Marikina

Marikina is a busy city.

It sits in the Philippines. It is near a big river.

This city is famous for shoes. People make most of the shoes in the land.

You can visit a special museum. It has many shoes to see.

Long ago, many people lived in the valley. They lived near the water.

Today, many people live and work there. It is a very lively place.

Marikina is a busy city in the Philippines.

It sits in the Metro Manila area. The city is next to the Marikina River.

Many people live and work there. About 471,323 people live in the city.

Marikina is known as the "Shoe Capital of the Philippines."

It is a very big maker of shoes. The city makes almost 70% of the shoes in the country. You can visit the Shoe Museum to see a large collection. There is also the Philippine International Footwear Center.

The city has a long history. Jesuits started the town in the Marikina Valley in 1630.

Long ago, it was a rural place with many farms. Now, it is a place for homes and factories. It is also a place for shops and businesses.

Nature can be a challenge for the city. The Marikina River can rise during heavy rain. This can lead to floods in some areas.

People in the city work hard to manage these changes.

Marikina is a busy, highly urbanized city in the Philippines.

It sits on the eastern edge of the Metro Manila region. The city serves as a gateway to other places like Rizal and Quezon.

You can find it near Quezon City to the west. Pasig and Cainta are to the south. San Mateo sits to the north, and Antipolo is to the east.

The city is home to 471,323 people as of the 2024 census. It is known as one of the wealthiest local areas in the country.

This city is famous for making footwear.

People call it the "Shoe Capital of the Philippines." It is the biggest maker of shoes in the whole nation. Almost 70% of all shoes made in the country come from Marikina. You can visit the Philippine International Footwear Center to see this industry. There is also a special Shoe Museum.

This museum holds a famous collection once owned by Imelda Marcos. The city has grown from a rural area into a place for homes and big factories.

Marikina has a very old story.

Jesuit priests founded the city in the Marikina Valley in 1630. At first, the area was called Jesus dela Peña. Later, the name changed to Mariquina. The city was once the capital of the Province of Manila from 1898 to 1899. During the American period, it became part of Rizal Province. In 1975, it became part of the Metro Manila area. The city has seen many changes through these different times.

Many important landmarks stand in the city today.

The Our Lady of the Abandoned Church is the oldest in the valley. It was built way back in 1572. You can also see the Kapitan Moy Residence, which is a national shrine.

The city also has the Marikina Sports Center.

Some old paths used to be for steam trains.

These old tracks are now streets like Shoe Avenue. The city even had its own airfield in the past.

Living in Marikina means being near the water.

The Marikina River flows through the area. The river is very important, but it can also cause trouble. Heavy rains and typhoons can make the river rise.

This can lead to flooding in parts of the city. People have lived alongside this river for a very long time. They have learned how to manage the land and the water. The city continues to grow even with these natural changes.

Marikina is a highly urbanized city within the National Capital Region of the Philippines.

It sits along the eastern border of Metro Manila. The city acts as a major gateway connecting Metro Manila to the provinces of Rizal and Quezon. This connection is made possible by the Marikina–Infanta Highway.

The city is surrounded by several different areas. To the west lies Quezon City. To the south are the cities of Pasig and Cainta. San Mateo is located to the north. To the east, Marikina borders Antipolo, which is the capital of Rizal province.

As of the 2024 census, the city has a population of 471,323 people.

The history of Marikina began in the fertile Marikina Valley. Jesuit priests founded the area in 1630.

At that time, the location was known as Jesus dela Peña, or "Jesus of the Rocks." Later, the name changed to Mariquina. Some local legends offer different stories for the name. One legend says a priest named Mariquina baptized many children. Another story tells of a wealthy and charitable lady named Maria Cuina. A third legend suggests the name came from a worker describing a beautiful chapel as "Marikit-na-Po."

History also suggests the name honored Captain Félix Berenguer de Marquina, who led the town in 1788. In 1901, a commissioner changed the spelling from "q" to "k" to create the modern name, Marikina.

Marikina has undergone many political changes over the centuries. During the Philippine Revolution from 1898 to 1899, it served as the provincial capital of the Province of Manila. After the American occupation began, it became a municipality within Rizal Province. In 1975, it was officially included in the formation of Metro Manila. The city has shifted from a rural settlement to a center for residential and industrial life. Today, it is also an increasingly commercial hub. It is recognized as one of the wealthiest local government units in the Philippines.

The city is most famous for its footwear industry.

Marikina is known as the "Shoe Capital of the Philippines." It is the largest manufacturer of shoes in the entire country. In fact, Marikina produces almost 70% of all shoes made in the Philippines. Visitors can explore the Philippine International Footwear Center to see this work. The city also houses the Shoe Museum.

This museum contains a famous collection once owned by Imelda Marcos, the wife of former president Ferdinand Marcos.

Religious and cultural landmarks are deeply rooted in the city. The Our Lady of the Abandoned Parish is the oldest church in the Marikina Valley. It was established in 1572.

Another important site is the Kapitan Moy Residence.

This building is now a national shrine and serves as a cultural center. The city also features the Marikina Sports Center.

Some parts of the city still show traces of old transportation. In 1906, the Manila Railroad Company built the Montalban Line.

While the tracks are mostly gone, some streets like Shoe Avenue follow the old rail paths.

During the 20th century, Marikina faced significant challenges. During World War II, Japanese Imperial forces occupied the town.

The city was liberated in 1945 by combined United States and Philippine Commonwealth troops. Many large buildings and the church bell tower were destroyed during this time. Later, during the Marcos dictatorship in the 1970s, the city experienced social unrest. This period was marked by economic difficulty and human rights abuses. Some victims of political violence were even found near the bridges of the Marikina River.

Geography also plays a major role in the daily life of the city. The Marikina River flows through the area.

While the river is a central feature, it can cause flooding. Since at least 1937, the city has dealt with the river swelling during heavy rains.

Typhoons can cause the water to rise significantly. This makes managing the river and the landscape a constant necessity for the people living there. Despite these natural challenges, the city continues to grow and develop as a major urban center.