ilippines, 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. Marikina, along with many other towns around Manila
were incorporated into the new province. In 1906, the Manila Railroad Company
completed the 31-kilometer steam train line called "Marikina Line",
also known as Rosario-Montalban branch, (currently converted into 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" (which now stands today as Marikina Sports Center),
connecting Montalban and Rosario (now known as Tramo, in Pasig) that time.
During the construction of train line and not far from Marikina Railway Depot,
"Marikina Airfield" (runways converted into road known today as E.
Rodriguez Avenue and E. Santos Streets and the airfield stands today as
Paliparan Subdivision) was completed and used for civilian airfield. In 1936,
the train line was completely abandoned before the World War II while the
airfield became primarily used by the Japanese during the World War II. After
the war, both was never rebuilt. Juan Chanyungco became the first Mayor of
Marikina in 1938.
In 1942, the Japanese Imperial forces occupied Marikina. And in 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 400 civilians casualties at the end of World War II.
Some the local Filipino troops under the pre-war 4th and 42nd Infantry Division
of the Philippine Commonwealth Army was entering and recaptured in Marikina and
