Marikina

Located along the eastern border of Metro Manila, it is bordered on the west by Quezon City, to the south by Pasig City and Cainta, Rizal, to the north by San Mateo, Rizal and to the east by Antipolo, the capital of Rizal province. It is approximately 21 kilometers away from Manila and lies within 14°38′24″N 121°5′50″E.

From the north, Marikina occupies most of the south bank of Nangka River. The east slices at the foot of the Sierra Madre mountains of Antipolo and sliced by the streets of Montserrat Hill, Bonanza and Starlite in Barangay Concepcion Dos. The southeast slices by Sapang Baho River occupies the north-west bank. The south portion is sliced by Marcos Highway and occupies most of the north side of the highway and extends to the west until it occupies the Line 2 Santolan Station depot until it reaches the Marikina River. The east occupies the southernmost of Quezon City hills which lies in Barangay Industrial Valley and sliced by C5 Road occupies the west side until it reaches Ateneo de Manila University campus. The east part of the campus covers the city, extending to the north and sliced by several roads of Loyola Grand Villas, which covers the east part of the village until it reaches Marikina River and its tributary Nangka River to the north.

Marikina River runs to the western part of the city and surrounded by many lush trees in the Marikina River Park on the riverbanks. The south portion of the river is surrounded by structures and concrete walkways. The river covers an area of around 220 hectares and measures about 11 kilometers in length, and is the principal drainage system for Marikina. Its depth measures from 12 meters up to 18 meters during heavy downpour. Rehabilitation of the River started in 1992. The river traverses 11 city barangays which have streets and alleys going to the river, making river parks easily accessible. River parks today are popular sports and recreational centers not only in Metro Manila but throughout the Philippines.

Marikina is prone to various natural disasters, including 2009's Typhoon Ketsana, and seasonal southwest monsoon such as 2012, 2016 and 2018 floodings. Primarily, flooding within Marikina is caused by the increase of water level in major rivers and its tributaries, followed by overflowing from its riverbanks to low-lying areas throughout the city.

Another major threat is earthquakes in Marikina. West Valley Fault System, previously known as Marikina Valley Fault Line, lies at the west of Marikina. The east of the fault line, in which a large portion of Marikina is included, is constantly sinking.

In the year 2020, Marikina City had been again badly hit by Typhoon Ulysses. According to the Marikina government estimated cost of damage was about Php 30 billion.

Marikina features a tropical monsoon climate. Its proximity to the equator means that the temperature range is very small, rarely going lower than 18 °C (64 °F) or higher than 38 °C (100 °F). However, humidity levels are usually very high, which makes it feel much warmer. It has a distinct, relatively short dry season from January through May, and a relatively lengthy wet season, from June through December.

Jesus dela Peña Chapel

The first settlers were descendants of Lakan Dula in the 1560s and the area is part of Kingdom of Tondo, followed by Augustinians were the first to arrive at the valley in the 1570s , at the spot known as Chorillo in Barangka. In 1572, Our Lady of the Abandoned Parish was established. Next came the Jesuits in 1630, in a place now called Jesus dela Peña (Jesus of the Rocks). Here, the Jesuits established a mission and built a chapel still known today as Jesus dela Pena Chapel. Fray Pedro de Arce, apostolic ruler of the Archbishop of Manila at that time, approved transfer of ecclesiastical control and supervision to the Jesuits, and settled the place as a town.[13]

In 1665, an intensity 8 earthquake struck the valley and nearby Manila, and it is related to the activity now known as Marikina Valley Fault System. Only a Jesuit church experienced great damage and resulting 19 dead on the said earthquake.

Felix Berenguer de Marquina

In 1787, the town was called "Mariquina" after Felix Berenguer de Marquina, who was the governor-general at that time, and the town was declared a pueblo under the Spanish colonial government.[14]

Marikina was once the Hacienda Sauza-Berenguer de Marquina (1809-1870), the land and home was formerly owned by Don Santiago Sauza y Delos Rios (1777-1880) and his wife Dona Ysabel Berenguer de Marquina y Sumulong (1790-1900). Moreover, Doña Ysabel Berenguer de Marquina y Sumulong (19 November 1790, Cagsawa, Daraga, Albay, Philippines - 30 January 1900, Banwa, Batan, Aklan, Philippines) was the only daughter of Doña Demetria Sumulong y Lindo and of Señor Felix Berenguer de Marquina y FitzGerald, the former Governor General of the Philippines. By the 19th century, Hacienda Mariquina was eventually owned and administered by the Tuason family and had become the largest in the Philippines. The hacienda was declared a mayorazgo by the Spanish colonial government. Don Juan Gregorio became the first Alcalde Capitan of Mariquina in 1822.

During the Philippine Revolution in 1896, Andrés Bonifacio arrived in Mariquina before he and his Katipuneros proceeded to the caves of Montalban. Mariquina became the capital of the Province of Manila in 1898, when the Philippine Revolution broke out, a period when Philippine Independence was declared by Emilio Aguinaldo, the first Philippine president. Don Vicente Gomez became the first Alcalde Presidente of Mariquina in 1900.

On June 11, 1901, shortly after the United States took possession of the Philippines, its name officially became "Marikina". The province of Rizal was created by virtue of Act No. 137 by the First Philippine Commission which was acting as the unicameral legislative body in the island of Luzon. Marikina, along with many other towns around Manila, was incorporated into the new province.

In 1906, the Manila Railroad Company completed a 31-kilometer steam train line called "Marikina Line", also known as Rosario-Montalban branch, a branch of Philippine National Railway which is currently existing[15] (converted into the road which is known today as Daang Bakal, including Shoe Avenue), Marikina Railway Depot (Marikina Elementary School in the present-day) and Marikina Railway Station, connecting Montalban and Rosario (known today as Tramo, in Pasig).[16] Marikina Bridge, a vital economic link to Manila, was formally opened in 1934. During the construction of the train line, not far from Marikina Railway Depot, Marikina Airfield was completed and used for civilian airfield.[17] The runways were subsequently converted into the road known today as E. Rodriguez Avenue and E. Santos Streets, and the airfield stands today as Paliparan Subdivision. In 1936, the train line was completely abandoned, while the airfield became primarily used by the Japanese during World War II. After the war, neither was rebuilt.

In 1942, Japanese Imperial forces occupied Marikina. The town was liberated in 1945 by combined United States and Philippine Commonwealth ground troops, who attacked the Japanese Imperial Army by artillery from Quezon City. Almost all of the large buildings, including the church bell tower, were destroyed. In reality, the Japanese had already left the town and retreated to the north. The town saw over 400 civilians casualties by the end of World War II. Local Filipino troops under the pre-war 4th and 42nd Infantry Division of the Philippine Commonwealth Army entered Marikina and assisted U.S. forces in attacking Japanese troops during the liberation. The general headquarters of the Philippine Commonwealth Army was rebuilt and stationed in Marikina after the war.

In 1956, Marikina was given the title of "Shoe Capital of the Philippines", having re-emerged as a town of shoemakers after World War II. Honed by years of shoe manufacturing experience, the natives had developed a work ethic that prepared them for the arrival of heavy industries. With the industrial plants came waves of workers who chose to stay, rapidly increasing the population. In 1968, Kapitan Moy's house (now known as Sentrong Pangkultura ng Marikina) was declared a national shrine by the town council and the National Historical Commission. In 1969, Rodriguez Sports Complex, known today as Marikina Sports Center was completed.

On November 7, 1975, by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 824, four cities and thirteen towns of Rizal, including Marikina, were made part of Metropolitan Manila Area. On October 23, 1988, Typhoon Unsang brought heavy rains, causing widespread flooding in Marikina for the first time. Large parts of Marikina was submerged by floods and many residents were stranded on their house rooftops and trees, and their properties and businesses were extensively damaged.

By 1992, Marikina had become an industrialized urban municipality under the leadership of Bayani Fernando. Marikina River was transformed into a waterway, with the Marikina River Park along the riverbanks. On December 8, 1996, the municipality of Marikina became a city and transformed rapidly into a highly urbanized. Marikina became a First Class City by virtue of Republic Act No. 8223,[18] the day of the Feast of Immaculate Concepcion, signed by President Fidel V. Ramos.

In 2006, under Republic Act No. 9364 signed by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Marikina was divided into two congressional districts being served by two representatives in 2007. Barangays Fortune and Tumana were created and became independent in 2007.

On September 26–27, 2009, Marikina was widely devastated by a flash flood from the overflowing Marikina River, due to torrential rains caused by Tropical Storm "Ondoy" (Ketsana). The river reached the 23-meter mark, the worst flooding in two decades. The city was declared under state of calamity, as flood water flowed throughout the towns and barangays. National and international aides arrived immediately for relief, retrieval and recovery operations.

In 2020, Marikina and the entire metropolitan Manila was placed under community quarantine for one month starting March 15 due to the 2020 coronavirus pandemic.

Months later, on November 11–12, Markina would once more be devastated by flooding from the Marikina River because of torrential rainfull caused by Typhoon "Ulysses" (Vamco), which affected the city's western communities and those in both banks of the river in the worse flooding seen in over a decade.

Marikina was one of the seats of the Spanish colonial government in past centuries, and has been used as the base of Roman Catholic missions to the Philippines. Religious orders include the Dominicans, the Franciscans, the Jesuits and the Augustinians, which were the first to arrive in Marikina. The Our Lady of the Abandoned Church, completed in 1572, is the seat of Nuestra Señora de los Desamparados, the Patron Saint of Marikina. The majority of the population is Roman Catholic.

Other Christian faiths in Marikina including Iglesia ni Cristo, Seventh-day Adventist Church, Members Church of God International, Philippine Independent Church or popularly known as Aglipayan Church is the second largest catholic denomination in Marikina, Jesus Miracle Crusade, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, more than a dozen Baptist churches and other small Christian groups. Pentecostal Missionary Church of Christ (4th Watch) headquarters are located in the city. Other small religions in Marikina are Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam.

Marikina is the biggest manufacturer of quality shoes in the Philippines. It is also the Philippines' largest worldwide exporter of leather shoes that tagged Marikina as the Shoe Capital of the Philippines. Hundreds of footwear establishments are located throughout the city, generating thousands of jobs and city financial resources that continue to make the shoe and leather industry the top livelihood in the city. By the 2000s, the Marikina shoe industry was affected by competition from Chinese manufacturers.[22]

The financial resources of Marikina is scattered all over the city, but the southern part is primarily concentrated which includes business establishments and commercial facilities, while the northern part is factories and warehouses. Riverbanks Center is the city's commercial center situated southwest of the city where shopping malls and recreation areas are located. Real estate, commercial developments and numerous commercial establishment along Marcos Highway and Sumulong Highway are developing. Restaurants, cafés, diners and entertainment bars are concentrated in Gil Fernando Avenue, J. P. Rizal Street, Bayanbayanan Avenue and Lilac Street.

Fortune Avenue is home to some of major companies such as Fortune Tobacco, Philip Morris, Armscor and Noritake. Sumulong Highway is the center of business and trade, and it has mixed establishments such as banking, small shops, retail shops, electronics, and appliances. Almost all of major international and local commercial and government banks in the Philippines operate branches in the city.

Dubbed as Marikina Market Mall, Marikina Public Market is a centralized modern market and an attraction for shoppers with a mall-like ambiance. The market is divided into two sections: the dry goods and the wet goods. Commerce in this market is active mostly during early mornings and late afternoons. There are also food stalls and eateries located inside the market.

Some of Marikina's local products are handicrafts, sweet delicacies, leathers, clothing, food processing, bags, accessories, and footwears.

SM City Marikina is currently the largest shopping mall in the city, while Riverbanks Center, a community shopping complex situated near Marikina River is a popular outlet store in the eastern Metro Manila region. Other shopping malls located in the city are Blue Wave Marquinton Mall, Graceland Plaza, C&Ps Circle Mall and Ayala Malls Marikina. Other shopping centers located along Marikina-Infanta Highway are Sta. Lucia East Grand Mall located in Cainta, Robinsons Metro East and Ayala Malls Feliz in Pasig, and SM City Masinag in Antipolo, which each of them are more closely to Marikina than to their respective city proper.

SM City Marikina at the left and the bridges of Marcos Highway, Macapagal-C5 Road and Line 2 crossing over Marikina River at the right

Political map of Marikina

Marikina Justice Hall

Plaza delos Kapitanos, located in Barangay Barangka near barangay hall

Marikina is subdivided into 16 barangays.[23] Its barangays are grouped into two districts for city council representation purposes. The first district encompasses the southern section of the city, while the second district encompasses the northern section.

City Seal

The official seal of the City of Marikina bears the inscriptions "Lungsod ng Marikina", "Pilipinas", "1630" (the founding year of the municipality), and "1996", the year of approval of the city charter. The two mountains represent the majestic twin ranges of the Cordillera and Sierra Madre, between which the Marikina Valley is nestled, traversed by the Marikina River. The rising sun points to the eastern location of the city, with each ray representing the city's barangays. The machinery gear symbolizes its industries and the shoe last represents the traditional manufacturing in the city. The torch focuses on the lofty and noble ideals for human development and a better quality of life, and is symbolic of its Hispanic culture and tradition. The bamboo underscores a mixture of the people's natural humility and strength of character and also emphasizes the city's transition from an agricultural past to the urbanized, industrial present; the leaves and branches symbolize order and serenity. The bamboo and the wheel represent Marikina and its people's respect for and protection of the environment so as to remain in harmony with progress.[25]

Local cuisines such as Everlasting, a popular dish in Marikina similar to embutido but it is cooked in "llanera", Waknatoy, a unique dish is simply a variant of Menudo with addition of pickles which gives waknatoy a sweet-tangy flavor and Laoya, a dish similar to Nilaga with addition of pounded garlic, sweet potato and banana (Saba).

Lilac Street in SSS Village includes a strip of restaurants featuring food from different parts of the world with the likes of Singaporean, Japanese, Thai, American, and Filipino Cuisine. The local government of Marikina recently hosted a Food Festival to promote this part of town.

Marikina's festivities is rich in culture, tradition and the people itself. The traditional dance in Marikina is Lerion, the official folk dance of Marikina.[26]

Some of the local festivities in Marikina includes: Ilognayan Festival, a cultural event is about letting the people know about the Marikina River's significance which held in February along the Marikina River; Ka-Angkan Festival is a feast coincides with the founding anniversary of Marikina on April 16. It is an event that honors the large native clans of the city that have unique monikers; Marikina Christmas Festival/Shopalooza, is a long holiday festival which filled with stalls selling a wide variety of goods at affordable prices. The festival starts as early as October, and runs until February of the following year, mostly concentrated in Marikina River Park and Riverbanks Center; Rehiyon-Rehiyon Festival, a festival that showcases the various ethnic groups that make up the people of Marikina. It serves as a tribute to the active community who came from other regions of the country and chose to settle in Marikina. It proves that unity can be achieved despite diverse backgrounds and different dialects. The festival celebrates every year on December 8, where Marikina was established as a city; and lastly, the Sapatos Festival, since Marikina was tagged as the Shoe Capital, the city celebrates the Sapatos Festival every year, from mid-September until the year ends. This is a celebration of the ingenuity and craftsmanship of shoemakers in Marikina. It gives due recognition to their hardship and the local shoe industry itself.

Marikina Sports Complex

Marikina Sports Center, also known as Marikina Sports Park (formerly known as Rodriguez Sports Center), is a prominent structure located in the heart of Marikina. It features an Olympic-size swimming pool, a 15,000-seater grandstand, 400-meter oval, a sports building, an indoor gymnasium and several courts. The area has been host to several sports competitions both national and regional as well as entertainment such as grand concerts, finals night and live television shows.

The stadium is also home to the JPV Marikina F.C., a football club which currently plays in the Philippines Football League, the premier football league in the Philippines.

Like in most of the urban areas in the Philippines, is facilitated mostly using inexpensive jeepneys. Buses mostly in highways, tricycles give access to more secluded areas like villages and subdivision, while taxi cabs are available throughout the city. Tamaraw FX has begun to compete directly with jeepneys in major roads while UV Express Shuttle services are also available in selected terminals. In January 2016, the city government of Marikina invented the "AMV" or "Adaptive Mobile Vehicle" for the PWD or Person with Disabilities and Senior Citizens. The "AMV" is wheelchair vehicle or can put wheelchair inside. The local government of Marikina wants to be a "friendly city" for the Senior Citizens.

The city has developed a network of bike lanes along major roads and city streets, as well as the riverbanks of Marikina River.

Marcos Highway

A bike lane was introduced in 2012, this time beside major highway like Marcos Highway , Running from Santolan station of Line 2 up to Imelda Avenue.[27]

Marcos Highway (R-6) (also known as Marikina-Infanta Highway), is the main highway east of Metro Manila connecting Metro Manila, Rizal Province and Quezon Province. Other major networks in the city are A. Bonifacio Avenue, Sumulong Highway, J. P. Rizal Street, Gil Fernando Avenue, Shoe Avenue, Fortune Avenue, Bayan-bayanan Avenue, General Ordoñez Street and C-5 Access Road connecting Riverbanks Avenue.

Major bridges including Marikina Bridge, Marcos Bridge, Diosdado Macapagal Bridge, Nangka Bridge, Gil Fernando Bridge and Modesta Bridge. These bridges are accessed and spans by the Marikina River and its tributary the Nangka River. Overpass or flyovers are concentrated southwest of the city such as SM Marikina overpass, Marcos overpass, C5 Access overpass and Barangka Aqueduct.

LRT Line 2 crossing over the Marikina River

Santolan station

The LRT Line 2 runs through the city, operated by the Light Rail Transit Authority. The current elevated railway station in use is the Santolan station, alongside Marcos Highway and between the border of Barangay Calumpang in Marikina and Barangay Santolan in Pasig. The station connects to the west-end, Recto station, along Claro M. Recto Avenue in the City of Manila.

By year 2020, the currently under construction Emerald station would serve the area of Barangay San Roque, along with nearby areas. This will be the line's second station that would run through the city. The station connects to the east-end, Masinag station, along Marcos Highway in Antipolo, Rizal.

The Manila Railroad Company (now Philippine National Railways) previously had a line to Montalban (now Rodriguez, Rizal) traversing Marikina with the main station and three flag stations in Santo Niño, Bayan-Bayanan, and Nangka. These services ceased in 1936.

Marikina River is the main waterway in Marikina and the main transportation is river ferries and boats.

Amang Rodriguez Medical Center

Marikina Health Office is a center of health services in the city and responsible for providing healthcare services as well as planning and implementation of the health care programs provided by the city government. It operates health centers and lying-in clinics of each barangays to provide basic medical services in the community. Local government provides free medical and dental missions, health seminars and check-ups, proper disposal and hygiene training, special services for senior citizens, pregnant women and children, and other free medical operations. It also has a privilege card that offers discount fees and free services such as emergency, medical, safety and security services.

Amang Rodriguez Medical Center is a public major and prominent hospital in Marikina as well as its neighboring cities and towns, while medical centers such as Marikina Valley Medical Center and St. Anthony Medical Center, are private major hospitals. Other several city hospitals are found across the city including Santa Monica Hospital, St. Vincent General Hospital, Victoria Hospital, Garcia General Hospital, Immaculate Concepcion Hospital, and among others.

Fire truck of Rescue 161

Emergency Operation Center

Marikina Rescue 161 is a 24-hour emergency service responds to all calls within the city for assistance during emergency situations in 5 minutes. The office also conducts seminars and trainings on first-aid among its staff to upgrade skills especially Marikina is vulnerable in calamities like floods, fire, and earthquakes.

Marikina Police Station is responsible law enforcement, under the Eastern Police District (EPD) of National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Marikina Fire Department provides fire and emergency services, under Fire District IV (FD4) known as the Eastern District Fire of Bureau of Fire Protection National Capital Region (BFPNCR) of Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).

Marikina has its own radio station, the Radyo Marikina, through its Public Information Office, and it considered as the first local government radio station in the Philippines. Its frequency is 1674 kHz in Metro Manila and formerly known as DZBI.