong Hwy, Antipolo, 1870
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