Chapter 1: Marikina

A Comprehensive History of Marikina     

        Marikina is located along the eastern border of Metro Manila, 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 City, the capital of Rizal Province. In 1560's, the area is part of the Kingdom of Tondo where descendants of Lakan Dula settled. A maginoo (principlaia) family with eight children led a series of diaspora from their Tondo homeland to a fertile land near the river now known as Jesus de la Pena, followed by Augustinians who arrived at the valley in the 1570's, at the spot known as Chorillo in Barangka (one of the oldest Barangay founded in Marikina). The children of that maginoo (principalia) family are named Capangoy, Gatdula, Dumandan, Gatlabayan, Sumulong and three unknown dayangs.  It was around 1630's when the Jesuits arrived and established a mission and built a chapel still known today as 'Jesus de la Pena Chapel', Fray Pedro de Arce, apostolic ruler of the Archbishop of Manila at the time, approved transfer of ecclesiastical control and supervision to the Jesuits, and settled the place as town. In 1665, an intensity 8 earthquake struck the valley and nearby Manila, and it is related to the activity now known as 'Valley Fault System'. Only a Jesuit Church suffered damage resulted to 19 dead. On March 10, 1687, Governor Gabriel Cruz Elasque ordered the transfer of Marikina to the oversight of the Augustinians and merged with the ministry of San Mateo. He instructed Don Juan Pimentel, the Mayor of Tondo, to vacate and demolish the visita of Jesús de la Peña as the Marikina River would flood the site during the rainy season. The visita could not accommodate the growing congregation, forcing the Augustinian friars to transfer operations across the Marikina to higher ground, where the much larger, present structure was built. The church was subsequently made an independent parish in 1690 (Wikipedia OLA). In 1788, the town became known as 'Mariquina' after 'Felix Berenguer de Marquina', who was the Governor-General at the time, and the town was declared a 'pueblo' (Latin root word 'pipulus', a large nucleated village). Marquina was Governor of the Philippines from July 1, 1788 to September 1, 1793 and it was under his governorship when Manila became an open port to all but European products by royal decree (August 15, 1789). He proposed plans for reform of the government. By the 19th century, Hacienda Marquina was owned and administered by the Tuason family and had become the largest in the Philippines. The hacienda was declared 'mayorazgo' (root word 'Majorat', a French term for an arrangement giving a right of succession to a specific parcel of property associated with a little nobility to a single heir, based on male primogeniture) by the Spanish colonial government.

        According to Dr. Trinidad Pardo de Tavera, the word Marquina was in recognition of Capt. Berenguer de Marquina who was the Governor General of the Philippines in 1788. 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 (Wikipedia, Marikina). The original Marquina is a place in Spain near Galicia in Spain. In the Philippines however, from Marquina, it was changed to Marikina, as a sign of defiance to Spain.

      Don Santiago Sauza y Delos Rios, a Spanish-Mexican Indian navigator was the 22nd  gobernadorcillo in 1809 and the 7th  alcalde capitan in 1828 of pueblo de Marikina (presently Marikina City), Philippines. He was one of the founders of the first paper mill in the Philippines in 1825. He was one of the good friends of JOSEPH BONAPARTE or KING JOSEPH I of Spain. He married the only daughter of Governor General Felix Berenger de Marquina and his lover Demetria Lindo Sumulong who owns the Hacienda Berenger de Marquina.

       The descendants of the couple DON SANTIAGO SAUZA Y DELOR RIOS also known as PAPA TIAGO  or LORD JAMES OF MARIQUINA (23 April 1777, Tequila, Jalisco, Mexico – 25 December 1880 Intramuros, Manila, Philippines) and DOÑA YSABEL BERENGUER DE MARQUINA Y SUMULONG also known as MAMA ABE and LADY ELIZABETH OF MARIQUINA  and LADY DOWAGER OF SAUZA-BERENGUER DE MARQUINA (19 November 1790, Cagsawa,Daraga, Albay, Philippines – 30 January 1900, Banwa, Batan, Capiz, (presently Aklan), Philippines) who lived at Hacienda Sauza-Berenguer de Marquina, Pueblo de Marikina (presently Marikina City), Republic of the Philippines. 

        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 and from the Royal House of FitzGerald of Ireland (familiasauza).The surname Sumulong is one of the Lakan Dula descendants who settled in Jesus de la Pena together with Dumandan, Capangoy, Gatdula and Gatlabayan. The group of families led by Sumulong, Gatdula and Gatlabayan "ay sumulong papuntang bundok ng Antipolo" from Jesus de la Pena using the present Sumulong Highway route, and from then on, that is the name that the Kingdom of Tondo called them. This family who descended from Lakan Dula owned the Hacienda, but as to how it was acquired by the Tuason is still a historical mystery. The Tuasons are also relatives of the Sauza. There are wild stories that an adopted child of the Sauza sold the hacienda to the Tuasons. There are other stories that the hacienda was slowly squandered in a gambling called “panggingge” to the Tuasons. The most acknowledged version is that the Tuasons got the hacienda by force through political connections with the Spanish government.However, the first gobernadorcillo of Marikina is actually Don Benito Mendoza. An adventurous son of a Sephardic Jew Spanish couple, the young Benito left his brothers and sisters at the Lakanate of Lawan and tried his luck in Tondo. He was in love with a pretty daughter of high ranking maginoo family of the Kingdom of Tondo who decided to settle in Jesus de la Pena in the present Marikina Valley and later to Antipolo to escape the Spanish persecution of the native nobility. The lineage of that maginoo family of today carries the surname of Sumulong and Gatlabayan. Benito is the oldest of six siblings, and he inherited the headship of the native settlement in what is now called Jesus de la Pena in Marikina and was eventually appointed by the Kingdom of Spain as the first gobernadorcillo of Marikina Valley. According to a member of the Mendoza Clan of Marikina UP Professor Jaime Mendoza Caro, the following members of the Mendoza principalia clan has served Marikina in the following capacities:

1. Don Benito Mendoza, founding Gobernadorcillo 1787

2. Don Lucas Mendoza, Gobernadorcillo 1803

3. Don Mariano Mendoza, Alkalde 1843

4. Don Rufino Mendoza, Alkalde 1851

5. Don Isabelo Mendoza, Presidente 1910-1911

6. Eugenio Mendoza, Presidente, 1919-23

7. Osmundo De Guzmán (Mendoza), Mayor 1960-86

        The 1st Las Familias Unidas happened on 25 December 1850 at Hacienda Sauza-Berenguer de Marquina, Pueblo de Marikina (presently Marikina City), Provincia De Tondo, Las Islas Filipinas and the 91st Las Familias Unidas was held on 25 December 1941 hosted by Demetrio Sauza y Mendoza and wife Cornelia Palmos. Unlike the Mendoza’s where several streets are name today, Marikenyos are curious about where are the Sauzas of Marikina now. There seem to be some intermarriages between the Sauza and the Mendoza. The Sauza are said to be found in the present Barangays Sto. Nino and Sta. Elena in Marikina and in the vicinity of the oldest church of Marikina in Jesus de la Pena where the Lakan Dula descendants first settled but no street has been named after the family so far. The Mendozas on the other hand are found along the present location of Our Lady of the Abandoned Church where the first Church of Marikina in Jesus de la Pena was transferred. Several streets had been named after the family.  Intermarriages among the principalia families in Marikina and in Tondo are very much an old practice among native nobilities. “The Tioco family was a very rich and generous family from Old Tondo. They owned numerous fishing boats in Tondo and Malabon. Siblings Balbino Tioco and Romana Tioco were illustrious citizens and famous Tondo benefactors of the 19th century. Balbino’s son Maximiano was kidnapped in the late 19th century and ransomed for 3 “kaings” of gold. Maximiano was married to a spanish mestiza Marciana Félix (same Félix family as Joji Félix Velarde and Conchita Félix wife of Felipe Calderón of the Malolos Constitution) Maximiano married Teodorica Ylo (The Cabangis family are also descended from the Ylo’s) They bore 5 children, Nemesio, Salvador, “Beot”, Guadalupe (married to Don Eduardo Barretto), Consuelo (married to Dr Rufino Mendoza, son of Don Isabelo Mendoza de Villablanca, a direct descendant of the spaniard Don Benito Mendoza, first gobernadorcillo of Mariquina in 1787. Benito’s (daughter?) Juana Mendoza Cerbito married Ceferino Dulay, a patriarch of the Rajah Lakandula/Dulay clan. Long after the family had left Old Tondo for the plush villages of Makati and other parts of Manila, there remains Calle Romana* in honor of Romana Tioco, and Calle Tioco* in honor of Balbino and Romana, two personages of the same family in gratitude for their inexhaustible generosity to Tondo. (J.Antonio Mendoza y González)".

     Doña Ysabel Berenguer de Marquina y Sumulong, a blue-blooded lady from the Royal and Noble House of the FitzGeralds of Ireland, was the only child of DOÑA DEMETRIA SUMULONG Y LINDO (21 June 1772, Antipolo, Philippines – 01 February 1814, Cagsawa, Albay, Philippines) also known as Metyang, a Chinese-Japanese-Indian-English-Malay-Dumagat blooded lady whose mother is  from the Jaucian - Li/Lindo - Palanca - Uy clan of Daraga, Albay, where present Mayor Victor Uy Perete belongs. (The Cagsawa Daraga settlement is as old as 12th century); and of SEÑOR FELIX BERENGUER DE MARQUINA Y FITZGERALD (20 November 1736, Alicante, Spain - 10 October 1826, Alicante, Spain) who was married to MARIA ANSOATEGUI Y BARRON in 1758.

     She was baptized on 25 December 1790 at a Franciscan church in Cagsawa, Daraga, Albay, the Philippines. Though she was illegitimate by birth, her mother Metyang who was 18 years old by that time never took the plan to abort her because of illegitimacy instead she was born in the vast green fields of Cagsawa, Daraga, Albay, Philippines. Mama Abe had unique and interesting ancestries both paternal and maternal. She was the 23rd great granddaughter of HER ROYAL HIGHNESS NEST FERCH RHYS, the Princess of Deuhebarth now Wales and of GERALD DE WINDSOR. Her family line and descendants are recorded and kept by the Berenguer de Marquina-FitzGerald relatives in Bristol, United Kingdom and from Madrid, Spain.

       Nest first spouse was Gerald de Windsor also known as GERALD FITZWALTER, the progenitor of the FitzGerald and De Barry Dynasties of Ireland and the son of WALTER FITZOTHO and GWLADYS FERCH RYALL. Her second spouse was KING HENRY I OF ENGLAND. Gerald de Windsor's father was OTHO, an honorary baron at the court of KING EDWARD THE CONFESSOR and owner of manors in five English counties. Moreover, Mama Abe was a royal blooded lady because of her FitzGerald ancestry, but in her lifetime, she never allowed herself to be treated as a royal, instead as a commoner.

        SEÑOR FELIX BERENGUER DE MARQUINA Y FITZGERALD (1736, Alicante, Spain-1826, Alicante, Spain) was the 55th Governor-General of the Philippines (1788-1793) and the Viceroy of New Spain (1800-1803).

      Doña Ysabel Berenguer De Marquina y Sumulong and Don Santiago Sauza y Delos Rios got married on 19 November 1809 at San Francisco Church (presently Mapua Institute of Technology) in Intramuros, Manila, Philippines. After their marriage, they moved to Cagsawa, Daraga, Albay, Philippines and lived there for almost five years (1810-1815). They had the following children:

1.     DOÑA HILARIA MARIA DELA VEGA SAUZA Y BERENGUER DE MARQUINA (16 December 1810, Cagsawa, Daraga, Albay, Bicol, Philippines – 23 August 1913, Angono, Rizal, Philippines), a well-respected beauty queen of her time married DON TEODORO VICENTE LUIS IMPERIAL Y ORMAECHEA. Some of their descendants are the Aquinos, the Ballesteroses, the Canos, the Castils, the Chatos/Chattos, the Cojuangcos, the Diestors, the Fuenteses, the Fernandezes the Grageras, the Gils, the Getigans, the Ilejays, the Imperials, the Limoses, the Madrids, the Oppuses, the Perezes, the Piconeses, the Pueblases, the Puebloses, the Reyeses, the Silvestres, the Taoys, the Tenepereses, the Tiamsons, the Tolentinos, the Torrefancas, the Tungols, the Villamarins and the Vitors.

2.    DON DEMETRIO IGNACIO FELIPE SAUZA Y BERENGUER DE MARQUINA (01 December 1811, Cagsawa, Daraga, Albay, Philippines – 12 September 1904, Angono, Rizal, Philippines), a meticulous potter married DOÑA ANUNCIATA PIETRA DI GUIDA, DOÑA MARIA ANGELES TALIP Y REVIL and DOÑA YGNACIA MARGARITA BEATRIZ ORMAECHEA Y ZARASPE. His other partners were SEÑORA MAGDALENA ROSA QUEYONGQUEYONG, SEÑORA MARTINA RELAMPAGOS Y PILAPIL, SEÑORA MARIA LERA Y BORDEOUS and SEÑORA MARIA HONORATA POSAS Y BORDEOUS, some of their descendants are the Apostaderos, the Balanons, the Bohions/Buhions, the Castils, the Chatos/Chattos, the Claretes, the Claudios, the Concepcions, the Diestros, the Grageras, the Gonzagas, the Lipios, the Manhilots, the Matafloridas, the Martoses, the Oppuses, the Pateses, the Talips, the Realistas, the Roceses, the Revils, the Roans and the Uaouaos who eventually became the Walwals.

3.        DON FRANCISCO ANTONIO SALVADOR SAUZA Y BERENGUER DE MARQUINA (14 October 1812, Cagsawa, Daraga, Albay, Bicol, Philippines – 25 June 1910, Angono, Rizal, Philippines), an experienced blacksmith and knight and a knowledgeable fencing enthusiast married DOÑA MARIA ROSALIA EULALIA ESCUDERO Y GUANZON. Some of their descendants are the Becos/Bicos/Vicos, the Godoys, the Macatangays and the Marasigans of Lobo, Batangas, Philippines and the Posadases.

4.        DOÑA RESTITUTA MARIA DEL CARMEN SAUZA Y BERENGUER DE MARQUINA (01 February 1814, Legazpi, Albay, Philippines – 12 January 1916, Bacolor, Pampanga, Philippines), an expert embroiderer married DON JUAN NOBLEJAS (1st Husband) of Taal, Batangas, Philippines, DON FRANCISCO BANGOY the Elder (2nd Husband) of Baclayon, Bohol, Philippines DON ENRIQUE QUIAMBAO (3rd Husband) of Tarlac, Philippines and DON JUAN JOSE DEL BUENVIAJE DE LA ESTRADA (4th Husband) of Guanajato, Mexico and DON VICTOR PASCUAL Y DE VERA (5th Husband) of Pangasinan, The Philippines. Some of their descendants are the Eugenios, the Lontocs also spelled as Lontok, the Noblejases and the Dioknos of Taal, Batangas, Philippines, the Quiambaos of Tarlac and Pampanga, Philippines, the Bangoys of Davao City, Philippines, the Ylagans and the Ylagas of Lobo, Batangas the Silayans of Binangonan, Rizal, Philippines and the Centeneras and the Garchitorenas of Bicol, Philippines.

5.    PADRE LORENZO EDUARDO TEOFILO SAUZA Y BERENGUER DE MARQUINA (10 August 1815, Marinduque, Philippines – 31 March 1912, San Jose, Antique, Philippines) (Exhumed 12 December 1939. Reburied at San Francisco Church (presently Mapua), Intramuros, Manila, Philippines), an intelligent speaker who had relationship to the SEÑORA MARIA SALVIEJO Y EVANGELISTA of Badoc, Ilocos Norte, The Philippines, SEÑORA TORIBIA DARAL of Baclayon, Bohol, The Philippines, SEÑORA SIMPLICIA CARTAGENAS of Loon, Bohol, The Philippines, SEÑORA ELENA BALAT of Itbayat, Batanes, The Philippines, the sisters SEÑORA ANA MAGBANUA and SEÑORA SIMPLICIA MAGBANUA of Antique, Philippines, SEÑORA SOLEDAD NER of Angono, Binangonan, The Philippines, SEÑORA CATALINA JALANDONI of Iloilo, Philippines and SEÑORA MARIA PORTICOS of Loon, Bohol, The Philippines. Some of their descendants are the Africas, the Agabins, the Bataras, the Buhions, the Cabuleras, the Cartagenas, the Jalandonis, the Magbanuas, the Miraflors, the Moscosos, the Ners, the Pagdilaos, the Pateses, the Porticoses, the Realistas, the Revils, the Salviejos and the Tuazons.

6.        DON XYSTUS AMADEO CELESTINO SAUZA Y BERENGUER DE MARQUINA (14 February 1816, Casa Santos, Sta. Elena, Pueblo de Mariquina, (presently Marikina City), Philippines – 26 July 1898, Binangonan, Distrito de Morong, Philippines), an adventurous navigator and a rich businessman married SEÑORA PILAR PAMINTUAN Y BONDOC and after being a widower, he married DOÑA DELFINA YNARES Y ANTAZO. Some of their descendants are the Aparentes, the Apostaderos, the Antazos, the Aragoncillos, the Bernardos, the Ceremoniasm, the Delos Angeleses, the Riveras, the Silayans and the Ynareses.

7.       DON MIGUEL JUAN SANTIAGO SAUZA Y BERENGUER DE MARQUINA (29 September 1818, Sto. Niño, Pueblo de Mariquina (presently Marikina City), Philippines – 01 March 1925, Angono, Rizal, Philippines), a brilliant writer and a professional jeweller married DOÑA MATILDE TUAZON Y DELA PEÑA. SEÑORA MARIA GREGORIA TUAZON Y YUPANGCO was his partner Some of their descendants are the Andreses, the Blancos, the Carvajals, the Celestinos, the Cruzes, the De Guzmans, the Dela Cruzes, the Dizons, the Esperos, the Ledesmas, the Mallillins, the Martagons, the Miraflors, the Peñarandas, the Posadases, the Sagandoys, the Salgados, the Salamats, the Sausas, the Tolentinos, the Tunguls, the Unidads, the Sekews, the Ycays, the Varons, the Villanuevas, the Zaratans, the Zamucos, the Zausas, the Zubiagas.

8.     DON JOSE ALBERTO FILEMON SAUZA Y BERENGUER DE MARQUINA (18 September 1819, Cagsawa, Daraga, Albay, Bicol, Philippines – 23 November 1922, Angono, Rizal, Philippines), an industrious farmer married DOÑA ESCOLASTICA GONZALES Y DEL PRADO (10 February 1823, Intramuros, Manila, Philippines – 12 April 1925, Angono, Rizal, Philippines). Some of their descendants are the Abanillas, the Villanuevas of Lobo, Batangas and the Belarminos of Zamboanga, Philippines.

9.     SEÑORA BRIGIDA MARIA DEL CIELO SAUZA Y BERENGUER DE MARQUINA (08 October 1821, Antipolo, Philipines – 31 October 1830, Angono, Rizal, Philippines), a spinster. In the Sauza – Berenguer de Marquina family record, though they were never been lovers, her first love was Fr. Jose Apolonio Burgos y Garcia (1837-1872), one of the Bagumbayan Martyrs. Her recorded boyfriend was Don Francisco Guido of Angono whom she boxed on face because of “lie over wealth”.

10.     DOÑA REFUGIO MARIA DEL ROSARIO SAUZA Y BERENGUER DE MARQUINA (23 May 1835 Tequila, Jalisco, Mexico – 25 August 1932, Angono, Rizal, Philippines), a coloratura soprano married DON TEODORO GUIDOTE Y ENRILE Y ALCEDO. Some of their ancestors are the Magtibays and Dioknos of Batangas, the Fiels in the Visayas and Mindanao and the Guidotes of Bulacan, Philippines.

11.     DON ANSELMO BENEDICTO ONOFRE SAUZA Y BERENGUER DE MARQUINA (21 April 1838, Villa Fernandina, Ilocos Norte, Philippines-19 July 1940, Angono, Rizal, Philippines), a skilled fisherman and champion swimmer, an artistic painter and an angelic tenor married DOÑA AUREA DE VILLA Y SALUD (1837-1855) (1st Wife) of San Juan De Bolboc, Batangas, Philippines, DOÑA MARIA VILLAVICENCIO Y MACATANGAY (1841-1873) (2nd Wife) of Taal Batangas, Batangas, Philippines and DOÑA TEODORA FIEL Y SITJAR (1850-1919) (3rd Wife) of Jimenez, Misamis Occidental, Philippines. Some of their descendants are the Diestros, the Jubans, the Lozos, the Layocs, the Mag-atas, the Merceds, the Saguinsins, the Sorianos, the Tamayos and the Tiamsons (fsbmc).

           Who is the present day hereditary leader of the  Gobernadorcillo Sauza Clan of Marikina? 

        If we follow the ancient tradition on royal succession, the eldest son of the eldest son of the eldest and so on will be the hereditary leader of the royal lineage.  Based on the genealogy of the Gobernadorcillo Sauza, his eldest son is  DON DEMETRIO IGNACIO FELIPE SAUZA Y BERENGUER DE MARQUINA (01 December 1811, Cagsawa, Daraga, Albay, Philippines – 12 September 1904, Angono, Rizal, Philippines), a meticulous potter married DOÑA ANUNCIATA PIETRA DI GUIDA, DOÑA MARIA ANGELES TALIP Y REVIL and DOÑA YGNACIA MARGARITA BEATRIZ ORMAECHEA Y ZARASPE. His other partners were SEÑORA MAGDALENA ROSA QUEYONGQUEYONG, SEÑORA MARTINA RELAMPAGOS Y PILAPIL, SEÑORA MARIA LERA Y BORDEOUS and SEÑORA MARIA HONORATA POSAS Y BORDEOUS, some of their descendants are the Apostaderos, the Balanons, the Bohions/Buhions, the Castils, the Chatos/Chattos, the Claretes, the Claudios, the Concepcions, the Diestros, the Grageras, the Gonzagas, the Lipios, the Manhilots, the Matafloridas, the Martoses, the Oppuses, the Pateses, the Talips, the Realistas, the Roceses, the Revils, the Roans and the Uaouaos who eventually became the Walwals.

     The eldest son of Demetrio must be identified…and the rest of the lineage of the eldest sons up to the present time. If the present day eldest son of the lineage of the eldest son is known, then, he is the  hereditary leader of the Gobernadorcillo Sauza Clan of Marikina. His surname will be Sauza.

References:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Our_Lady_of_the_Abandoned_Parish_Church_(Marikina). Retrieved December 22, 2019

Archived 18 June 2004 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved December 22, 2019

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marikina. Retrieved December 22, 2019

Daluyan: A Historical Dictionary of the Streets of Manila, Printed by NHI cited at http://remembranceofthingsawry.wordpress.com/ 2010/06/01/the-families-of-old-tondo/

https://familiasauza.webs.com/. Retrieved December 22, 2019

http://fsbmc.yolasite.com/about-us.php. December 22, 2019

Marikina Plays Key Role in the Principalia Hereditary Council of the Philippines (Principalia Council)

The list of past presidents of JCI MARIKINA SAPATOS - ONE OF THE OLDEST ORGANIZATION IN MARIKINA CITY PHILIPPINES     

MARIKINA - WIDE SURVEY ON WHO COULD FIGHT MARCY, MARION, BF and STELLA NEXT ELECTION FROM AMONG INCUMBENT AND  UNDEFEATED LOCAL POLITICIANS WITHIN THE LAST 2 ELECTIONS

          This is an on – going survey among the 241,000 members of the original Marikina News FB Group. This FB group, aside from being the original (with around 70 FB groups now copying the name Marikina News), has also the highest percentage of Marikina residents in its total membership among FB groups nationwide with 240,000 and above membership. It is fondly called in Marikina as the “Freedom Board” because one can post anything (except porn) in this FB group without prior approval nor screening from the admins, but, the members can report your posts if they think that your posts might violate cyber libel laws.

If you want to join the survey, please click:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/207062819379005/permalink/2420346748050590/

Marikina Politics is a Struggle among the Sipsip, Anticorrupt and the Silent

          The Sipsip supports kung sino ang naka upong mayor para makakuha ng biyaya at ma project nila sa mga tao na malakas sila kay Mayor. Bale wala sa kanila kung corrupt ang nakaupong mayor, ang importante ay maka sipsip sila sa mayor. Ang mga Anticorrupt naman ay sumusuporta sa mayor habang hindi pa sya corrupt at unti unting pinupuna ang mga kamalian, corruption at inefficiency ng mayor kung meron na. Ang loyalty ng mga Anticorrupt ay sa kapakanan ng taong bayan. Hindi sila takot kasi may sarili silang kabuhayan, pwersa at connection na hindi galing sa biyaya ng Mayor. Ang mga Silent ay walang pakialam sa mga issues pero sa oras ng botohan, binoboto nila ang less corrupt.

          Nung panahon ni Mayor Marides Fernando, ang mga Sipsip, Anticorrupt at mga Silent ay sumoporta sa kanya kaya natapos nya yung tatlong terms ng matiwasay. Nung election after Mayor MCF, ang mga Sipsip ay sumuporta pa rin sa team ni mayoralty candidate Marion Andres pero ang mga Anticorrupt ay kumampi na sa team ni Del de Guzman dahil mukhang less corrupt yung team. Ang suportang ito ay tumagal hanggang sa first term ni Mayor Del. Pero nung second term nya, unti unti ng lumabas ang mga corruption issues: barkong nawala, dredging machine na 45 Million na di nagamit, etc.Unti unti ng umalma ang mga Anticorrupt at nakinabang dito sa pag alma si opposition aspirant Marcy. Kaya nung naglaban si Marcy at Del, nanalo si Marcy.  Tuloy tuloy ang pagkampi ng mga Anticorrupt kay Mayor Marcy hanggang nung first term nya. Pero tulad nung nangyari kay Mayor Del, unti unti naman lumabas ang mga corruption issues nitong second term ni Mayor Marcy: big money infra tongpats, purchasing commissions, nepotism, inefficiencies, etc. at tila nakikinabang si former Congressman Quimbo sa mga puna ng mga Anticorrupt kay Mayor Marcy…same pattern.

          Same pattern din sina Del, Marcy at Quimbo: di sila nag iingay sa issue ng corruption nung opposition pa sila at nilalaro lang nila ang nakaupong Mayor. Tulad ngayon, ang mga Quimbo ay hindi tumitira kay Mayor Marcy. Hinihintay lang nila ang mga Anticorrupt na mag – ingay at tutal alam naman nila na sila din naman ang nakikinabang sa efforts ng mga Anticorrupt. Ang mga Sipsip naman ay tuloy lang sa kadidipensa sa naka upong mayor, para tuloy tuloy lang pakinabang nila. Ang prinoproblema lang nila ay pano sila makakalipat ng hindi halata pag may bago na ang mayor. Ngayon pa lang, may mga ilang Sipsip nang palihim na dumidikit na kay Quimbo o sa malalapit kay Quimbo. Maraming mga Sipsip na magaling sa lipatan pag may bago ng Mayor. Parang pakwan, kung saan may biyaya, dun gumugulong.

          Very predictable ang political pattern sa Marikina: dynamics among Sipsip, Anticorrupt at Silent. Nasaan ka dito sa tatlong to?

Ang pamunuan ng Kapisanan ng mga Mananaliksik sa Kasaysayan ng Marikina

List of Barangay Fiestas in Marikina City

First District:

Barangka - May 1

Calumpang - June 13 

Industrial Valley - May 1

Jesus Dela Peña - May 15

Malanday - Last Sunday of April

San Roque - August 16

Sta. Elena - May 3

Sto. Niño - January 1

Tañong - May 1

Second District:

Concepcion Dos - 

Tumana -

Fortune -

Marikina Heights - 

Concepcion Uno - December 8

Parang - February 23

Nangka - May 15

Past Presidents of Marikina School of Arts and Trades Batch 1978 

(MSAT Batch 78)

How to Contact the Marikina City Hall?

LAKAN DULA DESCENDANTS TO HAVE ANNUAL PILGRIMAGE IN TONDO

    Prof. Toti Dulay is delivering the opening remarks in the Outreach Mission of Marikina News at the Home for the Aged in Barangay Fortune in Marikina. This is the third year MN has done it, during the birthdays of Col. Acosta, with the support of AFP, Lion's Club led by Beng Benecio, 4Ds Trading of Mavs Velenzuela, Office of Mayor Marcy and several other donors to be properly recognized formally later. The Project is Chaired by MN Admin Mariel Gutierrez and supported by CIS led by Rhem Pallorina. The abandoned lolos and lolas are pampered with food, entertainment, free facial,videokee, games, ..donors even danced with them.

BARANGAY CHAIRMEN OF MARIKINA CITY

DISTRICT I                     BARANGAY CAPTAINS

BARANGKA                     Ronie Tiburcio

IVC                                 Fernando F. Mira

JESUS DELA PEÑA          Manuel E. Sarmiento

KALUMPANG                   Dino Cruz

MALANDAY                     Makmak Alfonso

SAN ROQUE                   Louie Francisco

STA. ELENA                    Bernard C. Bernardo

STO. NIÑO                      Rizaldy Josef

TAÑONG                         Bob Pamisa

DISTRICT II                   BARANGAY CAPTAINS

CONCEPCION UNO         Gerardo F. Sto. Domingo

CONCEPCION DOS         Mary Jane Z. Dela Rosa

FORTUNE                       Rizalina W. Teope

MARIKINA HEIGHTS        Greg Punzalan

NANGKA                         Randy G. Leal

PARANG                         Tatang Zulueta

TUMANA                         Ziffred A. Ancheta

        The Mendoza family is the traditional ruling principalia of Marikina but it has maintained a historical and strong ties with the rich citizens and ruling family of Kingdom of Tondo and Lakanate of Lawan. According to Antonio Mendoza y González, rich and noble families of Tondo, Lawan and Marikina have a long history of intermarriages. In Lawan, the daughter of Agripina Dulay married Dr. Arcadio Mendoza and one their offsprings, Madeilene Mendoza Ong, became a governor of Northern Samar. In Tondo, the Tioco family was a very rich and generous family from Old Tondo. They owned numerous fishing boats in Tondo and Malabon. Siblings Balbino Tioco and Romana Tioco were illustrious citizens and famous Tondo benefactors of the 19th century. Balbino’s son Maximiano was kidnapped in the late 19th century and ransomed for 3 “kaings” of gold. Maximiano was married to a spanish mestiza Marciana Félix (same Félix family as Joji Félix Velarde and Conchita Félix wife of Felipe Calderón of the Malolos Constitution). Maximiano married Teodorica Ylo (The Cabangis family are also descended from the Ylo’s) They bore 5 children, Nemesio, Salvador, “Beot”, Guadalupe (married to Don Eduardo Barretto), Consuelo (married to Dr Rufino Mendoza, son of Don Isabelo Mendoza de Villablanca, a direct descendant of the spaniard Don Benito Mendoza, first gobernadorcillo of Mariquina in 1787. Benito’s lineage Juana Mendoza Cerbito married Ceferino Dulay, a patriarch of the Rajah Lakandula/Dulay clan. Long after the family had left Old Tondo for the plush villages of Makati and other parts of Manila, there remains Calle Romana* in honor of Romana Tioco, and Calle Tioco* in honor of Balbino and Romana, two personages of the same family in gratitude for their inexhaustible generosity to Tondo (Daluyan).

The House of Dulay Mendoza in Marikina Valley, a Lakan Dula Heritage

    The clan house has been a favorite shooting venues for indie films, tv drama series, documentaries mostly about Lakan Dula and the Kingdom of Tondo, commercials and student projects on Noli Me Tangere and El Felibusterismo. Some folks in the neighborhood fondly call the house as "bahay ni Rizal or bahay ni Lakan Dula" because of its antique ambience. Some members of the clan call it "Bahay ng UP" because all who resided there are graduates of the University of the Philippines: Sofronio Dulay finished AB Philosophy, his wife Arlene Uy Corral finished AB Economics, the eldest son Sofronio II finished Public Administration, and a Law degree, Katreena is currently studying UP College of Public Administration too hoping to pursue law also. Only the eldest Arlene Dulay Alcazar (Lenlen) decided not to enrol in UP in favor of UST because of strong influence on her by St. Scholastica and because of her presidency of Youth for Christ, and the family see UP Los Banos (where Lenlen qualified) as unsecured for a lady to live alone because of high profile rape cases in the area.  Lenlen is married to a UP Alumnus Nomer Alcazar from a principalia family of Argao, Cebu and  who is also a board topnotcher.

    It is also the corporate office of the CDM Foundation which main concern is to consolidate the descendants of Lakan Dula scattered in the whole Philippine archipelago and in other countries, and to do further research on the Kingdom of Tondo Manila. It is also the office of Marikina News Facebook Group with 240,000 members and the Ceferino and Juana Dulay Children, Grandchildren and In - Laws (Dulay Mendoza) , the main Facebook Group exclusively of the reigning family.

The First Ever Election in the Philippines Islands Was Held In Marikina Valley

Doctoral professor Popoy De Vera lll of UP NCPAG said that during the Spanish era, elections were never held because positions can be acquired by purchase or royal appointment. History will also show that during the time of Lakan Dula, there were also no elections, because leadership of native settlements like that in Jesus de la Pena, Marikina, was given to blood descendants of Lakan Dula. But Dr. Serafin Quiason, National Historical Institute Board Member and former Chair, said that when the British invaded Manila, they conducted elections for gobernadorcillo and the first election they conducted was through viva voce held in Marikina. This could probably explains the fact that Marikinos are politically matured and are advocates of "urbanidad". Was it coincidence that Marikina is one of the important hacienda of the Spaniards owned by the family of the husband of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo? Gloria now resides in a land that used to belong to Marikina the way Ateneo and UP are occupying lands that used to belong to Marikina.Was it a coincidence that nearby Marikina, in Cainta, the Sepoys, or the Indians in the British Army who desserted their post, finally settled. Today, while Marikenos are white skinned, their neighbors next town, Cainta, have the color and nice noses of the Hindus. Marikina Valley is turning out to be a nice hotbed of history... from a sttlement of Lakan Dula descendants who escaped Spanish procecutions of the native aristocracy, to the place of first ever election in the country, to the capital of the Province of Manila during the Philippine Revolution, courtesy of governor Ambrosio Flores.(Incidentally, the mother of MMDA Chair Bayani Fernando is a Flores.) Today, Marikina could be the birthplace of a modern patriotic movement that could bring this country into a lasting greatness.

Remember this dinner meeting....this could be it: the "dinner among close friends" where the pronouncement of the former NHI chair about the first ever election in the Philippines happened was in the residence of MMDA Chair Bayani Fernando in Monte Vista, Marikina, a day before the fiesta of San Roque, the seat of "Marikina Cathedral" and the historical poblacion of the valley. Among those in that dinner is Mayor Marides Fernando, 3rd termer Rep. Del De Guzman of the 2nd congressional district, AIM Alumni Association Director Toti Dulay also from the 2nd congressional district, Ateneo School of Governance Associate Dean Dennis Gonzalez, City Administrator Melvin Cruz, BF Corporation Executive Tala Fernando, former Marikina ABC President Ben Cruz, Ateneo Program Manager for Executive Education Aurma Manlangit, Prof. Manny Yap of Philippine Patriotic Movement, and several close personal friends of the city mayor which include Nadeia Sarte and Carmelita Lorenzo.

In that dinner, Prof. Yap offered the leadership of the Philippine Patriotic Movement to Chairman Bayani Fernando. The Ateneo School of Governance presented a paper for the Kabayani Party.

The future of Marikina, of Metro Manila and of the Phillipines seem to have been hatched in this memorable dinner. Most great civilizations in the world started in cradle just like what Marikina seem to be evolving today as it slowly discovering its historic significance.

The Future Marikina Valley Cathedral

DURING the pre Hispanic era, Marikina Valley was part of the Kingdom of Lakan Dula based in Tondo, Manila.

After the proclamation of Philippine Independence in 1898, Don Ambrosio Flores, governor of the province of Manila, chose the town of Marikina as its capital.

In 1901, Marikina was included in the newly created province called Rizal.

Marikina became part of the Metropolitan Manila area in 1975, when the Metro Manila Commission was created under Presidential Decree No. 824.

In November 1996, Republic Act 8223 converted the municipality into a highly urbanized city.

October 2005, a canonical coronation to Our Lady of the Abandoned (OLA), the Patroness of Marikina was done through a papal proclamation. The same day, Sofronio Dulay II, the 6th generation and next leader of the Dulay Clan of Marikina Valley was inducted into the Knights of the Altar of the OLA Parish Church.

May 2007, The Patroness of Marikina, through a procession, was brought to the residence of Sofronio Dulay I, the 5th generation and present head of the Dulay Clan of Marikina Valley located at #3 Isabelo Mendoza St., San Roque, Marikina, few houses away from the OLA Parish Church. For one day and one night, the Patroness of Marikina Valley blessed the clan with her presence. The clan members did a series of novena for the miraculous Patroness culminating with a mass officiated by Monsignor Mariano Balbago. A dinner of waknatoy (native Marikina dish), maja blanca, fruit juices, ampalaya con carne, sweet and sour lapu lapu, litson manok, liempo, apples, mango, banana , Chinese peanuts and coca cola where served to around 200 mass attendees. After the dinner, procession brought the Patroness to the San Roque Chapel and the next day it was brought back to the OLA Parish Church for the re enthronement ceremony.

In a dinner hosted by the 5th generation and present head of the Dulay Clan of Marikina Valley in his residence on May 2, 2007, the Dulay Clan Leader, Mayor Marides Fernando, Msgr. Balbago, Congressman Marcy Teodoro and Metropolitan Development Authority Chairman and President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s Cabinet Member Bayani Fernando talked about the papal petition to make the Our Lady of the Abandoned Parish Church a Cathedral.

The emergence of Marikina Valley Cathedral and the rise of Marikina natives Marides and Bayani Fernando to national leadership will be blessed by Nuestra Senora De Los Desamparados, the Patroness of Marikina Valley.

Cyril L. Bonabente, Inquirer Research, Published by the Philippine Daily Inquirer

The Marikina News

Marikina News,"Ang Dyaryo ng Marikina", was founded in 1989, is the longest-running local newspaper in Marikina Valley. It was founded to abolish "Marikina Apartheid" and promote equal political opportunities to all residents of the city. It was founded and is owned by the CDM Foundation,Inc. dominated by the Dulay Clan of Marikina Valley . The clan is led by six generations of traditional leadership and uninterrupted reign of the eldest sons and leadership successors of the leader of the clan, starting from Petre Dulay, Doroteo Dulay, Eldidio Dulay, Ceferino Dulay, Sofronio Dulay l and Sofronio Dulay ll. Five Chairmen has led the paper: Dr. Jimmy Trinidad who died in office; Judge Ricardo Diaz; Atty.Cesar Turiano who became Grand Knight anf Faithful Navigator of the Knights of Columbus; Dr. Fabian Cadiz who was elected Number One Councilor of Marikina City and Romeo Balasta of MSAT Btach 78 who migrated to Illinois. The paper declared its victory over "Marikina Apartheid" when Marides Carlos of Bulacan ancestry was elected Mayor of Marikina, Del de Guzman who is residing nearby Taytay town, in Rizal Province, was elected Congressman of Marikina and; Dr. Fabian Cadiz and Councilor Donn Favis, who are of Bicolano and Ilocano ancestry respectively, were elected Number One councilors of their respective districts. Former Mayor Bayani Fernando himself was born in the nearby town of San Juan. With that resounding victory against "Marikina Apartheid", Marikina News decided to shift into the internet and face the global audience, but promised the city that it will resume circulation should there be dominant forces backsliding to "Marikina Apartheid" again. In the global audience, it is advocating for The Globalist Manifesto, the blueprint for the formation of a global government. Marikina News is now being managed in the web by the Angel Websites.

The History of Marikina

        According to local historian Servando de los Angeles, Marikina is a part of the kingdom of Lakan Dula and the firsts settlers of Marikina are the descendants of Lakan Dula, the pre – hispanic King of Manila based in Intramuros and Tondo, Manila. In the height of the Spanish prosecution of the native aristocracy,Lakan Dula sent his descendants to far away lands within the sea and river routes. One of the lands where the descendants settled is in Jesus de la Pena at the bank of Marikina River. This was corroborated by other articles which say that “in 1587 Magat Salamat, one of the children of Lakan Dula, and Augustin de Legazpi, Lakan Dula's nephew, and the chiefs of modern Tondo,Pandacan, Marikina, Candaba, Navotas and Bulacan were executed for secretly conspiring to revolt against the Spanish settlements.”11  In 1630, the Jesuits came to Marikina and by 1687, the pueblo became a parish known as Mariquina (Americans change it to its present name Marikina). The Marikina Valley became well known for agricultural products. Later, it became the country’s leading hacienda at that time owned by the Jesuits and later bought by a Tuason in a public auction when the Jesuit were expelled in the Philippines by the crown in 1768. Christianity in Marikina took root at the very place were the Lakan Dula descendants settled where the very first chapel of the city was built in 1630 by the Jesuit Missionaries. “The Marikina riverbanks had also long been settled by river-dwellers or taga-ilog (where the word Tagalog came from). They were the natives whom the Augustinian friars referred to when they explored the areas along the Marikina riverbanks in 1570s and discovered a cluster of huts around a spring (later called Chorillo and today as Barangka).”12 Today, several clans of Marikina are trying to reconnect to their Lakan Dula roots. Marikina therefore seems to have enjoyed a long peace and prosperity which dates back from the pre – Hispanic era, courtesy of fertile valley cut across by a well endowed river. This continuous prosperity might have contributed to the present characteristics of Marikenos – confident, easy, enterprising and politically conservative.There are at least four legends as to where the name Marikina came from. Trinidad H. Pardo de Tavera said that the name was after Captain Berenguer de Marquina who was once a chief executive of the town before it became a  pueblo in 1787. Another version says that the Jesuits named the town after their hometown in Spain, a town along the Charmaga River called Mariquina. Another version says that the name came from beautiful and kind woman, Maria Quina, whose fame had spread all over the land. Finally, some says that it came from "Marikit-na" (beautiful now.)

            In 1787, Marikina officially became a town and elected its first gobernadorcillo, Don Benito Mendoza. Thirty-four gobernadorcillos succeeded him in that post until 1821. Then, a long line of 75 town executives called alcalde or capitan were elected until the outbreak of the revolution in 1896. When the Philippine Independence on June 12, 1898 was proclaimed in Kawit, Cavite by President Emilio Aguinaldo, Marikina and other towns comprising the Province of Morong (now Rizal) and Manila signed the act of Independence. President Aguinaldo appointed provincial Don Ambrosio Flores as the Governor of Manila province and designated Marikina as its capital.

          After the Filipino-American war, the Americans appointed Vicente Gomez as presidente of Marikina in 1900 who was tasked to convince the people to swear allegiance to the United States. Morong separated from Manila June 11, 1901 with Pasig as capital and Marikina as one of its towns. Gen. Ambrosio Flores became the governor, while Vicente Gomez, Sr., became the presidente of Marikina from 1902-1903. A total of 11 Marikenos became presidente of the town until the Japanese invasion in 1941.Some Marikeños joined the provincial and national government before and after World War II. Catalino Cruz and Nicanor Roxas also served as members of the provincial board; Roxas became the provincial governor during the Japanese occupation. In 1934 Emilio de la Paz was elected representative of the second district of Rizal to the first national assembly and was reelected in 1938 and in 1949. Emilio was the brother of Wenceslao de la Paz who served as town presidente from 1929 to 1937 and the father of Emelito de la Paz who was an assemblyman to the Batasang Pambansa in 1984. Serafin Salvador took the seat of Emilio de la Paz from 1954-57 and later joined the cabinet of President Carlos P.Garcia. In 1938, Dr. Juan Chanyungco was elected presidente but the Japanese arrived in 1942. Chanyungco stayed as town executive until 1944 when he was arrested by Japanese upon the tip of a makapili (traitor). In 1945, the civil government under Pres. Sergio Osmeña was restored and Enrique de la Paz, a nephew of Congressman Emilio de la Paz was appointed Mayor. In 1946, Pres.Manuel A. Roxas appointed Gil Fernando, a Liberal Party mate, as the mayor of Marikina, and was elected mayor in 1947 serving until 1951, until Dr. Juan Chanyungco came back from 1951 to 1955. Fernando was reelected from 1956 to 1959 until Osmundo de Guzman was elected in 1960 and remained mayor until his death in February 1986, just few days before the outbreak of the EDSA Revolution. His 26 years in office were the longest for any Marikina town mayor that included the martial law years which began in 1972. There were no local elections from 1975 to 1980.

             The Metro Manila Commission was created in June 1975 under Presidential Decree No. 824 which integrated four cities and 13 towns, majority of which were from the Province of Rizal, including Marikina. After the death of De Guzman, his Vice Mayor, Teofisto Santos served as an OIC Mayor for a little more than a month until he was ousted by the revolutionary government under President Corazon C. Aquino and Dr. Rodolfo Valentino, then a municipal councilor, was installed officer – in- charge until 1988 when he was elected mayor. Valentino served up to 1992 when Engr. Bayani Fernando defeated him. (In the 1992 elections, the author was the official candidate for Mayor of the Partido ng Masang Pilipino, at the age of 31, the youngest official candidate for a mayor in Marikina’s history). “In 1992, the city found a new direction under the dynamic leadership of Mayor Bayani Fernando (who also became, Chairman of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority). By dint of hard work and discipline, guided by the vision of a modern, livable city, Marikina has since been transformed into the beautiful and industrialized urban city that it is now. On December 8, 1996, the municipality of Marikina became a chartered city and transformed rapidly into a highly urbanized and first class city by virtue of Republic Act No. 8223, same date as the Feast of Immaculate Conception.”13 Mayor Fernando was reelected in 1995 and again in 1998. He was succeeded by his wife Marides Carlos Fernando as mayor following a constitutional ban on Bayani for running after serving a mandatory three terms.Mayor Marides was reelected for three terms also maximizing the reelection ban

Marikina Kenworth

The Kenworth Basketball Team of San Roque, Marikina City, Philippines was born in 1976. The homecourt of the team is in Isabelo Mendoza St. formerly known as Callejon and was formerly part of Sta. Elena. Walking along the old, short and narrow street of I. Mendoza, you will pass through the Shoe Museum, Teatro Marikina, the ancestral house of the Dulay Clan, the office of the Hacienda Tuazon, the nearby Nuestra Senora de los Desamparados Church, the nearby Kapitan Moy residence, the old ice plant, the old gas station, the heart clinic of the Dy family, the office of the war veterans which was used to the old municipio, the Butiki park and the Women’s park. The street aside from being known as Callejon is also known as “Daang Kalabaw” because in the olden days, farming carabaos pass there on their way to the river. The street is the subject of a territorial dispute between Marikina’s capital Sta. Elena and a politically strong barrio, San Roque. It is one of the most historical streets in Marikina with lots of love stories and legends. It starts from an old railroad track known locally as Daang Bakal, to the river and extends to the original settlement of Lakan Dula descendant right at the opposite bank of the river known as the “ibayo” where the oldest church of Marikina is found, passing through the old Spanish municipio, and the old Spanish jail.The street has only few houses because it has more historical landmarks on it than residential houses. Among the residents of the street are the Guevara, Mendoza, De Guzman, Dulay, Gomez, Javier, Dee, Fulgencio, Flores, Eugenio, Bautista, Ocampo, Nepomuceno and Salud.Among the legends popular in the street is the “Kapre” in an old acacia tree beside the old Spanish jail, the Love Story of Ariel and Joan, and the Japanese gold buried secretly under one of the old houses leading to the river.The Kenworth Basketball Team was named after an old dilapidated Kenworth truck abandoned at the back of Spanish jail during the American era. The jail was later converted into rice granary, much later, ice plant and presently, the Shoe Museum. A basketball court stands near the truck and it served as the home court of the Kenworth Basketball Team. When the court was demolished by the municipal government, the team starts to practice in the compound of the Dulay Ancestral house or in the court found in the church yard.Everyone who grew up in I.Mendoza street have been involved in one way or another with the Kenworth Basketball Team, either as players, muse, cheer members, spectators or supporters.The golden year of the Kenworth Basketball Team was in 2005 when they almost won the championship in a barrio league had it not for a controversial shot of Batang M.Roxas. Kenworth, aside from the runner up finished, won the best coach, best muse, and best uniform. Their crowd prepared video recordings of the game, dance numbers, flags, banners, cheer numbers, they have a dance party, videokee sessions, pustahan and glitters… appearing as more victorious than the champion.The Kenworth Basketball Team was managed by Atong Eugenio and later by the Dulay family. During Christmas, the team does street dancing with former team members and former residents of the street as visitors.Its coaches were Danny Justo, a city hall employee and Junie Basco, a businessman. Its muses were Beng Penaflor, Julie Eugenio and the “mysterious pretty visitor” from the province.

TAGA MARIKINA KA

Sinulat ni Rodolfo S. dela Paz

Taga Marikina

Ipinanganak sa Marikina, taal na taga Marikina, tubong Marikina, nakatira sa Marikina. Kahit saan man naroroon maging sa abroad, hindi nalilimutan ang Marikina, nasa puso ang Marikina.Taga Marikina-maputi, makinis at medyo singkit ang mata, pustura, maporma, mapagbiro, masayahin,mabulaklak ang dila. Sa madaling salita,mapagmura, bukang bibig mo, "Putang 'na mo!". Taga Marikina: mahilig kumain, mamasyal, magpiknik,magbasketball, makipagkuwentuhan. Sabi nga:"Mawalan na ng isang kalabaw, huwag lang ng isang huntahan".

hindi mo ba napansin? description ko yan..tignan mo pa ang larawan ko hehehe.. hindi nga lang ako maporma at mapustura. OO mabulaklak din ang dila ko, pero mejo nabawasan ko na hehehehe..Huntahan yan ang di mawawala sa akin.. sa amin??Kung taga Marikina ka, mahilig kang kumain ng pansit, goto at tokwa. Kapag umuulan o araw ng Biyernes, ang ulam mo, munggo at kung Linggo,nilagang manok. Kung taga Marikina ka ang tawag mo sa matamis na sawsawan ng lumpia ay maalat. Kung taga Marikina ka, mahilig kang magsugal; tumataya sa lotto, karera, nagsasabong, nagpupusoy,tong-its, bingo, monte, sakla, ending at siyempre pa, jueteng.

OO mahilig ako sa pansit..minsan may pumuna sa akin..ngayon lang daw siya nakakita ng inuulam ang pansit..oo mahilig ako sa tokwa't baboy.. lalo na sa tokwa .. heheh pupunta pa ako sa palengke upang bumili ng tokwa .. un ang agahan ko noon..At syempre pa.. ang MAALAT.. oo maalat nga ang tawag namin sa matamis na sarsa ng lumpia.. at ang pinakamagaling magluto nito .. si LOLA ANING.. Sugal?? hindi ako gaanong mahilig sa sugal..mahilig ako manood ng nagsusugal.. nagpupusoy ako paminsan minsan.. Holy Week usually.. kalaro mga kaibigan ko sa I.Mendoza , ang pinaka masayang kalye sa poblacion (Kenworth kung tawagin).. at ang pustahan pahiran ng uling sa mukha.. kaya uuwi kaming parang atiatihan.. kung walang uling isang malaking BASO ng tubig ang iinumin pag natalo..at di mawawala ang jueteng.. kapag trip ko tataya ako .. lalo na kung may okasyon.. aalagaan ko talag aang numero.. di ko lang mapaliwanag kumbakit lumalabas ang numero.. at syempre pa tatama ako .. INUMAN NA...Taga Marikina ka kung marunong kang gumawa ngsapatos pero lagging nakatsinelas, nakabihis nangmaganda kahit walang pera. Taga Marikina ka kung ang bati mo sa kakilala o kaibigan ay hindi "Hi" o"Hello" kundi "Saan ka galing?" o "Saan kapupunta?" Taga Marikina ka kaya nag-aral ka sa Roosevelt o sa MSAT. Kung nag-aral ka sa Marikina,alam mo ang Central, annex No. 1 at annex No. 2.Love mo si "Little Ana", si Miss Mendoza. Kilalamo si Mrs. Mesina, si Miss Victorino at Mrs.Zamora. Kilala mo rin si Mr. Trinidad, Mr.Santos, Miss del Rosario, Mrs. Chanyungco at si Maestrong Porong.

Di ako marunong gumawa ng sapatos..pero nakapag trabaho ako sa sapatusan.. naglilinis ako noon.. finishing yata tawag doon.. hehehe.Noon akala ko natural na batian ung "Saan ka punta?" at "Saan ka galing" dami nakakapansin sa akin..bakit kung babati ako un ang lagi nila naririnig? Noon ngang nagkita kami noong kaklase ko noong high school.. naka bisikleta ako at naka sasakyan siya.. ang sabay naming tanong "saan ka punta?"Nag aral ako sa MARIST.. exclusibong paaralan para sa mga lalaki.. nagpapasalamat ako sa mga natutunan ko doon.. maraming salamat po.. ngunit di ako masaya doon .. sa tuwing may kwentuhan sa amin ng mga barkada, kakilala o ng mga nakakatanda.. lagi nababanggit Roosevelt or MSAT.. hay .. bakit nga ba hindi ako napasok dito? E di sana nasasama ako sa mga Alumni homecoming.. hehehe pero as bandang huli.. salamat sa mga magulang ko ;)Ung mga pangalan sa itaas.. nakikilala ko sila.. sa kwento nina mama at papa.. pati mga tito at tita.. lalo na kapag kasama mga kaibigan nila.. reminiscing kumbaga...Taga Marikina ka kung alam mo ang ibig sabihin ng"naghalo ang balat sa tinalupan, "sagot sa huli",lamuan, salang bayan, salamyaan, anunciata, zebra,ampay kaban, hiwas, ditchoy, bankilya.

Oo pamilyar ang mga katagang ito.. at may mas hihigit pa ba sa ANUNCIATA? Sa mga hindi nakakaalam.. sana tama ipapaliwanag ko .. ito ung maliit na birhen nanakalagay sa isang lalagyan.. ito ay madalas dinadasalan sa pabasa kina LOLA ANING.. dito ko siya nakilala.. bata pa kami andoon na siya.. ngayon wala na si Lola Aning .. andoon pa rin siya.. hinahalikan ang birhen na ito.. may salamin ang lalagyan niya.. doon humahalik ang mga tao.. pagkatapos halikan ay papahirannila ng bulak na may kulay green na kung ano man iyon.. tapos ibibigay ang kapiraso sa humalik.. ok noh? tignan mo wallet ko .. may bulak ko niyan .. pinapalitan ko kada taon.. ahhh.. mas mabuti kayang idagdag dito na.. Taga Marikina ka kung alam mo ang PABASA ni Lola Aning.. ang tawag dito ay PIGING.. marunong ka ng mga tono ng pabasa dito sa Marikina.. nakikita mo ung mga naglalakihang talyase sa kalsada.. doon niluluto ung pansit, kanin at ulam..at matapos ang pabasa maririnig mo ang pamamaalam niya.. pasasalamat...Taga Marikina ka kung nakapanood ka sa Cine Bayan,Lion, Mari at Valley, kaya alam mo ang palko,kabit at ala-berde. Naghawak ka ba ng kateplak?Umahon ka ba sa Antipolo? Sumakay ka ba saMarikina Valley? Sa NGI? sa Happy Valley? saMarikina Bus? Kumain ka ba kay Aling Petra? KayDoro? kay Justina? sa La Pacita? kay Tabio? kayLim? kay Victory? kay Luyong? kay Salud? kay Jesus?

Lion, Mari at Valley.. paano ko naman hindi malalaman ito dahil anlapit lapit lamang sa amin niyan.. noong mejo nagkaisip na ako ang mga palabas diyan puro bold na hehehe.. kapag pupunta nga akong Santolan maririnig mo ang palabas sa Lion..kasi doon lang sa likod nito ang sakayan ng jeep patungong Santolan..Ala-berde.. heheh yan ang inaantay ng bawat Marikeño.. ito kasi ung last order.. ibibigay na sa iyo lahat hehehe.. sa ordinary price.. or libre na ito .. sarap!!Kateplak? hindi ako humawak niyan..nahihiya ako hehehe.. yan ung pinapatunog nila sa harap ng prusisyon, sagala or ano man..Mga kainan sa Marikina.. andami nito.. at ansasarap.. hanggang ngayon bumibili pa rin kami.. lalo na kung may inuman.. tara bili tayo ng gising gising.. hehehe at matapos naman uminom.. tara bili tayo ng pansit at pandesal .. yum yumNaligo ka ba sa ilog? nagnakaw ng singkamas sa tumana? nanuro, naglaro sa baha? namalaka,naglimas, nagmaya? nagsalon sa Riverview, saRolando's, sa Holiday, sa Champion, sa Sky View,sa Frolic, o nag-outing sa Balara at VillaLolita? Kung hindi mo alam ito o hindi mo ito naranasan, baka hindi ka taga Marikina.

Hindi pa ako nakakaligo sa ilog.. maski na tabi lang ng bahay namin ito hehehe.. maarte ako eh ..pero mga kabarkada ko nakaligo na dyan.. ako lang talaga ang hindi.. naglaro sa baha pwede pa.. kaya lang.. wala ng baha ngayon dito sa Marikina.. kawawang mga bata.. hindi ninyo mararanasan un hehehe Outing? di ko alam kung saan kami nagpupunta noon.. pero may mga picture ako hehehe.. meron pa ngang outing kami na reunion yata ng mga kamag anak ni Lola Bitang.. minsan scan ko at ipapakita sa inyo..Sky View..Square Hole.. naku!! sarado na yan .. hehehe. Sayang, di nyo inabot yung "killing fields" sa Square Hole.Taga Marikina ka kapag alam mo kung saan ang Daang Bakal, dairy, oval, patindig-araw, balubad,lambak, tayug, olandes, Ilaya, Ibayo, halang atChorillo. Taga Marikina ka kung kilala mo ang angkan ng adobo, bangus, kamatis, ibon,kalambyang, bibe, puto, kalabaw, paminta, kulubot,daga at iba. Kilala mo ba ang pinakamagaling kumanta ng Pitong Gatang sa Marikina? Si Ato...taga I.Mendoza.

Kabataan ko naguguluhan ako sa mga lugar na yan.. Daang bakal.. daang pasig.. alangya lahat naman dito daanan db?Ang mga angkan? may mas dadami pa ba sa angkan ng NEPOMUCENO? heheh antayin ninyo .. may gagawin ako para sa inyo. Hoy bistado ko na kayo, pati si Lenlen Dulay ay sumasama sa Nepomuceno tuwing angkan angkan...kaya pala ang dami nyo ;)Kung taga Marikina ka, siyempre kilala mo si Alo,si Herman, si Terry, si Ador Langis, si Anita at si Eleng-Eleng, gayundin sina Eliong Taba o siEmiliong laki. Kung hindi mo sila kilala, bakakilala mo si Temyong Hudas, si Kletong P_k_, siAngel mayaman, si Mariang mahirap, si Mr. Cruz, si Kamote, si Bigote, si Senyong, si Kap Harry, si Pitoy.

Para kang si ALO.. heheh lokohan ng mga taga amin.. lalo na ng mga bata.. kumabga para kang loko or praning?? tama nga ba? Si Ador lagi sa kalsada namin noon yan.. kapag dumadating.. naku.. magsisipasok na kami ng gate.. mabait naman siya.. kausap nga lagi nina papa at nga mga kalalakihan sa amin.. KO KO KO KOTSE.. KOTSE!!!Kung taga Marikina ka, ang tawag mo sa duktor mo,Seseng, Isaac, Juan, Ading, Eloy, Mario, Sitong,Dick, Tasyon, Luming, Itoy at Erning. Kung tagaMarikina ka dapat alam ang pangalang Padre Arciaga, Father Godoy, Mons, Cruz, Fr. Ignacio at Padre Mirasol.

OO nga noh.. sila ung mga doctor noon.. ay teka.. hanggang ngayon pala.. Noong namatay nga si Lola Aning pinakilala nila sa akin si Doktora Tasyon.. Ang doctor ko kasi si Doktor Benny Pangalan ng mga padre? eh anak ng teteng.. anlapit lapit ko sa OLA hindi ko pa sila makikilala.. inabutan ko nga si Msgr Cruz na kura paroko.. sa Marikina Catholic School pa kaya ako nag aral hehehe..Taga Marikina ka, Mayor mo si BF, malinis ang lungsod mo, may River Park, may Rescue 161, walang sidewalk vendor, bawal magkalat, bawal ang hubad,bawal ang umihi at dumura. Maraming punong kahoy,maliwanag ang mga ilaw, uso ang jogging, aerobics,bowling at ballroom dancing.

Si MCF na mayor ngayon.. wala pa namang pinagbago.. same old Marikina.. malinis..maganda..Taga Marikina ka, ipinagmamalaki mo ang lahat na ito, hinahangan ang lungsod mo. Pinupuri ka.Mabuhay ang mga taga Marikina! Mabuhay angMarikeno. Ang taga Marikina laging sikat, mabait,masaya, masipag, matulungin, matalino, at higit salahat, huwag mong kalilimutan -MAYABANG!

sige na nga MAYABANG ako .. pinagmamalaki ko .. taga MARIKINA ako.

SOURCE: "River City GAZETTE" published February20, 2000 (Vol.II No. 1)Marikina City as written in the Biag ni ............

Knights of Columbus, Marikina 

PAST GRAND KNIGHTS Marikina Valley Council # 6178 ,

Our Lady of the Abandoned Parish San Roque, Marikina City

1969-70, SK Leonardo M. de GuzmanCharter +

1970-71, SK Melchor N. Salvador

1971-72, SK Bienvenido A. Valdez +

1972-73, SK Artemio L. Coronel

1973-74, SK Manuel L. Agustin +

1974-75, SK Gregorio C. dela Paz +

1975-76, SK Erlindo A. Villamor

1976-77, SK Rodolfo C. Serame

1977-78, SK Amado Z. Isidro

1978-79, SK Rustico C. Belmonte +

1979-80, SK Celso G.delos Angeles +

1980-81, SK Mario Z. Isidro

1981-82, SK Jaime P. Capco

1982-83, SK Marcelo Z. Fernandez +

1983-84, SK Facundo R.Santos +

1984-85, SK Romeo M. Cruz

l985-86, SK Romulo F.Reyes

1986-87, SK Brikcio S. Santos

1987-88, SK Celso C. Santos

l988-90, SK Benjamin S.Santos, Served 2 terms. +

1990-91, SK Reynaldo R.Braganza

1991-92, SK Jose D.J.Cruz

1992-93, SK Enrique P. Tolentino

1993-94, SK Conrado V. Justo

1994-95, SK Benjamin V.Ong

1995-96, SK Renato A. Pillejera

1996-97, SK Florencio B. Santos

1997-98, SK Rolando R. Mendoza

1998-99, SK Joselito M.Salud

2000-01, SK Reynaldo R. Mendoza

2001-02, SK Bienvenido C. Angeles Jr.

2002-03, SK Edilberto E. Villon

2003-04, SK Raymund S. Senga

2004-05, SK Carlos C. Sarte Jr.

2005-06, SK Reynaldo S. de Guzman

2006-2007, SK Francisco Medina

THE GRAND KNIGHTS OF CONCEPCION COUNCIL 7631

1980-1981 Melanio "Mel" S. Santos

1981-1982 Fortunato Umitem

1982-1983 Engr. Rafael "Lito" F.Erfe

1983-1984 Rodrigo"Rod" B. Balana +

1984-1985 Herman S.Hernandez

1985-1986 Adriano "Adring" C. Marcelo

1986-1987 Jose "Peping" G. Pineda

1987-1988 Melanio "Mel" S.Santos

1988-1989 Eliseo "Eli" H. Lunas

1989-1990 Ernesto "Ernie" M. Ilagan

1990-1991 Cirilo "Jun" Sison

1991-1992 Rey "Rey" E. Pasion +

1992-1993 Nolan "Nolan" P.Flores

1993-1994 Eliseo "Eli" H. Lunas

1994-1995 Dr. Miguel "Mike" B. Talaue

1995-1996 Rufino "Bong" G. Viray

1996-1997 Prof. Sofronio "Toti" C. Dulay

1997-1998 Alfredo "Fred" R. Orellosa

1998-1999 Councilor Jose Fabian "Fabi" I. Cadiz, MD

1999-2000 Aurelio "Ding" C. Caparas

2000-2001 Arch. Eduardo "Bong" D. Yodico

2001-2002 Atty. Cesar "Cesar" D. Turiano

2002-2003 Faustino"Tony" G. Adamos

2003-2004 Fernando "Nanding" B. Baudillo

2004-2005 Ricaredo "Rick" C. Orbin

2005-2006 Atty.Jason Robert C. Josef

2006-2007 Eric Visenio

The Four Classifications of Marikenyos

SINO ANG MARIKENYO? ako po ay professor sa FEU, kaya natural lang sa kin ang maging researcher. Isa sa matagal ko ng nireresearch ay ang pinagmulan ng Marikenyo. Ito po ang findings ko:

1. Wala pong native na Marikenyo dahil ang mga native na ita at baluga ay di naman umusbong sa lupa ng Marikina. Therefore, lahat ng nakatira sa Marikina ngayon ay dayo lang sa Marikina mula sa ibat ibang probinsya at bansa.

2. So dayo tayong lahat sa Marikina. Ang pagkakaiba lang natin ay sa pag dayo natin dito sa Marikina, saang bansa o probinsya tayo nanggaling. The following are the 4 Classifications of Marikenyos:

A. Dayo mula sa Probinsya ng Rizal, tulad nila Ruby Red. Dahil ang Marikina ay bahagi dati ng Rizal Province, therefore, ang mga taga ibang munisipyo ng Rizal ay dumayo dito sa Marikina upang manirahan sa kung tawagin ay Lupang Tagalog (non-titled land or sa salitang kanto, squatter) o magtrabaho sa Hacienda Mariquina ng mga Tuason na ang bahay ay sa San Roque (sa likod ng Barangay Hall ng San Roque).

B. Dayo mula sa Province or City of Manila, tulad nila Kap. Moy (from Quiapo), mga Tuason na may ari ng Hacienda Marikina (from Sta. Mesa), at mga Descendants of Lakan Dula (from Tondo). Sila ay konektado o bumili ng mga tituladong lupa sa mga Tuason na may ari ng Hacienda Mariquina.

C. Dayo mula sa ibang bansa at probinsya tulad ng mg Eustaquio na galing ng France, Singh na recognized royal blood ng India even today, Mendoza na galing Israel, de Guzman na galing Pangasinan, Cadiz/Imperial na galing Bicol, Carlos (MCF) na galing Bulacan, Quimbo na galing Samar; Cheng, Ching at de Dios (Oh ang tunay na apilyido ng mga Chancellor) na galing China; Pinga (Zamboanga), Banzon (Zambales), Andres (from the North), Mejia (Pangasinan), Vice Mayor Doy del Castillo (Batangas); Bautista, Santos at Reyes na galing Spain.

D. Dayo na di nila alam o di nila sinasabi kung saang lupalop sila galing. Bakit di nila alam o di nila sinasabi? Kasi di naman sila mukhang kastila o mukhang intsik o mukhang bombay. Baka wala rin magandang kasaysayan yung apilyido nila. At baka galing sila sa di sikat na probinsya kaya ikinahihiya nilang sabihin. O ang ninunu nila ay magsasaka, may ketong o alipin kaya ayaw nilang i trace kung saan sila nanggaling. Sila ang nagpupumilit ngayon na matawag natin na LEHITIMO dahil daw di nila alam kung saan silang probinsya o bansa nanggaling.

The History of Barangays of Marikina

      Each of the 16 barangays in Marikina City tells a fascinating story, lending its own  sense of  uniqueness and charm. Learning the lessons of history allows Marikeños to understand their barangays’ form and function and to contribute to their preservation and prosperity.

 The barangays in Marikina are classified into four:

 Poblacion: San Roque,  Sta. Elena, Sto Nino, and Calumpang

 SAN ROQUE    

    Named after a saint, Barangay San Roque was a forestal region before the colonizers founded settlements here. Early migrants, encouraged by the opening of agricultural tracts following the arrival of missionaries, built communities, among them Daang Cainta. Two of the pioneering settlers in the area were the families of Don Isabelo Mendoza, a former gobernadorcillo, and Gervacio Carlos, later a stalwart in the shoe industry. Geographically, San Roque is bounded in the east by the Sierra Madre mountains; on the north, by Sta. Elena; to the south is Calumpang; and on the western sector, by the Marikina River. San Roque is known for its landmarks. The old residence of Apolonia Santos (Maestrang Oniang) was formerly a civil guard headquarters, cuartel, in the last decade of Spanish rule. During the American era, it housed the old Roosevelt High School. It used to be a church property but the Spaniards abandoned it just as the Revolution of 1896 started to gain momentum. Fray Rafael, the building administrator, sold the building to the government, which in turn was sold to Captain Itoy, Santos’ grandfather, before the Americans arrived.

 STA ELENA    

    Sta. Elena got its name from a cross-shaped driftwood that was found floating in the river. The barangay traces it beginnings to 1687 when the Jesuits stationed at the Jesus de la Peña mission were looking for a new church site. The settlement was then a rural community of contented folk who survived from the fruits of their farms and depended on fish from the nearby Marikina River. Over time, the rural community flourished, becoming the poblacion of what now is Marikina City. Although it had progressed very well, it also had its share of tragedies. In 1825 and 1880, strong tremors rocked the place. Another catastrophe occurred in 1887 when a fire burned down the flourishing neighborhood. A similar calamity took place in 1974 in which numerous laborers were lethally trapped inside the workplace. In World War II, like most of the barangays of the city, Sta. Elena also had its share of devastation from bombing runs.

STO NIÑO    

    Oral tradition traces the barangay's origin to 1667 when the Jesuiits crossed Marikina River from Jesus dela Peña in search of a place where a new church could be built and a mission established. The missionaries found a rustic area known as Halang, so named after the orientation of the place, which is perpendicular to the rising sun. The place was later dedicated to the Holy Child or Sto. Niño, after whom it was named. In colonial times, Barangay Sto. Niño was bounded on the north by Malanday, on the east by Apongao, Cupang, and Mayamot, on the south by Sta. Elena, and the west by the Marikina River. Originally, the river had its bank along J.P. Rizal Street but geologic movement, flash floods, and siltation eventually led to the formation of a fertile area known as Tumana. In 1903, Sto. Niño hosted the firsst Aglipayan Chapel that was built in a location adjacent to Marikina Bridge. Unfortunately, the structure was destroyed in World War II. A new house of worship was later built in another location but a big fire gutted it in 1908.

 CALUMPANG                                                                               

    The barangay was named after a wild almond (sterculia foetida). The largest among the barangays of Marikina during the colonial period, Calumpang was originally bordered on the northwest by the Marikina River and immediately opposite it are barangays Tañong and Jesus de la Peña. Floods and soil erosion would drastically alter its landscape, giving to shrinkage and expanding the two other barangays from silt buildup. Over time, part of the river dried up, giving way to what is known as Patay na Ilog, an area where Provident Village is now situated. To spare it from nature’s threats, a dike was constructed in the early 1950s to secure the barangay. In the pre-war era, Calumpang’s land extended as far west above the hills of Quezon City, which is a section of White Plains; on the north northwest, the Marikina River; on the east, Pasig City; and as far north as the boundaries of barangays Jesus dela Peña, Tañong, and Barangka. With the creation of Quezon City in 1939, its jurisdiction was altered. Although it remained a part of Marikina, its boundary on the west sector was reduced. The area from the chapel of San Antonio de Padua to the residence of Teodulo Marcelo and the Tayug family were added to the city. It was only after the war, through the effort of Rep. Emilio dela Paz, Sr., that it regained a portion of the disputed area that extended up to Usiw Hills, near Quezon City, which is now part of Industrial Valley. Later, when Industrial Valley was created into an independent barangay, its area of influence was again reduced.

 Ibayo: Jesus de la Pena, Tanong, Barangka and Industrial Valley

 JESUS DELA PEÑA                     

    The oldest Christian settlement in the city, the barangay was named after the first Augustinian parish of Jesus dela Peña (Jesus of the Rocks). It derived its identity after a Christ-like image was seen on the rock formations in the area. Aside from being host to the city’s oldest church, the San Isidro Labrador, the place is also acknowledged as the traditional site of the first Holy Mass that was officiated in Marikina. In early colonial times, Jesus dela Peña was known as “Niyugan” (from niyog) because of the coconut plantations that dotted its agricultural landscape. With the arrival of the Jesuits, wheat from Mexico was introduced, earning another name for the place, the Tirriguhan, which is derivative of the Spanish “trigo” for wheat. Toward the latter part of colonial rule, influenced in part by the growing literacy among residents, alternative livelihoods, foremost of which was the shoe-making business, started to make a mark. The American Occupation greatly helped in developing the barangay. Health and educational infrastructure was introduced, while homespun industries became popular. In the years leading to the establishment of the Commonwealth, progress became more obvious. Marikina Bridge, a vital economic link to cities like Quezon and Manila, was formally opened in 1934. Under the Japanese rule, Jesus dela Peña, like many other areas in Marikina, was hit hard by atrocities. The Kempetai police, in particular, killed everyone who was suspected of spying for the Americans. The place was in ruins as a result of the indiscriminate bombings by the Allied Forces and invaders. Although devastated, Barangay Jesus dela Peña picked up the pieces and reassumed its role as the town’s shoe capital. Today, it ranks as one of the city’s most progressive business addresses.

 TAÑONG       

    Barangay Tañong traces its origin to March 1898 when pioneering families decided to formally establisha community. Like many rural communities in colonial Philippines, it had its formal begginings during the period when missionary work was pervasive in areas with existing settlements and in places near river sources. During the Spanish rule, Tañong was populated by migrants from nearby Balara and Krus na Ligas (Gulod) areas. The area was not just a favorite hunting ground for individuals who were considered fugitives by the colonial regime; it was also an impoverished community that was subjected to many abuses of the civil guards. Life, however, was better under the American rule. New developments were introduced and living conditions omproved. The eruption of war derailed all these inroads. But with Liberation, life in the barrio started to show promise with the influx of new arrivals, some of whom have permanently settled in an area aptly called, Halo-halo (hodgepodge).

 BARANGKA                                                                               

    Barangka is named after the Spanish canyon, barranca. It is located along the western border of Marikina, is bordered on the west by Loyola Heights in Quezon City; to the south City; to the south by barangays Industrial Valley and Calumpang; to the east by Tanong; and the north by Loyola Grand Villas. On its south portion lies the Marikina River where the Riverbanks Center is located. Barangka actually lies on the hills of Quezon City, not too far from the Marikina fault system. Along with former Parang and Nangka, the former sitio was elevated to barangay by virtue of Republic Act No. 2601, which was enacted on June 21, 1959. Barangka is surrounded by schools, shopping malls, industrial zones, and transport hubs. It is accessible to neighboring commercial and business areas.

 INDUSTRIAL VALLEY COMPLEX    

    Barangay Industrial Valley Complex was created under Batas Pambansa Bilang 203, approved by the unicameral legislature on March 25,1982. The law is an offshoot of Pambansang Batas Bilang 1755. Under the law, the barangay was separated from Calumpang to form an independent barangay known as Barangay Industrial Valley. The new sub-territory would be legally be defined as follows: “Beginning from the intersection of Marikina Diversion Road and A. Bonifacio Avenue thence southward along the centerline of Marikina Diversion Road, until it intersects the centerline of Marikina River; thence southwest along the common boundary line of the municipality of Marikina and municipality of Pasig, province of Rizal, until it intersects the common boundary line of the municipality of Pasig and Quezon City; thence northward bounded by Quezon City until it intersects the point of beginning.” The first set of barangay officials was appointed by the President until their successors had been elected.

 Tabing Ilog: Malanday, Concepcion Uno, Tumana and Nangka

 MALANDAY    

    Malanday was named after the shape of its territory, round and flat, just like that of a bilao (winnower). Malanday is bounded on the northeast by Barangay Concepcion, while to its southeast sector is Barangay Sto. Niño. On the southwest is Barangay Jesus dela Peña, and on the northwest is Quezon City. Mainly an agricultural area, Malanday was originally an uncultivated grassland that formed part of a rural community that would be known later for its rice field. To reach the place, pioneers had to transport and deliver commodities using the carabao-drawn cariton, given its ease in negotiating mud tracks. For Malanday residents, 1937 holds a special significance – it was the year they were released from the bondage of paying land taxes to the Tuasons, owner of most of the lands in Marikina. As a result, petitions for transfer of land ownership were filed. In response, the government bought a big chunk of a vast estate and distributed it to occupants, requiring only the beneficiaries to pay a nominal amount for every square meter of land owned over a period of one decade. This development would give rise to the founding of Barangay Malanday.

 CONCEPCION UNO    

    Formerly known as the Bayanbayanan (little town), Barangay Concepcion, like the old Marikina boondocks, was a rich agricultural area. Over time, though, new settlers found promise in its rich soil and migrants started to cultivate public lands, followed by the emergence of new communities. The barangay was officially named Concepcion after Mary the Immaculate Conception on June 6, 1936 with the enactment of Republic Act No. 1541. As an organized community, Marcelino de Guzman was installed as the first barangay leader in 1903 and held the post for five years.

 TUMANA     

    A former sitio of Concepcion Uno, Barangay Tumana was created on April 10, 2007, under Repubklic Act No. 9432. It is the youngest among the sub-territories in the city. Officially its bounderies are delineated as follows: From the corner of everlasting street and roxas street, twinville subdivision going south, along the centerline of rosas street, j. del rosario street and angel santos street; thence along the centerline of Old Marikina River Course until it intersects the property of Wood Ridge Residential Estate and Loyola Grand VIllas; thence to the northwest along Finland Street until it intersects Quezon City boundary; thence to the northeast along Mrikina -Quezon City boundary until it crosses Marikina River; and thence to the east along the Everlasting Street until it intersects the point of beginning. The place has been geologically shaped by soil buildup resulting from flooding, erosion, and landslide. Part of the barangay was a component of the riverbank but ita has been coverted into a fertile land. over the centuries, the accretion has been cultivated as rice fields and fruit farms.

 NANGKA    

    Situated at the northernmost sector of Marikina along the concrete highway that leads to the towns of San Mateo and Montalban (Rizal), Barangay Nangka was the most rural among the city’s barangays. It started as a small settlement built by two pioneering families and later evolved into a flourishing community largely due to a river, which is the barangay’s namesake, that bilaterally cuts through Marikina and San Mateo, in Rizal Province. Named after the jackfruit, Barangay Nangka was created under RA 260, which was approved by Congress on June 21, 1959. It is situated on an elevated section of the southeastern part of Marikina and traverses the road that leads from the city to the towns of San Mateo and Montalban (now Rodiguez) in Rizal Province, where it shares common boundaries with Nangka River. It stretches up to sitio Balubad and the old railroad tracks known as Daang Bakal, and has an area of 181.68 hectares. During colonial times, the area was home to rice fields and sugarcane plantations. Nangka was a thriving agricultural hub before it yielded to urban incursion; it was a primary source for root crops, vegetables, and rice. Conversion of farms into housing patches and the rise of commercial establishments eventually transformed the place into a population center and economic hub.

 Bundok: Marikina Heights, Parang, Fortune and Concepcion Dos

 MARIKINA HEIGHTS    

    During the war, Barangay Marikina Heights was a vital military defense location. The Japanese built tunnels in the area to stage ambuscades, hide ammunition, store provisions, or seek shelter. The underground subway notably made it easy for the Japanese to reach their airfields known among residents as the Paliparan (airport). In post-war times, it was also the military training ground for Filipino soldiers who were deployed to the Korean War. The initial effort to create the area into a barangay was made on June 6, 1974 through the advice of the municipal council, by virtue of Resolution No. 76, which was later submitted to the provincial board of Rizal for action. In response, Provincial Resolution No. 75-746 was passed, recommending the creation of Marikina Heights to President Marcos. On April 2, 1978, Presidential Decree 1489 was issued, formally creating the new barangay.

PARANG    

    Before 1880, Parang, a sprawling estate of forest, farm, plains and low-lying regions, was part of Barrio Bayanbayanan. Initially, only 25 families, mostly orchard farmers, settled in the area. It was host to small sugar cane plantations and home to a forest area that was a good source of lumber, fruits, and wild life. When the railroad system reached its vicinity, specifically in the area between the sitio and its mother barangay, transport of farm products to Manila became easier. The legacy of this once-productive era can still be gleaned from the “Daang Bakal” tradition the place continues to remember. The arrival of the Americans at the turn of the 20th century would have a long-term impact on Parang (Tagalog for “thicket” or “bush”). Sugar cane plantation would give way to the cultivation of undergrowths, which in turn were developed as grazing farms for cattle, carabaos, and deer. This development, which made sprawling lands into grazing areas, would eventually give the place its name. Later, warehouses for stacking of fodders and serving as garage for tractors were built in the district. Coconuts, which were easy to cultivate and required lesser effort on the part of farmers, were introduced, slowly transforming the landscape of the place. Parang, given its dense forest, became a secure hangar for Japanese planes, and it was also made into a shelter for fleeing Imperial soldiers who were pursued by Allied Forces from Manila. But through it all, the barangay at once recovered from the travails of the conflict. Projects like houses started to make headway in the area and new shoe factories such as Eduardson Shoe Factory were opened.

 FORTUNE                                                                                    

    A former sitio of Barangay Parang, Fortune was constituted as a separate entity on April 10, 2007 by virtue of Republic Act No. 9431. The new barangay, named after a cigarette company located in the area, is the youngest among the 16 barangays of Marikina. Officially, the barangay is bounded on the north by the centerline of Fortune Avenue; on the east and north by the centerline of the Nangka River; on the southeast by the Marikina-Antipolo boundary until it intersects the centerline of Nangka River; on the southeast by the Marikina-Antipolo boundary until it intersects the centerline of Nangka River; on the west by the centerline of Park 8 Creek; on the west by the centerline of F. Balagtas Street; on the southwest by the centerline of Tanguile Street; and on the southwest between one depth along Monserrat Hill Street, La Milagrosa subdivision, until it intersects the Marikina-Antipolo boundary. The city mayor appointed the barangay’s first set of officials after a plebiscite was held ratifying Fortune’s creation.

 CONCEPCION DOS                                                                

    The barangay was created under Presidential Decree No. 1488, which was signed by President Ferdinand Marcos on June 11, 1978, stipulating the territorial boundaries. 1978, stipulating the territorial boundaries. Officially, Concepcion Dos is bounded on the north by barangay Marikina Heights; on the west by Barangay Concepcion Uno and Barangay Sto. Niño; on the east by Antipolo City; and on the south by the municipality of Cainta. The first barangay election, held on July 4, 1978, elected lawyer Butch Crisol (1978-1980) as the first punong barangay.

Facts About Marikina

    Marikina, officially the City of Marikina, known as the Shoe Capital of the Philippines, was former capital of the province of Manila during the declaration of Philippine Independence and one of the sixteen cities within the Manila Metropolitan Area. Marikina is part of Eastern Manila District of Metro Manila's four districts. It is located on the eastern border of Metro Manila of the island of Luzon. Several cities and municipalities lies on its border: San Mateo, Rizal to the north and northeast, Antipolo City to the east, Cainta, Rizal to the southeast, Pasig City to the south and Quezon City to the entire west.

    Marikina was given the title the "Shoe Capital of the Philippines" because of its notable shoe industry. Shoemakers in the city recently finished creating the World's Largest Pair of Shoes and it was only recently that the Guinness World Records recognized this feat. The Shoe Museum located in the city is the home of the famous shoe collection of the former First Lady Imelda Marcos, shoes of the world leaders, past presidents, famous celebrities and persons, shoes of different countries around the world etc., and contains the largest collection of pair of shoes in the world.

    Marikina was divided into two districts consisting of 16 barangays. The people of Marikina are amongst the one of the most disciplined in the Philippines. Marikina City is considered as one of the healthiest and livable cities within the Asia-Pacific. Marikina City is one of the wealthiest local government units (LGU) in the Philippines in terms of current assets, cash in banks, share of internal revenue allotment (IRA), gross income and gross net income. The city features many spacious parks, tree-lined streets, bikelanes, boulevards and commercial areas. Despite the latter, most of the city is classified as residential. It was devastated by Typhoon Ondoy in 2009. The most influential persons in the city is former mayor Marides Fernando and former MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando, who was also previously a mayor. Both Fernandos were credited for the city's radical transformation and improvement. The incumbent mayor is Del De Guzman.

Geography

    Marikina City is one of the large distribution in Metro Manila in terms of land area at approximately 21.5 square kilometers (2,150 hectares), about 3.37% of the total land area of Metro Manila. The city lies on Marikina Valley. Not only is Marikina City a part of this valley, the valley extends to the south towards Pasig City and Cainta, Rizal. Marikina River runs through the central portion of the city and Nangka River runs through the north portion. The dynamic Sierra Madre Mountains, the longest mountain range in the Philippines is located at the eastern portion while the Quezon City hills are located to the west. It is also the home of the Valley Fault System, one of the active faults in the Philippines.

    Marikina City is a lush valley bounded by mountain ranges and sliced by a river. 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 east by Antipolo City, the capital of Rizal province, and to the north by San Mateo also in Rizal province. It is approximately 21 km. away from Manila and lies within 14°38′24″N 121°5′50″E / 14.64°N 121.09722°E / 14.64; 121.09722Coordinates: 14°38′24″N 121°5′50″E / 14.64°N 121.09722°E / 14.64; 121.09722.

    The southern portion of the city occupies the numerous commercial, industrial and business establishments and interesting places, it is also located the "center" of the city which is the busiest district of the city. While the northern portion is primarily residential areas and subdivisions, exclusive schools, industrial zones and various small and medium enterprises are also booming. Loyola Grand Villas, located at the northwest portion of the city is a rich gated community that occupies upper-middle class and rich residential area.

History

Spanish period

    The Augustinians were the first to arrive at the valley, at the spot now known as Chorillo, in Barangay Barangka. The Jesuits next came in 1630 in a place called Jesus Dela Peña. They established a mission and built a chapel where the first mass in Marikina was held. On April 16, 1630, Fray Pedro de Arce, apostolic ruler of the Archbishop of Manila, approved the transfer of ecclesiastical control and supervision of Marikina area to the Jesuits. The area was later called Mariquina in 1787 and Mariquina was declared a pueblo (officially town) under the Spanish colonial government.

Incorporate period

    Andrés Bonifacio also arrived in Mariquina before he and his Katipuneros proceeded to the caves of Montalban. Later, when the Philippine Revolution broke out, Mariquina became the capital of the Province of Manila from 1898 to 1899, a period which declare the Philippine Independence by Emilio Aguinaldo, the first Philippine president, in Kawit, Cavite.

    Shortly after the Americans took possession of the Philippines, its name officially became Marikina and the province of Rizal was created on June 11, 1901 by virtue of Act No. 137 by the First Philippine Commission which during the time was acting as the unicameral legislative body in the island of Luzon. Marikina, along with many other towns around Manila were incorporated into the new province. On November 7, 1975, by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 824, the thirteen western towns of Rizal, including Marikina, were made part of the new Metropolitan Manila Area.

World War II and the Japanese Occupation

    In early 1942, the Japanese Imperial forces occupied Marikina.

    On February 17 to 19, 1945, Marikina was liberated by the combined U.S. and Philippine Commonwealth ground troops who attacked the Japanese Imperial Army by artillery from Quezon City. Almost all the big buildings including the church bell tower were destroyed. In reality, the Japanese had already left town and retreating to the north. The destruction which saw over 200 civilians casualties at the end of World War II.

    Some the local Filipino troops under the pre-war 42nd Infantry Division of the Philippine Commonwealth Army was entering and recaptured in Marikina and helped the U.S. liberation forces attacking the Japanese troops during the liberation in February 1945.

Shoe Capital and the Transformation to Urbanized City

    By the turn of the 20th century, Marikina had emerged as a town of shoemakers. Honed by years in shoe manufacturing, the natives had developed a work ethic that prepared them for the arrival of heavy industries in the 1950s. With the industrial plants came waves of workers who chose to stay, rapidly increasing the population. The city soon became a victim of runaway growth, resulting in the Marikina River being polluted by the factories and squatters along the riverbanks.

    In 1992, the city found a new direction under the leadership of Mayor Bayani Fernando. By dint of hard work and discipline, guided by the vision of a modern, livable city, Marikina has since been transformed into the beautiful and industrialized urban city that it is now. On December 8, 1996, the municipality of Marikina became a chartered city and transformed rapidly into a highly urbanized and first class city by virtue of Republic Act No. 8223, same date as the Feast of Immaculate Concepcion.

Disasters

    Marikina is the only place in Metro Manila lies in a valley, so that the city was in the high risk of flooding. Flooding cause of overflowing Marikina River to the entire low-lying areas of the city.

    On September 26, 2009, tropical storm Ondoy (Ketsana), caused record amounts of flooding in the city. The strong river current entered streets and homes, damaging property and killing more than 200 Mariqueños. Marikina easily resurrected from ruins in comparison to other towns nearby, despite being the hardest-hit of all cities.

    Another disaster prone is the Valley Fault System (also known as Marikina Fault Line), lies in the western portion of the city which these areas has in high-risk of earthquakes.

Timeline

Date or Year Milestone

1570 The Augustinians were the first to arrive at the valley, at the spot now known as Chorillo, in Barangay Barangka.

April 16, 1630 The Jesuits was next to arrived in a place called Jesus Dela Peña. They established a mission and built a chapel where the first mass in Marikina was held. Fray Pedro de Arce, apostolic ruler of the Archbishop of Manila, approved the transfer of ecclesiastical control and supervision of Marquina area to the Jesuits.

1687 The area was later called Mariquina and Mariquina was declared a pueblo (officially town) under the Spanish colonial government

1787 Don Benito Mendoza became the first Gobernadorcillo of Mariquina.

1822 Don Juan Gregorio became the first Alcalde Capitan of Mariquina.

1887 Don Laureano "Kapitan Moy" Guevarra, father of shoe industry in the Philippines, made and designed the first pair of shoes in Mariquina (Marikina). Mariquina emerged as a town of shoemakers.

1896 Andrés Bonifacio and the Katipuneros arrived in Mariquina.

1898 Mariquina became the capital of Manila province during proclamation of Philippine independence.

1900 Don Vicente Gomez became the first Alcalde Presidente after Mariquina became a capital of province of Manila.

June 11, 1901 Shortly after the Americans took possession of the Philippines, its name officially became Marikina and the province of Rizal was created by virtue of Act No. 137 by the First Philippine Commission which during the time was acting as the unicameral legislative body in the island of Luzon.

1938 Juan Chanyungco became the first Mayor of Marikina in modern time.

February 17–19, 1945 Combined Filipino and American soldiers was invaded to the liberation of Marikina from the Japanese forces, and which saw over 400 civilians are casualties. Filipino forces under the pre-war 42nd Infantry Division of the Philippine Commonwealth Army was sent in Marikina and attacked and defeating the Japanese forces.

1956 As a town of shoemakers and shoe industry, Marikina named as the "Shoe Capital of the Philippines".

June 1975 Metro Manila Commission was created under Presidential Decree No. 824 integrating four cities and 13 towns, majority of which were in the Province of Rizal. Marikina then became part of the Metropolitan Manila area.

November 7, 1975 Marikina officially became part of National Capital Region, also known as Metro Manila.

June 1992 Bayani Fernando started to serve as a mayor of Marikina. Marikina has been rapidly transformed into what it is today.

December 8, 1996 Marikina became a chartered city and Marikina City transformed rapidly into a highly urbanized and first class city by virtue of Republic Act No. 8223 authored by Romeo Candazo.

June 2001 Marides Fernando, wife of former mayor Bayani Fernando started to serve as mayor of Marikina City. Marikina transformation continues and considered as "Developed City".

2004 Marikina City awarded as the Most Competitive Metro City in the Philippines.

2006 The first medium rise condominium, the Marquinton Residences, was inaugurated in the heart of the city. Marquinton is one of the symbolic landmark structure in Marikina today.

May 2007 Under Republic Act No. 9364 which was filed by Congressman Del R. De Guzman and Senator Edgardo J. Angara, Marikina City was divided into 2 congressional districts serving 2 representatives.

2008 Marides Fernando is one of the finalists to the 2008 World Mayor Awards, an award-giving body to all the excellent mayors worldwide. Marides Fernando is the only mayor in Asia-Pacific region who has been included in this list.

2008 The Riverbanks Center has been declared as the city’s business, finance, and commercial triangle, and Metro Manila's latest developing business and commercial district.

September 2008 SM City Marikina opens with grand opening and celebrations, situated along Marcos Highway, near Riverbanks Center and considered as one of the largest mall in Metro Manila.

September 25–26, 2009 Marikina City was widely devastated by a flash flood due to torrential rains caused by Tropical Storm Ondoy. The City was declared under state of calamity. The city became a muddy environment after 2 huge dams (Angat Dam in Montalban and Rosario Dam in Pasig) were purposedly opened to release the overflowing flood water. The flood water in the dams had to be released before it burst and create more damage to the dam system.

The flood water flowed thru the towns and barangays from 10 am and then subsided at around seven in the morning the following day. The national and international aides arrived immediately to the city for relief, retrieval and recovery operations. Most notably, Marides and Bayani rallied able Mariquenos to help clean up the city, exhibiting one of the ultimate examples of Bayanihan.

May 10, 2010 Del R. De Guzman, former vice-mayor and congressman, elected and served as the new mayor of Marikina City, ended after almost 2 decades of Fernandos' reign.

September 26, 2010 Marikina City commemorated the 1st Anniversary of Tropical Storm Ondoy disaster, the most devastated area during this calamity. The local government also celebrating the full recovery after one year.

 Marikina City today

    The Riverbanks Center has been declared as the city’s business, finance, and commercial triangle, and Metro Manila's latest developing business and commercial district. And also, Marikina City starts booming with residential condominiums and towers, commercial centers and business parks, mostly concentrated in 3-triangular points: Marcos Highway, Sumulong Highway, and The Riverbanks Center as the hub. Recently mall giant SM built an SM Shoemart Mall near Riverbanks and just a kilometer from the City Hall are Marquinton real estate and Blue Wave.

    At present, the shoe industry has become a pride of the Philippines and a boost to the growth of its economy. The city also now boasts of hosting other big companies, multinationals, local and foreign, as well as leading exporting firms. Numerous banks, land development firms, residential realties, business centers, industrial centers, commercial centers, information and communication technology centers, hotels and condominiums is also boasts the city that Marikina rapidly into a highly urbanized city in a short time.

    Marikina City today is a multi-awarded metropolitan city, often cited for its vibrant economy, a highly-skilled and literate work force, an involved and enlightened business community, environment conscious, disciplined people and a responsive local government that puts a premium on governance, sustainable urban development and public service. Marikina City is one of the most industrialized city in Metro Manila and also one of the richest local government unit in the Philippines in terms of current assets, cash in banks, share of internal revenue allotment, gross income and gross net income.

    Proof positive of the city's standing in the league of metropolitan cities in the Philippines are the numerous awards and citations that have been bestowed. Marikina was one of the many cities, particularly Puerto Princesa City and Las Piñas City, awarded as The Cleanest and Greenest City which Marikina was the second local government, after Las Piñas City, to set as Hall of Famer in that category awarded by the Philippine government. The most recent and most prestigious award received the city of Marikina was the Most Competitive Metro City in the Philippinesfrom the prestigious Asian Institute of Management (AIM) Policy Research Center, Asia Foundation, International Labour Organization (ILO), German Technical Foundation, and Konrad Adenauer Stiflung, and the Continuing Excellence Award in Local Governance given by the Galing Pook Foundation, DILG, Local Government Authority and the Ford Foundation. Marikina is the second local government in the Philippines, after Las Piñas City, that has been honored with the prestigious Global 500 Roll Of Honour of the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP). Marikina was also considered as one of the Healthiest and Most Livable Cities in Asia-Pacific region. It has won over 200 awards and recognitions, both local and abroad, in a span of just 16 years. Since Marikina has been considered as business-friendly city in Metro Manila, it has become an ideal location for industry, business, commerce and for residences. Marikina is also one of the host cities of the recent 2005 Southeast Asian Games in the Philippines at the Marikina Sports Park. Mayor Marides Fernando was also recognized as finalist at the 2008 World Mayor Awards amongst the mayors from New York City, Paris and Sydney, as the only city mayor in Asia-Pacific belonging in the list of finalist.

City

Marikina City Hall

    The city lies on a valley of the same name. Marikina River runs through the mid-west portion of the city. There are two distinct seasons namely dry season from November to April and wet season from May to October

Barangays and districts

    Marikina City is divided into 16 barangays. These barangays are then grouped into 2 geographical districts, as per Republic Act No. 9364 which was principally authored by Del R. De Guzman--Districts 1 and 2. District 1 occupies the southwest side of Marikina River and the entire south of Marikina City, and District 2 occupies the northwest (Loyola Grand Villas) side of Marikina River and the entire northern and eastern part of Marikina City which is considered as the bigger district of the 2 in terms of land area.

Past Mayors

Mayor Year Started Year Ended

Juan Chanyungco 1938 1945

Enrique Dela Paz 1945 1948

Gil Fernando 1948 1951

Juan Chanyungco 1952 1955

Gil Fernando 1956 1959

Osmundo De Guzman 1960 1986

Teofisto Santos 1986 1986

Rodolfo B. Valentino 1987 1992

Bayani Fernando 1992 2001

Ma. Lourdes Fernando 2001 2010

Del R. De Guzman 2010 present

Hospitals in Marikina

These are the major hospitals in Marikina:

Public Hospitals

•        Amang Rodriguez Medical Center

•        Marikina Diagnostic and Specialty Center

Private Hospitals

•        Garcia General Hospital

•        Marikina Valley Medical Center

•        Immaculate Conception Hospital

•        The Medical City Marikina

•        P. Gonzales Memorial Hospital

•        St. Victoria Hospital

•        St. Vincent Hospital

•        Sta. Monica Hospital

•        SDS Medical Center Inc.

Roads in Marikina

These are some of the major roads in Marikina:

National (Major) Highway

•        Marcos Highway (Marikina-Infanta Road)

•        E. Rodriguez Jr. Avenue (C-5)

•        Sumulong Highway (Corazon Aquino Avenue)

National (Major) Roads

•        A. Bonifacio Avenue

•        Bayan-Bayanan Avenue (Immaculate Concepcion Ave.)

•        J. P. Rizal Avenue

•        Shoe Avenue (Marikina Avenue)

•        Gil Fernando Avenue (Angel Tuazon Avenue)

•        Fortune Avenue (Claro. M. Recto Avenue)

•        Erano Manalo Avenue (E. Rodriguez Avenue)

•        Major Dizon Avenue

•        General Ordoñez Ave. (Molave Street)

•        C5 Access Road

•        Katipunan Road

Bridges and Overpass

•        Marikina Bridge (Marikina River)

•        Marcos Highway Bridge (Marikina River)

•        Disodado Macapagal Bridge (Marikina River)

•        Gil Fernando Bridge (Marikina River)

•        Nangka Bridge (San Mateo River)

•        Modesta Bridge (San Mateo River)

•        Balara-San Mateo Bridge (Marikina River)

•        SM City Bridge (Marikina River)

•        Barangka Overpass

•        C5 Overpass

•        SM City Marikina Overpass

Marikina Shoe Industry

      Marikina is not the shoe capital of the Philippines for nothing. For the greater part of the 20th century, Marikina was the biggest manufacturer of quality shoes. There was a time, between 1978 and 1982, when Marikina’s women’s shoes and handbags made of snakeskin were the rave on Fifth Avenue, New York City. As early as 1935, Marikina already had 139 shops producing 260,078 pairs of ladies shoes and 86,692 pairs of men shoes worth P762,896.00. And as may as 2,450 inhabitants were directly engaged in the industry either as shoemakers or uppermakers. By 1983, Marikina produced 70 percent of the shoe production of the Philippines which was estimated at 30 million pairs. (Source:The Role of the Municipal Government in the Planning and Development of Local Industries: The Case of the Marikina Shoe Industry, by Mayor Osmundo de Guzman, De La Salle University, 1983). Even in those days, shoemaking thrived in such distant places as Cebu, Pangasinan, Iloilo and Ilocos Norte. But Marikina was recognized for its superior craftsmanship, and its proximity to Manila gave it a decided advantage. Florinio de la Paz, who traveled to Asian countries with a group of local manufacturers in 1968, noted that Marikina Shoes was unmatched in design in the region and second only to Japan in quality.Marikina’s shoe industry started one afternoon in 1887, at the residence of Don Laureano Guevara, known to this day as Kapitan Moy. Slippers and wooden clogs were already being made at a basement shop. But one day, Tiburcio Eustaquio, assisted by Ambrocio Sta. Ines and Gervacio Carlos, was working on the town’s first pair of shoes – a men’s shoes – while their proprietor, Kapitan Moy, watched expectantly.

       Kapitan Moy, highborn and a community leader, had bought   himself a pair of imported shoes, during one of his trips to   Manila. He used this pair of shoes as an example for his   workers to examine and duplicate; they dissected its various   parts and, by trial and error, learned how to put them back   together. On this particular day, Kapitan Moy and his shoemakers   had their onlookers. All the while, a group of young boys had   been craning their necks to watch the whole episode through   a grilled window. Kapitan Moy, bothered by their presence,   decided that they had had enough to tell their parents -- or   their children. One of the boys, Pablo de la Paz, would recount the episode to his children, claiming that it happened in 1888 when he was 14. Kapitan Moy saw to it that other Marikeños were taught the new skill at once, for he intended it to be a source of livelihood for a town that subsisted largely on fishing and farming. For this, he will be honored as the "Father of the Shoe Industry". Marikeños would build him and Tiburcio Eustaquio a statue that now stands in front of his house. His residence would become a public elementary school in 1912 and a venue of many social functions during the genteel prewar years. In 1968, the town council and the National Historical Commission declared it a national shrine. And in 1995, Mayor Bayani F. Fernando restored it to its former glory and declared it the city's "Sentrong Pangkultura".

     Marikina would become famous for its shoes and other leather products. They were much sought after in many a country churchyard, during town fiestas. Andres Bonifacio, a story goes, had a friend from Marikina make him a leather holster during his many visits to Marikina.

     Manila, however, was the prized market, and for a share of it, Marikeños had to deal with the Chinese merchants, who held fort in Gandara, Nueva and other parts of Chinatown. Marikeños, with their craftsmanship and little shops, had no choice but to enter into this partnership with the Chinese who had their stores and bundles of raw materials. It is a partnership that will endure for generations -- and a very unequal partnership it would be. Since they could dictate the price of finished shoes as well as of raw materials, it was not past the Chinese to take advantage of the Marikeños, and so there was much friction between them. One day in 1936, Marikeños lost their patience. Through "Oras Na" a worker's union organized by Mayor Wenceslao de la Paz, they struck to prevent the delivery of shoes to Chinese stores in Manila. They also prevented shoes from the neighboring town of San Mateo from being delivered to Chinese middlemen.

     Though the strikers had the sympathy of the local authorities, they could not outlast the moneyed Chinese merchants. Having made their statement for a better deal, the strikers struck tent and returned to work. It was not the last time the shoemakers would rise in protest against inequities. In the sixties, shoemakers, mostly from San Roque and Calumpang led by Rufino Rodriguez, left their “bonquillas” (work table) to demand higher pay from shoe manufacturers. And in 1994, a small group of manufacturers led by Barangay Captain Celso Mendoza marched to protest the high cost of raw materials. The protest fizzled out for lack of support from local authorities who had become friendly with the local Chinese chamber. In the meantime, the Chinese had relocated their shoe supply stores from Chinatown to Marikina. Operating side by side with shoe shops, the Chinese were able to preclude, by their superior financing, the possibility of Marikeños branching into shoe supply. By the sixties, the chamber had become so powerful that no aspiring politician dared fight with them, except Bayani Vergara, twice defeated candidate for congress who stood against them.

Zip Code and Phone Area Code of Marikina

1820 BAGONG NAYON

1803 BARANGKA

1820 GOGEO

1807 CONCEPCION 1

1811 CONCEPC10N 2

1820 cupang

1802 INDUSTRIAL VALLEY

1804 J.DE LA PEÑAPENA

1820 LANGHAYA

1805 MALANOAY

1820 MAMBAGAT

1800 MARIKINA CPO/ STA.ELENA/ STO. NIÑO NINO

1810 MARIKINA HEIGHTS

1820 MAYAMOT

1808 NANGKA

1806 NORTH/ WEST OF MARIKINA RIVER

1809 PARANG

1801 SAN ROQUE/ CALUMPANG

1803 TAÑONG

Marikina River Flood Alarm System

First Alarm -       15 meters above sea level

Second Alarm -  16 meters above sea level

Third Alarm -      17 meters above sea level

Critical Level -    18 meters above sea level

The Future of the Marikina Shoe Industry

Marikina’s history of becoming the Philippines’ shoe capital begins a long way from Filipino ancestry. From an agricultural farm town, Marikina transformed into a multi-awarded and highly urbanized city with a progressive shoemaking industry. It all started when community leader Don Laureano Guevara locally known as “Kapitan Moy” and his workers took time to disassemble, study the components and successfully reassembled his worn-out pair of British shoes in 1887. Kapitan Moy, originally from Quiapo Manila, realized shoemaking can provide an alternative source of livelihood for Marikenyos leading him to teach villagers shoemaking skills, hence earning his title as the Father of the Shoe Industry. In the 20th century shoemaking craftsmanship combined with heavy machinery made shoe manufacturing a multi-million-peso industry earning Marikina a title as the “Shoe Capital of the Philippines.” In the late 1980’s, Bayani Vergara became the first Chairman of Marikina Footwear Development Cooperative. In 1999, retired principal Rodolfo de Guzman was elected Chairman and Prof. Sofronio Dulay was elected Vice - Chairman of the cooperative with the following as board members: Kap. Narciso de la Cruz,  Ernesto Cremen, Ernesto Miterdan, Ramon Fernando, Magdalena Jocson, Miramar Vital and Aida Solomon.  With the death of Rodolfo de Guzman, Sofronio Dulay became the new Chairman with the following officers: Narciso de la Cruz as Vice – Chairman and GM, Miramar Vital as the Corporate Secretary, Bautista Nallica as the Treasurer with Florentina Mendoza and Ernesto Miterdan as members of the board.

The city opened its Shoe Museum in 2001 to preserve the culture and identity of the city and its shoemakers through series of displayed life-size mannequin crafting shoes. It also houses the shoes of prominent shoes of personalities as well as collection of traditional shoes from around the world. The museum aims to revive the slowly fading tradition of passing the skill of shoemaking to the succeeding generation.

In 2002 Marikina was recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as it crafted the world’s largest pair of shoes made from genuine leather, built in 77 days and costing more than two million pesos. Marikina celebrates its annual “Sapatos Festival” every November to January and features sales and expositions of Marikina’s finest shoes, clothing and accessories plus the anticipated “Tour de Takong” or stiletto race. Preserving culture boosts the morale of the city’s manufacturers and brings technology and craftsmen closer together to help Marikina’s shoemakers rise above foreign players entering the Philippine market such as China, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Thailand. The number of Marikina shoe manufacturers from the last two decades reached as high as 3,000 but significantly dropped to 300 in 2015.

One of the causes of the decline is traced to large importation of China-made shoes that led to higher pricing of local shoes, plus the proliferation of inferior quality shoes stamped with “Made in Marikina” that damaged the reputation of local shoemakers. Another reason cited is that shoemakers need more sophisticated mass-production machinery to increase their production output. Marikina now sees the silver lining as efforts to further revive the former glory of the industry are materializing as initiatives and projects are offered to the shoemakers.

Recently the Department of Trade and Industry launched the facility named Shared Service Facilities with the Philippine Footwear Federation Inc. housing common-service facilities with efficient machines and equipment for production of shoes, alongside the Philippine Footwear Academy serving as the first and only footwear school in the ASEAN oriented towards training future shoemakers and leaders. Support for MSME’s is now given an emphasis through assistance in finances, training and even designs from the private sectors and the government. Moreover, online influencers and ordinary netizens are taking part in reviving the vibrance of the industry as encouragement on patronizing Marikina-made footwear and apparel are constantly posted online, garnering thousands of support and actual visits in the shoe shops of Marikina.

Marikina’s success story showcases how Filipinos are naturally-born patriots and achievers, raising the Philippine flag in all corners of the world. Making Marikina’s shoe industry vibrant again is not just an advocacy of the shoemakers and the city’s citizens but also for all Filipinos who are called on to love local products more and help their producers make their products better.

Marikina Cats and Dogs Lovers (MCDL)/ We Care Animal Shelter (WCAS)

The City Hall has the following concern about pet animals in the city. Take note that they are not about providing shelter to the astray dogs and cats. In fact captured pets that are not redeemed after 5 days, may be destroyed by them. They are about orderliness and cleanlines, to say the least.

Animal Rights

The Animal Protection and Council Office (APCO) was created by virtue of Ordinance No. 156, Series of 1996. The main task is to eradicate stray animals; to provide protection against the spread of deadly rabies caused by animal bites, particularly dogs; and to control excessive breeding of dogs by irresponsible pet owners, causing animals to become stray which poses a health risk to humans.

Animal Impounding and Redemption

Owners shall pay PhP 40 a day for board and lodging fees of their impounded pets. Pets that are not redeemed within five days shall be adopted or destroyed. Friday is prescribed the adoption day for all impounded animals. Residents from settlement and resettlement sites are not allowed to adopt.

Animal Quarantine

Banning all residents in settlement and resettlement sites from owning pets. Confiscation of all animals or pets in all settlement and resettlement sites. No redemption policy to all confiscated and apprehended pets or animals in settlement or resettlement sites.

People's Education and Awareness (Responsible Pet Ownership)

Proper animal hygiene and handling. Dealing with an aggressive and dangerous dog. Control of animal-borne diseases. Control and prevention of stray dogs. Responsible Pet Ownership. Train your dog on basic obedience. Feed your dog regularly and with a balanced diet. Give your dog its own dish. Train your dog to go home. Be sure that your dog receives anti-rabies vaccination annually. Let not your dog be a nuisance to others by its continuous barking. Keep your dog clean by bathing it every other day. Be sure your dog drinks clean water. Give your dog its own place to rest.

You, Your Pet and the Law

ORDINANCE NO. 165 S-2001 imposes a penalty on owners of animals which cause injury or damage to people or property. ORDINANCE NO. 13 S-97 bans owning animals in settlement or resettlement areas. ORDINANCE NO. 13 S-95 prohibits dog owners from taking out their pets to urinate and defecate on streets and sidewalks. ORDINANCE NO. 17 S-94 prohibits the slaughter of dogs, sale and/or transport of its meat in the city and provides penalties on violators. ORDINANCE NO. 129 S-93 prohibits stray animals in public places in the city.

The above laws and ordinance may be clear, straightforward and legalese – but lacks on the concern of the welfare of the animals. These leads to the actions of the citizens to organize  an advocacy group, the Marikina Cats and Dogs Lovers (MCDL) whose objective is to advocate for  the welfare of the animals , among others, especially those who were strayed and captured, and are about to be destroyed. They have an FB group with around 2500 members and administered by Prof. Sofronio Dulay. The group is associated with We Care Animal Shelter (WCAS) group with Prof. Sofronio Dulay as the Chairman, Star Buban as the President and Che Rivera as the Treasurer. Aside from rescuing, fostering and sheltering of stray dogs and cats, the MCDL/WCAS is also campaigning for responsible ownership and neutering/castrate or spay of stray dogs and cats instead of “destroying" them in the city pound, The works of the MCDL/WCAS seem to be unhealthy to the employee of the city pound but the group is composed of dedicated animal lovers who are willing to fight for the welfare of cats and dogs.

Our Lady of the Abandoned, the Patroness of Marikina