BRIEF HISTORY
It has been three centuries long when Marikina was established in 1630 by the followers of
St. Ignatius of Loyola, the Jesuit Orders who blazed the trail in quest of spiritual
transformation among the country's inhabitants. It was then called Barrio Jesus dela Peņa
in honor of the Infant Child Jesus. It was also during the same year (1630) when the first
Catholic mass was celebrated in the town of Barrio Jesus dela Peņa. A municipality stauts
was granted to the town in 1787 under the Province of Rizal with Don Benito Mendoza as its
first Governadorcillo.
In 1910, the town was officially named Marikina by the first Philippine Commissioner
Trinidad Pardo de Tavera with the hispanized "q" giving way to a more vernacular "k".
Republic Act 8223 was signed by then President Fidel V. Ramos and subsequently ratified
by the people through a plebiscite converting Marikina into a highly urbanized city.
Marikina City Today
At present, the shoe industry has become a pride of the country and a boost to the growth of
its economy. The city also now boasts of hosting other big companies, multinationals and
local, as well as leading exporting firms.
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, and
a responsive local government that puts a premium on governance, sustainable urban
development and public service.
Positive proof of the city's standing in the league of metropolitan cities in the country are the
numerous awards and citations that have been bestowed, most recent and most
prestigious of which are the 2003 Most Competitive Metro City in the Philippines award.
Marikina also was one of the hosts of the 23rd Southeast Asian Games 2005 in the
Philippines where the sports event of baseball was held at the Marikina Sports Park.
Marikina City Updates
SM Prime Holdings construct a 124,000 sq. m floor area of a new SM Mall in Metro Manila
(the biggest chain of malls in the Philippines), it is called SM City Marikina, the only biggest
SM mall in the eastern metropolis and Rizal sub-urbs aside from Sta. Lucia Mall and
Robinsons Place. It construct along Marcos Hiway, Marikina City with the beautiful settings
beside Marikina River. SM City Marikina was planned to open this late 2007.
THE CITY
Geography
Marikina City is a developed city within Metro Manila. The city lies on a valley of the same
name. Marikina River runs through the central portion of the city. During the rainy season,
most especially when typhoons hit the area, the river overflows and jumps its banks,
flooding low-lying areas. To the east are the Sierra Madre Mountains, the longest mountain
range in the country, and Rizal province.
The city divided into 2 (geographical) districts: Districts 1 and 2. The southern portion of the
city is District 1. Marikina City is one of the healthiest cities in the Asia-Pacific region.
Winning at least 78 awards and recognitions, both local and abroad, in a span of just 12
years. Marikina has become an ideal location for industry, business and for residences.
Vision and Missions
Vision
Marikina : "A Little Singapore". Bustling in holistic progress, a vibrant community where the
citizens have pride of place, pride of self and mutual concern for the common good.
Marikina has chosen Singapore as its benchmark for a variety of reasons, foremost of
which are its noteworthy attributes of:
Disciple
Self-sufficiency
Effective governance
Work ethics
Environmental soundness
Economic dynamism
Corrupt-free government
Mission
Specifically, the city seeks to make itself:
A place for living
A place for work and business
A place for history
A place for socializing
A place for entertainment
A place for arts, culture, tourism and sports
A place for education
A place for religion
In a nut-shell, Marikina hopes to imbue itself with elements that will transform it into a little
Singapore. Efforts, however, shall be geared primarily towards poverty reduction for it is the
alleviation of urban blight which determines the efficacy of local governance.
While programs and strategies are multifarious and encompassing, they are basically
poverty-focused. Eradication of poverty is, thus, the focal point of everything that the city sets
out to do in the long term.
PROFILE
The City of Marikina (Filipino: Lungsod ng Marikina) is known as the "Shoe Capital of the
Philippines". Located on the island of Luzon, Marikina City is one of the cities and
municipalities that comprise Metro Manila, the National Capital Region in the Philippines.
Marikina is a lush valley bounded by mountain ranges and sliced by a river. Located along
the eastern border of Metro Manila, Marikina City 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° 35' latitude and 14° 41' longitude.
Marikina City is the most industrialized in Metro Manila. There are many landmarks located
in the city, such as Marikina Sports Park, Marikina Hotel, Marquinton Place, Loyola Memorial
Park, Riverbanks Center, Guinness Book of Records biggest pair of shoes in the world
located inside Riverbanks Mall in Riverbanks Center and some biggest malls in the
metropolis near Marikina City, like Sta. Lucia East Grandmall and Robinsons Place Metro
East which is along Marcos Highway.
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 hopes to have the Guinness Book of Records recognize it. The Shoe Museum in
the city is also the home of the famous shoes of former First Lady Imelda Marcos.
One of the most important place in the city is Marikina River, a tributary of the Pasig River
runs through the center of the city. The city in fact occupies a part of the Marikina Valley and
is sometimes prone to flooding especially when typhoons hit the area. During Christmas
Season, Marikina River is a traditional venue for the Marikina Christmas Festival.
Ethnic Groups
Like other places in Metro Manila, the original settlers are Tagalogs. Throughout the
centuries, there has been constant migration of Visayas, Bikolanos, Ilokanos, Chinese and
Spaniards. There are also Americans, Indians and Arabs.
Languages
The main language is Filipino, which is based on Tagalog. In addition, Marikeņos are also
proficient in the English language.
Religions
Marikina is one of the seat of the Spanish colonial government in past centuries, it has been
used as the base of Roman Catholic missions. Among the religious orders include the
Dominicans, the Franciscans, the Jesuits, and the Augustinians which the first to arrive in
Marikina.
Marikina Catholic Church is the seat of the Archdiocese of Marikina. Other churches in the
city includes the San Jose Manggagawa Parish Church in J. Dela Pena and Immaculate
Concepcion Church in Concepcion Uno. Other Christian faiths like Pentecostal Missionary
Church of Christ, the headquarters of Church of Christ 4th Watch in the Philippines, Jesus
Miracle Crusade, Iglesia ni Cristo and some others. Some other religions are Muslim,
Buddhism and Jews.
Education
The city government prides itself in giving free education to its quality free education to its
constituents through its 14 primary schools and 6 secondary schools including one science
high school, the Marikina Science High School.
Marikina has many colleges and universities, like the city-owned Pamantasan ng Lungsod
ng Marikina and Marikina Institute of Science and Technology. There are also AMA
Computer University, STI College, St. Scholastica's Academy, National Christian College,
Roosevelt College, OLOPS School and National Cottage Technology Center.
Economy
Marikina is the home to a member of industries, some of which are the biggest and most
succeeful in their fields, and foremost of all, shoe manufacturing, being the best in local
craftsmanship.
Shoe Industry
Marikina was the biggest manufacturer of quality shoes, and Marikina produced 78% of the
shoe production of the Philippines. All locally produced shoes was made in Marikina, from
slippers to shoes. Marikina also produced shoes which is made in rubber, wood (bakya)
and plastic.
Commerce
Public markets in Marikina are often divided into two, the dry goods section and the wet
goods section. Commerce in these public markets are in full swing, especially in the early
morning. Under the urban renewal program of the incumbent administration, some of the
public markets had been refurbished and given a fresher look, like the Marikina Public
Market also known as Marikina Market Mall (or People's Mall), the biggest and cleanest
market in Metro Manila.
Modern shopping malls dot the city especially in Blue Wave Mall at Marquinton. Sta. Lucia
East Grandmall and Robinsons Place Metro East are Metro Manila's major shopping
centers, stands along Marcos Highway bounded by the city of Pasig and Cainta, Rizal. One
of the popular malls that lies in Marikina is Riverbanks Center.
For the adventurous shoppers, you may venture beyond the hotel/shopping complex
package and combine other interesting destinations for cheap buys such as in Marikina
Market Mall. Bargaining is the major part of your shopping experience when you pass by on
these area, as it sells goods at rock-bottom prices. It sells indigenous Filipino crafts and
delicacies.
Banking Services
Almost all of the major commercial banks in the Philippines operate a branch in the city.
Many major banks was operated in the city of more than 1 branch or much more. At this
time, there are 50 banking institutions offer banking services to businesses and residents.
Most of these are concentrated in Barangay Sta. Elena, Sto. Niņo, Concepcion Uno and
Barangka.
Manufacturing
The city manufactures food processing, cigarettes, porcelain and chinawares,
confectionery, automobiles and cars, appliances and foremost of all, shoes.
Marikina City - Shoe Capital Of The Philippines
Description
A city once threatened by a residential housing pandemonium, Marikina has emerged to
reap various national awards for excellence in local governance and environmental
preservation. In 2002 alone, it was a "Clean and Green" awardee of the Gawad Pangulo sa
Kapaligiran - a category for which it has already been a Hall of Famer as early as in 1996,
when it was still a municipality. On the same year, Marikina was also recognized for having
a healthy workplace and marketplace. In various occasions, the city has been awarded as
well as the "Best Local Government Unit".
Thriving proof of the city's continued quest for excellence is the Marikina River Park. Spurred
by the death of natural resources resulting from the continuous growth in residential area,
Marikina took pains in rehabilitating and converting the 220-hectare Marikina River into a
sports and recreational park.
The city is no stranger to popularity. It has long been famous for its export-quality shoes, the
products that gave Marikina the monicker, Shoe Capital of the Philippines. The city's former
Bigasang Bayan is presently being rehabilitated to become the Shoe Museum, showcasing
no less than Marikina shoes. Part of the collection are the famous Imelda Marcos shoes.
Don Laureano Guevarra, popularly known as Kapitan Moy, who hailed from Marikina, is
considered as the founder of the country's footwear industry.
Marikina also used to be a fulcrum of regional sports events when it was still a part of the
province of Rizal. It used to be the training ground of some of the best athletes the country
has ever produced.
Geography
Marikina, a lush valley bounded by mountain ranges and sliced by a river, is one of the
twelve cities and five municipalities comprising the Metro Manila area. It is approximately 16
km. away from Manila, passing through Quezon City. It occupies a total land area of 38.9 sq.
kilometers.
Contact