History of Marikina

In 1956, Marikina had emerged as a town of shoemakers again after World War II. Honed by years in shoe manufacturing, the natives had developed a work ethic that prepared them for the arrival of heavy industries, and was finally named as the "Shoe Capital of the Philippines". With the industrial plants came waves of workers who chose to stay, rapidly increasing the population. Marikina soon became a victim of runaway growth, resulting in the Marikina River being polluted by the factories and squatters along the riverbanks. Kapitan Moy's house (and now known as Sentrong Pangkultura ng Marikina) was declared a national shrine in 1968, 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, integrating 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 widespread flooding in Marikina for the first time. Large parts of Marikina was submerged by floods and many residents were stranded on their house rooftops and trees and their properties and businesses are extremely damaged.

In 1992, Marikina has since been transformed into the beautiful and industrialized urban municipality under the leadership of Bayani Fernando. Marikina River transformed into beautiful waterways along the beautiful parks on the riverbanks. On December 8, 1996, the municipality of Marikina became a city and transformed rapidly into a highly urbanized. Marikina was classified into first class city by virtue of Republic Act No. 8223, the day of the Feast of Immaculate Concepcion, signed by President Fidel V. Ramos.

21st century

previous12345next