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Marikina (), officially the City of Marikina ( fil, Lungsod ng Marikina), is a 1st class
highly urbanized city A city ( fil, lungsod/siyudad) is one of the units of local government in the Philippines. All Philippine cities are chartered cities ( fil, nakakartang lungsod), whose existence as corporate and administrative entities is governed by their own ...
in the
National Capital Region A capital region, also called a capital district or capital territory, is a region or district surrounding a capital city. It is not always the official term for the region, but may sometimes be used as an informal synonym. Capital regions can exis ...
of the
Philippines The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no), * bik, Republika kan Filipinas * ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas * cbk, República de Filipinas * hil, Republ ...
. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 456,159 people. It is located along the eastern border of Metro Manila, Marikina is the main gateway of Metro Manila to Rizal and Quezon provinces through Marikina–Infanta Highway. It is bordered on the west by
Quezon City Quezon City (, ; fil, Lungsod Quezon ), also known as the City of Quezon and Q.C. (read in Filipino as Kyusi), is the List of cities in the Philippines, most populous city in the Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a populatio ...
, to the south by
Pasig Pasig, officially the City of Pasig ( fil, Lungsod ng Pasig), is a 1st class highly urbanized city in the National Capital Region of the Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 803,159 people. It is located along the ...
and Cainta, to the north by San Mateo, and to the east by Antipolo, the capital of Rizal province. It was founded by the Jesuits on the fertile Marikina Valley in 1630. Marikina was the provincial capital of the Province of Manila under the First Philippine Republic from 1898 to 1899 during the Philippine Revolution. Following the onset of American occupation it was then organized as a municipality of Rizal Province, prior to the formation of Metro Manila in 1975. Formerly a rural settlement, Marikina is now primarily residential and industrial and has become increasingly commercial in recent years. The City of Marikina is considered one of the wealthiest local government units in the Philippines. Marikina is known as the "Shoe Capital of the Philippines" owing to its famous shoe industry. It is the biggest manufacturer of shoes in the Philippines, producing almost 70% of shoes made in the country. Located in the city are the Philippine International Footwear Center and the Shoe Museum, housing the infamous shoe collection of former First Lady Imelda Marcos, wife of the late Filipino president, dictator, and kleptocrat Ferdinand Marcos. The city is under the jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Antipolo. It contains the Our Lady of the Abandoned Church, the oldest in the Marikina Valley, built in 1572.


Etymology

In view of the non-existence of records or documents on how the name Marikina came into being, the following legends were gathered from elder residents of the different barrios in Marikina. *One of the builders of the Jesús de la Peña Chapel was a young priest named "Mariquina", who was given the task of baptizing children to Christianity. Because of this very noble job, ''Mariquina'' was named in his honor. *It is said that before the Spaniards came to Mariquina, a beautiful, virtuous, polite, and intelligent lady named ''Maria Cuina'' was residing in the town. Because of her expertise in business, she became wealthy, and her fortunes were expended on charity. She eventually became famous in the whole town up to Manila. *Construction of the chapel of Jesús de la Peña was supervised by a Jesuit priest, and the laborers were Filipinos. As expected, the language barrier resulted in the usual misunderstandings. When the chapel was completed and the priest asked what the structure would be called, one worker answered "Marikit-na-Po", thinking that what was being asked was the condition of the chapel. *In the province of Viscaya in
Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = '' Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , ...
, there was a beautiful town called '' Mariquina''. The town, located beside the Charmaga River (now known as Artibai River), is the origin of the Jesuit priests who came to the Philippines and established Jesús de la Peña. Because of this, "Mariquina" was used to honor the place where they came from. In 1901, Commissioner de Tavera changed the letter "q" to "k". *Based on history and documents in the custody of the municipal government of Marikina, the town was called Marikit-na in 1787 and was later changed to Mariquina. According to Dr. Trinidad Pardo de Tavera, the word ''Mariquina'' was in recognition of Capt. Berenguer de Marquina who led the town in 1788.


History


Early history

The first settlers were descendants of Lakan Dula and the area is part of Kingdom of Tondo, followed by Augustinians were the first to arrive at the valley in the 1500s, at the spot known as Chorillo in
Barangka Barangka is an administrative division of Marikina, Metro Manila, the Philippines. It is an urban barangay part of the 1st district of Marikina and is one of the oldest barangays in Marikina. Located along the southwestern border of Marikina, wi ...
. In 1572,
Our Lady of the Abandoned Parish The Diocesan Shrine and Parish of Our Lady of the Abandoned (Spanish: ''Santuario y Parroquia de Nuestra Señora de los Desamparados''; Tagalog: ''Dambanang Pandiyosesis at Parokya ng Ina ng mga Walang Mag-Ampon''), better known as Our Lady ...
was established. Next came the Jesuits in 1630, in a place now called Jesús de la Peña (Jesus of the Rocks). Here, the Jesuits established a mission and built a chapel still known today as Jesús de la Pena Chapel. Fray Pedro de Arce, apostolic ruler of the Archbishop of Manila at that time, approved transfer of ecclesiastical control and supervision to the Jesuits, and settled the place as a
town A town is a human settlement. Towns are generally larger than villages and smaller than cities, though the criteria to distinguish between them vary considerably in different parts of the world. Origin and use The word "town" shares an o ...
. In 1665, an intensity 8 earthquake struck the valley and nearby Manila, and it is related to the activity now known as
Marikina Valley Fault System The Marikina Valley Fault System, also known as the Valley Fault System (VFS), is a dominantly right-lateral strike-slip fault system in Luzon, Philippines. It extends from Doña Remedios Trinidad, Bulacan in the north and runs through the pro ...
. Only a Jesuit church experienced great damage and resulting in 19 deaths in the said earthquake. In 1787, the town was called "Mariquina" after Felix Berenguer de Marquina, who was the governor-general at that time, and the town was declared a pueblo under the Spanish colonial government. 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 (November 19, 1790, Cagsawa, Daraga, Albay, Philippines – January 30, 1900, Banwa, Batan, Aklan, Philippines) was the only daughter of Doña Demetria Sumulong y Lindo and of Señor Felix Berenguer de Marquina y FitzGerald, the former Governor-General of the Philippines. By the 19th century, Hacienda Mariquina was eventually owned and administered by the Tuason family and had become the largest in the Philippines. The hacienda was declared a mayorazgo by the Spanish colonial government. Don Juan Gregorio became the first Alcalde Capitan of Mariquina in 1822. During the Philippine Revolution in 1896, Andrés Bonifacio arrived in Mariquina before he and his Katipuneros proceeded to the caves of Montalban. Mariquina became the capital of the Province of Manila in 1898, when the Philippine Revolution broke out, a period when Philippine
Independence Independence is a condition of a person, nation, country, or state in which residents and population, or some portion thereof, exercise self-government, and usually sovereignty, over its territory. The opposite of independence is the stat ...
was declared by Emilio Aguinaldo, the first Philippine president. Don Vicente Gomez became the first Alcalde Presidente of Mariquina in 1900.


20th century

On June 11, 1901, shortly after the United States took possession of the Philippines, its name officially became "Marikina". The province of Rizal was created by virtue of Act No. 137 by the
First Philippine Commission The Schurman Commission, also known as the First Philippine Commission, was established by United States President William McKinley on January 20, 1899, and tasked to study the situation in the Philippines and make recommendations on how the U.S. ...
which was acting as the unicameral legislative body in the island of Luzon. Marikina, along with many other towns around
Manila Manila ( , ; fil, Maynila, ), officially the City of Manila ( fil, Lungsod ng Maynila, ), is the capital of the Philippines, and its second-most populous city. It is highly urbanized and, as of 2019, was the world's most densely populated ...
, was incorporated into the new province. In 1906, the Manila Railroad Company completed a steam train line called "Marikina Line", also known as Rosario-Montalban branch, a branch of
Philippine National Railway The Philippine National Railways (PNR) ( fil, Pambansang Daang-Bakal ng Pilipinas and es, Ferrocarril Nacional de Filipinas) is a state-owned railway company in the Philippines which operates one commuter rail service between Metro Mani ...
which is currently existing (converted into the road which is known today as Daang Bakal, including Shoe Avenue), Marikina Railway Depot (Marikina Elementary School in the present-day) and Marikina Railway Station, connecting Montalban and Rosario (known today as Tramo, in
Pasig Pasig, officially the City of Pasig ( fil, Lungsod ng Pasig), is a 1st class highly urbanized city in the National Capital Region of the Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 803,159 people. It is located along the ...
). Marikina Bridge, a vital economic link to Manila, was formally opened in 1934. During the construction of the train line, not far from Marikina Railway Depot, Marikina Airfield was completed and used for the civilian airfield. The runways were subsequently converted into the road known today as E. Rodriguez Avenue and E. Santos Streets, and the airfield stands today as Paliparan Subdivision. In 1936, the Marikina Line was abandoned. In 1939, the barrios of Balara,
Barranca Barranca (Spanish for "canyon" or "ravine"), may refer to: Geography Argentina * Barranca Yaco, Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata, Argentina Chile * Barrancas, Pichilemu, a village in Pichilemu Colombia * Barrancas, La Guajira, town and ...
(Barangka), Jesus de la Peña,
Krus na Ligas Krus na Ligas is a barangay in Diliman, Quezon City in the Philippines. It is located within the premises of the University of the Philippines Diliman. It has a population of 21,513 based on the census conducted in 2015. History Krus na Liga ...
, Tañong, and the site of the new UP Campus were separated from Marikina to form part of the newly established
Quezon City Quezon City (, ; fil, Lungsod Quezon ), also known as the City of Quezon and Q.C. (read in Filipino as Kyusi), is the List of cities in the Philippines, most populous city in the Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a populatio ...
. In 1941, the barrios of lower Barranca and Jesus de la Peña were returned to Marikina. In 1942, during the
World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...
,
Japanese Imperial The also known as the Japanese Empire or Imperial Japan, was a historical nation-state and great power that existed from the Meiji Restoration in 1868 until the enactment of the post-World War II 1947 constitution and subsequent forma ...
forces occupied Marikina. The town was liberated in 1945 by combined United States and Philippine Commonwealth ground troops, who attacked the Japanese Imperial Army by artillery from
Quezon City Quezon City (, ; fil, Lungsod Quezon ), also known as the City of Quezon and Q.C. (read in Filipino as Kyusi), is the List of cities in the Philippines, most populous city in the Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a populatio ...
. Almost all of the large buildings, including the church bell tower, were destroyed. In reality, the Japanese had already left the town and retreated to the north. The town saw over 400 civilians casualties by the end of World War II. Local Filipino troops under the pre-war 4th and 42nd Infantry Division of the
Philippine Commonwealth Army The Philippine Army was established on December 21, 1935, as the Army of the Philippines, with a general headquarters in Manila, and units and formations based throughout the provinces of the Philippines. The Philippine Army was initially o ...
entered Marikina and assisted U.S. forces in attacking Japanese troops during the liberation. The general headquarters of the
Philippine Commonwealth Army The Philippine Army was established on December 21, 1935, as the Army of the Philippines, with a general headquarters in Manila, and units and formations based throughout the provinces of the Philippines. The Philippine Army was initially o ...
was rebuilt and stationed in Marikina after the war. In 1956, Marikina was given the title of "Shoe Capital of the Philippines", has re-emerged as a town of shoemakers after World War II. Honed by years of shoe manufacturing experience, the natives had developed a work ethic that prepared them for the arrival of heavy industries. With the industrial plants came waves of workers who chose to stay, rapidly increasing the population. In 1968, Kapitan Moy's house (now known as Sentrong Pangkultura ng Marikina) was declared a national shrine by the town council and the National Historical Commission. In 1969, Rodriguez Sports Complex, known today as Marikina Sports Center was completed. On November 7, 1975, by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 824, four cities and thirteen towns of Rizal, including Marikina, were made part of Metropolitan Manila Area. On October 23, 1988, Typhoon Unsang brought heavy rains, causing record flooding in Marikina. By 1992, Marikina had become an industrialized urban municipality under the leadership of
Bayani Fernando Bayani Flores Fernando (born July 25, 1946) is a Filipino politician, businessman and professional mechanical engineer who served as the representative for Marikina's 1st congressional district from 2016 to 2022. Prior to his election to co ...
. Marikina River was transformed into a waterway, with the Marikina River Park along the riverbanks.


Cityhood

On December 8, 1996, the municipality of Marikina became a
city A city is a human settlement of notable size.Goodall, B. (1987) ''The Penguin Dictionary of Human Geography''. London: Penguin.Kuper, A. and Kuper, J., eds (1996) ''The Social Science Encyclopedia''. 2nd edition. London: Routledge. It can be def ...
and transformed rapidly into a highly urbanized city. Marikina became a First Class City by virtue of Republic Act No. 8223, the day of the Feast of Immaculate Concepcion, signed by
President Fidel V. Ramos Fidel Valdez Ramos (, ; March 18, 1928 – July 31, 2022), popularly known as FVR and Eddie Ramos, was a Filipino general and politician who served as the 12th president of the Philippines from 1992 to 1998. He was the only career military ...
.


21st century

In 2006, under Republic Act No. 9364 signed by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Marikina was divided into two congressional districts being served by two representatives in 2007. Barangays Fortune and Tumana were created and became independent in 2007. On September 26–27, 2009, Marikina was widely devastated by a flash flood from the overflowing Marikina River, due to torrential rains caused by
Tropical Storm Ondoy Typhoon Ketsana, known in the Philippines as Tropical Storm Ondoy, was the second-most devastating tropical cyclone of the 2009 Pacific typhoon season, causing $1.15 billion in damages and 921 fatalities, only behind Morakot earlier in the se ...
. The river reached the 23-meter mark, the worst flooding in two decades, and the city was declared under a state of calamity. National and international aides arrived immediately for relief, retrieval, and recovery operations. In August 2012, the nonstop eight-day intense monsoon rain caused the Luzon widespread flooding strengthened by Typhoon Gener, which affected the regions of Calabarzon and Metro Manila caused the Marikina River to overflow and destroyed the city.


Geography

Marikina lies on the so-called
Marikina Valley Marikina (), officially the City of Marikina ( fil, Lungsod ng Marikina), is a 1st class Cities of the Philippines#Legal classification, highly urbanized city in the Metro Manila, National Capital Region of the Philippines. According to the 202 ...
, which extends to the south toward
Pasig Pasig, officially the City of Pasig ( fil, Lungsod ng Pasig), is a 1st class highly urbanized city in the National Capital Region of the Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 803,159 people. It is located along the ...
and Cainta, Rizal. Sierra Madre mountains lie to the east and
Quezon City Quezon City (, ; fil, Lungsod Quezon ), also known as the City of Quezon and Q.C. (read in Filipino as Kyusi), is the List of cities in the Philippines, most populous city in the Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a populatio ...
hills to the west. Marikina River runs through the mid-west portion of the city, with its tributary including Nangka River. Nangka River runs through the north slicing between Marikina and San Mateo, while the small waterway called Sapang Baho Creek slicing the southeast between Marikina and Cainta and Antipolo. The total land area of Marikina is approximately . This represents about 3.42% of the total land area of Metro Manila. At present, the city is composed of 16 barangays. Barangays Fortune, Concepcion Uno, and Marikina Heights are among the largest in terms of land area. The south portion of the city comprises numerous commercial, industrial and residential areas, heritage sites and mixed use zones, while the north and northeast portion are primarily residential and industrial zones, and various establishments such as small and medium enterprises. Loyola Grand Villas and Trevi Executive Village, located at the northwest portion of the city, are gated communities with upper-middle class and wealthy residents. Barangay Santa Elena represents a
poblacion ''Poblacion'' (literally "town" or "settlement" in Spanish; ) is the common term used for the administrative center, central, downtown, old town or central business district area of a Philippine city or municipality, which may take up th ...
, or the center of Marikina. At present, it is 38% residential, 19% commercial and industrial, 17% Roads, 8% Mixed-use, 18% for parks and open spaces, development areas, institutional, cemeteries and others. Located along the eastern border of Metro Manila, it is bordered on the west by
Quezon City Quezon City (, ; fil, Lungsod Quezon ), also known as the City of Quezon and Q.C. (read in Filipino as Kyusi), is the List of cities in the Philippines, most populous city in the Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a populatio ...
, to the south by
Pasig Pasig, officially the City of Pasig ( fil, Lungsod ng Pasig), is a 1st class highly urbanized city in the National Capital Region of the Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 803,159 people. It is located along the ...
and Cainta, Rizal, to the north by San Mateo, Rizal and to the east by Antipolo, the capital of Rizal province. It is approximately away from
Manila Manila ( , ; fil, Maynila, ), officially the City of Manila ( fil, Lungsod ng Maynila, ), is the capital of the Philippines, and its second-most populous city. It is highly urbanized and, as of 2019, was the world's most densely populated ...
and lies within . From the north, Marikina occupies most of the south bank of Nangka River. The east slices at the foot of the Sierra Madre mountains of Antipolo and sliced by the streets of Montserrat Hill, Bonanza, and Starlite in Barangay Concepcion Dos. The southeast slices by
Sapang Baho River The Sapang Baho River is a river system that runs through Rizal Province and Marikina in the Philippines. The name, when literally translated, means "smelly creek." It is one of 21 tributaries of Laguna de Bay and is regularly monitored by the Lag ...
occupies the north-west bank. The south portion is sliced by Marcos Highway and occupies most of the north side of the highway and extends to the west until it occupies the Line 2 Santolan Station depot until it reaches the Marikina River. The east occupies the southernmost of Quezon City hills which lies in Barangay Industrial Valley and sliced by
C5 Road Circumferential Road 5 (C-5), informally known as the C-5 Road, is a network of roads and bridges that all together form the fifth beltway of Metro Manila in the Philippines. Spanning some , it connects the cities of Las Piñas, Makati, Parañaqu ...
occupies the west side until it reaches Ateneo de Manila University campus. The east part of the campus covers the city, extending to the north and sliced by several roads of Loyola Grand Villas, which covers the east part of the village until it reaches Marikina River and its tributary Nangka River to the north. Marikina River runs to the western part of the city and surrounded by many lush trees in the Marikina River Park on the riverbanks. The south portion of the river is surrounded by structures and concrete walkways. The river covers an area of around and measures about in length and is the principal drainage system for Marikina. Its depth measures from 12 meters up to 18 meters during the heavy downpour. Rehabilitation of the River started in 1992. The river traverses 11 city barangays which have streets and alleys going to the river, making river parks easily accessible. River parks today are popular sports and recreational centers not only in Metro Manila but throughout the Philippines. Marikina is also prone to various natural disasters, including the major floodings during the onslaught of Typhoon Unsang in 1988, Typhoon Ondoy in 2009, Tropical Storm Falcon and Typhoon Pedring in 2011, seasonal southwest monsoon in 2012 and 2016, and Typhoon Ulysses in 2020. Primarily, flooding within Marikina is caused by the increase of water level in major rivers and its tributaries from the Sierra Madre mountains, followed by overflowing from its riverbanks to low-lying areas throughout the city. Another major threat is fault lines in Marikina caused by earthquakes. West Valley Fault Line, previously known as Marikina Fault Line, lies at the west Marikina. ;Physiography zones in Marikina


Barangays

Marikina is politically subdivided into 16 barangays. Its barangays are grouped into two districts for city council representation purposes. The first district encompasses the southern section of the city, while the second district encompasses the northern section. Among these barangays, 11 are traversed by Marikina River mostly on the west section of the city.


Climate

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


Demographics

The native people in Marikina refer to themselves as "''Marikeño''" (or ''Marikenyo'', in Filipino). According to the 2015 Census, the population of the city was 450,741. The population of Marikina is near half a million, making it one of the most densely populated areas in the Philippines. Like other places in Metro Manila, the original settlers of Marikina were
Tagalog Tagalog may refer to: Language * Tagalog language, a language spoken in the Philippines ** Old Tagalog, an archaic form of the language ** Batangas Tagalog, a dialect of the language * Tagalog script, the writing system historically used for Taga ...
. There has been a constant migration of other ethnic groups in the Philippines.
Tagalog Tagalog may refer to: Language * Tagalog language, a language spoken in the Philippines ** Old Tagalog, an archaic form of the language ** Batangas Tagalog, a dialect of the language * Tagalog script, the writing system historically used for Taga ...
is widely spoken and the main language in Marikina, while
English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ...
is used in education and business.


Religion

Marikina was one of the seats of the Spanish colonial government in past centuries and has been used as the base of
Roman Catholic Roman or Romans most often refers to: * Rome, the capital city of Italy *Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD * Roman people, the people of ancient Rome *'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a let ...
missions to the
Philippines The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no), * bik, Republika kan Filipinas * ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas * cbk, República de Filipinas * hil, Republ ...
. Religious orders include the Dominicans, the
Franciscans , image = FrancescoCoA PioM.svg , image_size = 200px , caption = A cross, Christ's arm and Saint Francis's arm, a universal symbol of the Franciscans , abbreviation = OFM , predecessor = , ...
, the Jesuits and the Augustinians, which were the first to arrive in Marikina. The Our Lady of the Abandoned Church, completed in 1572, is the seat of Nuestra Señora de los Desamparados, the
Patron Saint A patron saint, patroness saint, patron hallow or heavenly protector is a saint who in Catholicism, Anglicanism, or Eastern Orthodoxy is regarded as the heavenly advocate of a nation, place, craft, activity, class, clan, family, or perso ...
of Marikina. The majority of the city's population is
Roman Catholic Roman or Romans most often refers to: * Rome, the capital city of Italy *Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD * Roman people, the people of ancient Rome *'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a let ...
. Alternative incarnations of Christianity are promoting their version of faith in the Philippines includes Iglesia ni Cristo, Seventh-day Adventist Church, Members Church of God International,
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, informally known as the LDS Church or Mormon Church, is a Nontrinitarianism, nontrinitarian Christianity, Christian church that considers itself to be the Restorationism, restoration of the ...
, Philippine Independent Church or popularly known as Aglipayan Church, the second-largest catholic denomination in Marikina, and among other small
Baptist Baptists form a major branch of Protestantism distinguished by baptizing professing Christian believers only ( believer's baptism), and doing so by complete immersion. Baptist churches also generally subscribe to the doctrines of soul c ...
churches and Christian groups.
Pentecostal Missionary Church of Christ (4th Watch) The Pentecostal Missionary Church of Christ (4th Watch), also known as PMCC (4th Watch), is a nontrinitarian Christian denomination based in the Philippines. It was founded in 1971 by Arsenio T. Ferriol and registered on August 27, 1973. The ch ...
headquarter is located Barangay Sto. Niño. Other small religions in Marikina are
Hinduism Hinduism () is an Indian religion or '' dharma'', a religious and universal order or way of life by which followers abide. As a religion, it is the world's third-largest, with over 1.2–1.35 billion followers, or 15–16% of the global p ...
,
Buddhism Buddhism ( , ), also known as Buddha Dharma and Dharmavinaya (), is an Indian religion or philosophical tradition based on teachings attributed to the Buddha. It originated in northern India as a -movement in the 5th century BCE, and ...
,
Islam Islam (; ar, ۘالِإسلَام, , ) is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion centred primarily around the Quran, a religious text considered by Muslims to be the direct word of God (or '' Allah'') as it was revealed to Muhammad, the ...
, and
Sikhism Sikhism (), also known as Sikhi ( pa, ਸਿੱਖੀ ', , from pa, ਸਿੱਖ, lit=disciple', 'seeker', or 'learner, translit=Sikh, label=none),''Sikhism'' (commonly known as ''Sikhī'') originated from the word ''Sikh'', which comes fro ...
.


Economy

Commercial and industrial The financial resources of Marikina are scattered all over the city, but the southern part is primarily concentrated which includes business establishments and commercial facilities, while the northern part is factories and warehouses.
Riverbanks Center Riverbanks Center (also known as Marikina Riverbanks/Marikina Riverbanks Center or simply Riverbanks) is an integrated development complex for shopping, recreational, business and commercial along Andres Bonifacio Avenue adjacent to Marikina River ...
is the city's commercial center situated southwest of the city where shopping malls and recreation areas are located. Real estate, residential condominiums, and commercial establishments along A. Bonifacio Avenue, Marcos Highway, and Sumulong Highway are developing. Restaurants, cafés, diners, and entertainment bars are mostly concentrated along Gil Fernando Avenue, J. P. Rizal Street, Bayanbayanan Avenue, and Lilac Street. Fortune Avenue is home to some of major companies such as
Fortune Tobacco PMFTC, Inc. is the Philippine affiliate of Philip Morris International (PMI). Owned 50-50 by PMI and local conglomerate LT Group, PMFTC is the leading cigarette manufacturer in the Philippines, controlling over 90% of the local market, commerciali ...
,
Philip Morris Phil(l)ip or Phil Morris may refer to: Companies *Altria, a conglomerate company previously known as Philip Morris Companies Inc., named after the tobacconist **Philip Morris USA, a tobacco company wholly owned by Altria Group ** Philip Morris Inte ...
, Armscor and Noritake. Sumulong Highway is the center of business and local trade, and it has mixed establishments such as banking, boutiques, retail shops, electronics, appliances, and other consumer needs. Almost all the major international and local commercial and government banks in the Philippines operate branches in the city. Shopping centers SM City Marikina is currently the largest shopping mall in the city, while
Riverbanks Center Riverbanks Center (also known as Marikina Riverbanks/Marikina Riverbanks Center or simply Riverbanks) is an integrated development complex for shopping, recreational, business and commercial along Andres Bonifacio Avenue adjacent to Marikina River ...
, a community shopping and commercial center is one of the most popular outlet stores in the Philippines. Other shopping malls located in the city are S&R Membership Shopping, Blue Wave Marquinton Mall, Graceland Plaza, C&B Circle Mall, Xeland XentroMall, CitiCentre, and Ayala Malls Marikina while Sienna Towers Residences Shopping Complex is one of the upcoming shopping centers in the city. Other shopping centers just next to the Marikina boundary are Sta. Lucia East Grand Mall and Robinsons Metro East (near Barangay San Roque), and Ayala Malls Feliz (near Barangay Calumpang), all are located along Marikina-Infanta Highway which of these malls are more closely and accessible to Marikina than to their respective city proper. Public market The Marikina Market Mall, a public market in the city is a centralized modern market, converted streets into commercial and market lanes, and is one of the most popular and largest public markets in Metro Manila. The market is divided into two sections: the dry goods and the wet goods. Commerce in this market is active mostly during early mornings and late afternoons. There are also food stalls and eateries located inside the market. Some of Marikina's local products are handicrafts, sweet delicacies, leather, clothing, food processing, bags, accessories, and footwear.


Shoe industry

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


Government


Local government

Like in other city governments in the Philippines, Marikina is governed by a mayor and a vice mayor elected to three-year terms. The mayor is the executive head and leads the city's departments in executing city ordinances and improving public services, along with city councilors, while the vice mayor heads a legislative council, and these councilors represent the two legislative districts of the city. The council is in charge of formulating and enacting city ordinances. Marikina, being a part of the Metro Manila region, has its mayor in the Metro Manila Council headed by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA). This council formulates development plans that seek to solve the problems and improve the conditions in the metropolis. Marikina is made up of 16 barangays that handle governance in a much smaller area. These barangays are grouped into the aforementioned legislative districts. Each district is represented by a congressman, in turn, is represented in the
House of Representatives of the Philippines The House of Representatives of the Philippines ( fil, Kapulungan ng mga Kinatawan ng Pilipinas, italic=unset, ''Kamara'' or ''Kamara de Representantes'' from the Spanish word ''cámara'', meaning "chamber") is the lower house of Congress, th ...


List of mayors

* Claudio Cruz (1861) * Vivencio Cruz (1889) * Remigio Victorino (1893-1894) * Domingo Victoriano (1895-1896) * Vicente Gomez (1900-1903) * Domingo Victoriano (1904-1905) * Ceferino Legazpi (1908-1909) * Isabello Mendoza (1910-1911) * Catalino Cruz (1912–1918) * Jesus Villalon (1926-1928) * Wenceslao dela Paz (1929-1937) * Juan Chanyungco (1938–1945) * Enrique dela Paz (1945) * Gil Estanislao Fernando (1946–1951) * Juan Chanyungco (1952–1955) * Gil Estanislao Fernando (1956–1959) * Osmundo De Guzman (1960–1986) * Teofisto Santos (1986) * Rodolfo Valetino (1987–1992) *
Bayani Fernando Bayani Flores Fernando (born July 25, 1946) is a Filipino politician, businessman and professional mechanical engineer who served as the representative for Marikina's 1st congressional district from 2016 to 2022. Prior to his election to co ...
(1992–2001) * Maria Lourdes Fernando (2001–2010) *
Del De Guzman Del Reyes de Guzman (born January 9, 1963) is a Filipino politician who served as the 11th Mayor of Marikina from 2010 to 2016. He had previously served as Representative for the city's lone district from 2001 up to its division in 2007, wherein ...
(2010–2016) *
Marcelino Teodoro Marcelino "Marcy" Reyes Teodoro (born August 2, 1970), is a Filipino politician who is the 12th and incumbent Mayor of Marikina. Prior to his election as mayor, Teodoro served as the representative for Marikina's 1st congressional district fro ...
(2016–present)


City seal

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


Culture

Local cuisines such as ''Everlasting'', a popular dish in Marikina similar to
Embutido (Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese), (European Portuguese) or (Catalan) is a generic term for cured meat products. The dictionary of the Royal Spanish Academy defines it as "intestine stuffed with minced meat, mainly pork; intestine stuffed wit ...
but it is cooked in "lyanera", while ''Waknatoy'', a unique dish is simply a variant of Menudo with the addition of pickles which gives Waknatoy a sweet-tangy flavor, and ''Laoya'', a dish similar to Nilaga with the addition of pounded garlic, sweet potato and
saba banana Saba banana (pron. or ), is a triploid hybrid (ABB) banana cultivar originating from the Philippines. It is primarily a cooking banana, though it can also be eaten raw. It is one of the most important banana varieties in Philippine cuisine. I ...
. Marikina's festivities are rich in culture, tradition, and the people themselves. Several ancestral houses can be found along J. P. Rizal Street in Barangay Santa Elena. Teatro Marikina is the center of the performing arts in Marikina. The traditional dance in Marikina is ''Lerion'', the official folk dance of Marikina. Some of the local festivities in Marikina include: ''Ilognayan Festival'', a cultural event that is about letting the people know about the Marikina River's significance which is held in February along the Marikina River; ''Ka-Angkan Festival'' is a feast that coincides with the founding anniversary of Marikina on April 16. It is an event that honors the large native clans of the city that have unique monikers; ''Marikina Christmas Festival/Shopalooza/ChristmaSaya'', is a long holiday festival filled with stalls selling a wide variety of goods at affordable prices. The festival starts as early as October, and runs until February of the following year, mostly concentrated in Marikina River Park and
Riverbanks Center Riverbanks Center (also known as Marikina Riverbanks/Marikina Riverbanks Center or simply Riverbanks) is an integrated development complex for shopping, recreational, business and commercial along Andres Bonifacio Avenue adjacent to Marikina River ...
; ''Rehiyon-Rehiyon Festival'', a festival that showcases the various ethnic groups that make up the people of Marikina. It serves as a tribute to the active community who came from other regions of the country and chose to settle in Marikina. It proves that unity can be achieved despite diverse backgrounds and different dialects. The festival celebrates every year on December 8, when Marikina was established as a city; and lastly, the ''Sapatos Festival'', since Marikina was tagged as the Shoe Capital, the city celebrates the Sapatos Festival every year, from mid-September until the year ends. This is a celebration of the ingenuity and craftsmanship of shoemakers in Marikina. It gives due recognition to their hardship and the local shoe industry itself.


Sports

Marikina Sports Center, also known as Marikina Sports Park, located in the corner of Sumulong Highway and Shoe Avenue, is a prominent structure located in Marikina and a notable sports complex of the Philippines. It features the football, and athletics stadium consisting of an athletics oval track, a 64 meters (210 ft) wide natural grass pitch, bicycle track, and two grandstands; the West and East Stands. The grandstands have a total seating capacity of 15,000 people. Between the West Stand and the athletics track, the basketball, volleyball, badminton, and tennis courts are located. The West Stand is situated along Shoe Avenue while the East Stand is connected to Marikina Sports Center indoor facilities such as an Olympic-size swimming pool inside an aquatics center which can accommodate 2,000 spectators, an 8-story sports building, an indoor gymnasium with a capacity of 7,000 seats, and other establishments such as sports and souvenir shops, food stalls and convenience stores. The area has been host to several sports competitions both regional, national and international as well as entertainment such as grand concerts, finals night, live television shows, and other purposes. The sports complex is also home to the
JPV Marikina F.C. Japan Philippines Voltes Marikina Football Club, formerly known as Manila All-Japan Football Club and commonly known as JP Voltes Football Club, was an association football club based in the city of Marikina, Philippines which competed in the P ...
, a football club that currently plays in the Philippines Football League, the premier football league in the Philippines.


Transportation


Public transport and road networks

Public transportation within the city, like in most of the urban areas in the Philippines, is facilitated mostly using jeepneys and buses. Tricycles and pedicabs give access to more secluded areas, while taxicabs and a carpooling transport system are available throughout the city. FX taxis have begun to compete directly with jeepneys on major roads while UV Express transport services are also available in selected terminals. BFCT East Metro Transport Terminal located in Marikina–Infanta Highway-C5 Interchange near SM Marikina is a major public transport terminal east of Metro Manila. It is a part of decongesting the traffic in Metro Manila and other neighboring areas that offers interisland bus service destinations. In January 2016, the city government of Marikina invented the "AMV" or "Adaptive Mobile Vehicle" for the PWD or Person with Disabilities and Senior Citizens. The "AMV" is a wheelchair vehicle or can put a wheelchair inside. The local government of Marikina wants to be a "friendly city" for the Senior Citizens. In the early 2000s, Marikina became one of the pioneers to promote a "bicycle-friendly" city to build bike lanes along major roads and city streets. The local government constructed a 66-kilometer network of bikeways to help reduce air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, fuel consumption, and traffic congestion in the city. The bikeways project provides an estimated annual savings of 250 tons/km of carbon dioxide, 0.02 tons of particulate matter, and 0.13 tons of NOx. The World Health Organization awarded the project in 2008 in the category of
climate change and health The effects of climate change on human health include direct effects of extreme weather, leading to injury and loss of life, as well as indirect effects, such as undernutrition brought on by crop failures or a lack of access to safe drinking water. ...
. In 2012, the longest bike lane during that time was opened along the stretch of the Marikina–Infanta Highway. Marikina River is the main waterway in Marikina and used by local fisherfolk as a mode of river transport. River ferry terminals still not operational in the city due to the threat of overflowing water in the river during heavy downpours or typhoon season. Road network Marikina is accessed by the following major roads and thoroughfares: * / R-6: Marikina–Infanta Highway (formerly Marcos Highway) * : C-5 Access Road (FVR Road) * Sumulong Highway * A. Bonifacio Avenue * J. P. Rizal Street * Mayor Gil Fernando Avenue * Shoe Avenue * Bayan-Bayanan Avenue * General Ordoñez Street * Liwasan Kalayaan Street * Eraño G. Manalo Street * Major Dizon Street * Bagong Farmers Avenue * Champaca Street * Lilac Street * Katipunan Street * Fortune Avenue Bridges Marikina is accessed by the following major bridges: * Marikina Bridge (spans Marikina River) * Marcos Bridge (spans Marikina River) * President Diosdado Macapagal Bridge (spans Marikina River) * SM Marikina Access Bridge (spans Marikina River) * Gil Fernando Bridge (spans Marikina River) * LRT Line 2 Bridge (spans Marikina River) * Nangka Bridge (spans Nangka River) * Barangka Flyover


Water transport

The Marikina River ferry service was to begin operation with the opening of the Riverbanks and Sta. Elena ferry stations in 2008, but due to the onslaught of
Tropical Storm Ketsana Typhoon Ketsana, known in the Philippines as Tropical Storm Ondoy, was the second-most devastating tropical cyclone of the 2009 Pacific typhoon season, causing $1.15 billion in damages and 921 fatalities, only behind Morakot earlier in the se ...
in 2009 and heavy rainfalls and storms the following years that caused the river to overflowed, the ferry service was canceled and ceased operation. Recently, the
Metropolitan Manila Development Authority The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA; fil, Pangasiwaan sa Pagpapaunlad ng Kalakhang Maynila) is a government agency of the Philippines responsible for constituting the regional government of Metro Manila, comprising the capita ...
is looking into plans of extending the Pasig River Ferry Service route to reach Marikina River and give commuters on the eastern side of Metro Manila an alternative and faster mode of transportation but it still undergoing vehicular planning.


Rail transport

The LRT Line 2 runs through the city, operated by the Light Rail Transit Authority. The current elevated light rail metro stations in use are Santolan station between the border of Barangay Calumpang in Marikina and Barangay Santolan in
Pasig Pasig, officially the City of Pasig ( fil, Lungsod ng Pasig), is a 1st class highly urbanized city in the National Capital Region of the Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 803,159 people. It is located along the ...
, and
Marikina–Pasig station Marikina–Pasig station (also known as Marikina station) is an elevated Manila Light Rail Transit (LRT) station situated on Line 2. It is located in Barangay San Roque, Marikina City, near the tripoint boundary of Pasig City, Metro Manila and ...
in Barangay San Roque, both are located on the stretch of Marikina–Infanta Highway. These stations connect to the west-end, Recto station in the
City of Manila Manila ( , ; fil, Maynila, ), officially the City of Manila ( fil, Lungsod ng Maynila, ), is the capital city, capital of the Philippines, and its second-most populous city. It is Cities of the Philippines#Independent cities, highly urbanize ...
, and connect to the east-end terminus, Antipolo station in Antipolo, Rizal. The following light rail metro stations in the city: Line 2 (with 2 stations) * Santolan * Marikina-Pasig MRT Line 7 Katipunan Spur Line Plans were also laid out for a additional spur line, known as the MRT Line 7 Katipunan Spur Line, that aims to connect the line from MRT-7 Tandang Sora station to the east of Metro Manila. The proposed spur line will traverse in Marikina through Andres Bonifacio Avenue, Sumulong Highway, and Mayor Gil Fernando Avenue. Line 7 (with 3 proposed stations) * Riverbanks * Sumulong * Emerald–Marikina (connected to Line 2) Old Marikina Line (Rosario-Montalban branch) The Manila Railroad Company (now Philippine National Railways) beforehand a line to Montalban (now Rodriguez, Rizal) traversing Marikina with the main station and three flag stations in Santo Niño, Bayan-Bayanan, and Nangka, started its operation in 1906. Currently, there is a road named "Daangbakal", also called by the present names of "Shoe Avenue Extension", "Munding Avenue" and "Bagong Silang", these roads are formerly the old tracks of Marikina Line from Tramo (now Rosario, Pasig) traversing Marikina connected up to San Mateo and ended in Montalban. In 1936, passenger operations ceased and after World War II, the line and its stations totally abandoned.


Proposed cable car system

The Manila Urban Cable Car project plans to pilot a alignment following the Marikina River profile. The proposed line will connect the Santolan station and the planned MRT-4 along Ortigas Avenue Extension in
Pasig Pasig, officially the City of Pasig ( fil, Lungsod ng Pasig), is a 1st class highly urbanized city in the National Capital Region of the Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 803,159 people. It is located along the ...
. In Marikina, from LRT-2 Santolan Station, the cable line passes through Barangay Calumpang, and Barangay Industrial Valley between FVR Road and Marikina River before heading to Eastwood City area and Pasig City. The planned cable car system would have a detachable gondola lift with enclosed 10-seater cabins. Based on the project briefer, there will be around 180 cabins. End-to-end travel time is estimated to be around 16 minutes. Manila Urban Cable Car System (with 1 proposed station): * LRT-2 Santolan-Marikina


Public services and utilities


Health facilities

Marikina Health Office is a center of health services in the city and responsible for providing healthcare services as well as planning and implementation of the health care programs provided by the city government. It operates health centers and lying-in clinics of each barangay to provide basic medical services in the community. Amang Rodriguez Memorial Medical Center is a major public hospital in Marikina and one of the largest medical facilities in the east of Metro Manila and Rizal Province, while Marikina Valley Medical Center, St. Vincent General Hospital, Garcia General Hospital, St. Anthony Medical Center, and Marikina Doctors Hospital and Medical Center (located in Santolan), are some of the major private hospitals.


Safety and security

Marikina Rescue 161 is a 24-hour emergency service that responds to all calls within the city for assistance during emergency situations in 5 minutes. The office also conducts seminars and training on first-aid among its staff to upgrade skills especially Marikina is vulnerable to calamities like floods, fire, and earthquakes. Marikina Police Station is responsible for law enforcement, under the Eastern Police District (EPD) of National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) of the Philippine National Police (PNP). Marikina Fire Department provides fire and emergency services, under Fire District IV (FD4) known as the Eastern District Fire of Bureau of Fire Protection National Capital Region (BFPNCR) of Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).


Education

Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Marikina (PLMar) is the first city government-funded university to offer different courses while Marikina Polytechnic College (MPC) is a city-state technical college that offers mostly technical courses, both are government-owned institutions. FEU Roosevelt Marikina, a prominent college institution, is a private non-sectarian college named in honor of the American president Franklin D. Roosevelt and it is considered as the oldest academic institution in eastern Metro Manila. Sectarian schools also offer college courses such as Mother of Divine Providence School, National Christian Life College and Our Lady of Perpetual Succor College (OLOPSC). Numerous campuses of information technology and computer colleges are also growing in the city. Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) located near the city hall, is responsible for managing and supervising technical education and skills development in the city. Marikina Science High School (MSHS), is the first city public science high school in Marikina. Marikina Catholic School is a private sectarian institution and it is considered as the city's center of Catholic educational institution located in
Our Lady of the Abandoned Parish The Diocesan Shrine and Parish of Our Lady of the Abandoned (Spanish: ''Santuario y Parroquia de Nuestra Señora de los Desamparados''; Tagalog: ''Dambanang Pandiyosesis at Parokya ng Ina ng mga Walang Mag-Ampon''), better known as Our Lady ...
complex. Manila Boystown Complex, is a Manila city government-owned institution, the facility is exclusively for abandoned, forgotten, and voluntarily surrendered children, teenagers, and senior citizens. Preschools, daycare centers, and numerous private schools for elementary and high school are scattered all over the city including Ingenium School and Charis School. Exclusive schools such as Marist School and St. Scholastica's Academy are also found in the city. Each barangay in Marikina has at least one public primary or one public secondary school. A total of 17 primary public schools and 13 secondary public schools in the city is under the supervision of Department of Education's Division of City Schools Marikina.


Media

Marikina has its own radio station, the Radyo Marikina, is considered the first local government radio station in the Philippines and a community radio station owned and operated by the Marikina city government. Its frequency is 1674 kHz in Metro Manila. The studio is located at the Public Information Office on the 2nd floor of Marikina city hall. Life TV and Life Radio is owned and supervised by PMCC 4th Watch. Its studios are located at NCLC Building in Barangay Santo Niño. Life TV can be watched through BEAM TV nationwide digital television broadcast, in UHF Channel 50 and
SkyCable Sky Cable (stylized as SKYcable) is a cable television service of Sky Cable Corporation in the Philippines. It covers areas across the country with both digital and analog cable services, and it has 700,000 subscribers, controlling 45% of ...
channel 44.


Sister cities

Marikina has sister cities and friendship agreements with foreign and local cities. Also included neighbor cities.


See also

*
Giant shoes of Marikina A giant pair of shoes made in Marikina, Philippines is a city attraction and was known for being the world's largest shoes according to Guinness World Records. The city nicknamed "Shoe Capital of the Philippines" is known for its shoe-making ind ...
*
Legislative districts of Marikina The legislative districts of Marikina are the representations of the highly urbanized city of Marikina in the various national and local legislatures of the Philippines. At present, the province is represented in the House of Representatives of t ...
*
List of renamed cities and municipalities in the Philippines The following is a list of renamed cities and municipalities in the Philippines. Luzon *Adan → AdamsAdams
Official Website ...


References


External links

* *
Philippine Standard Geographic Code The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no), * bik, Republika kan Filipinas * ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas * cbk, República de Filipinas * hil, Republ ...
* {{Authority control 1630 establishments in the Philippines Cities in Metro Manila Populated places established in 1630 Populated places on the Marikina River Highly urbanized cities in the Philippines