Marikina

Understand

Marikina has a reputation for its local shoemaking industry.

History Prior to Spanish colonialism Marikina had some Native inhabitants. Following Spanish Exploration, Jesuits moved in around 1630 and built some churches in the area. Marikina had some early residents during Spanish colonialism and was considered a Pueblo in 1787. Following the American takeover of the Philippines the Manila Railroad Company Built a branch line connecting Marikina to the rest of the city, With some evidence being seen in certain street names and a replica train on Shoe ave, one of the streets were the line used to run. following world war two, a shoe making industry emerged, with Marikina quickly becoming known as the shoe making capital of the Philippines.

Getting there

By train The LRT Line 2 (LRT-2) serves Marikina via the Santolan and Marikina Stations, both located near the border with Pasig. Crossing the pedestrian overpass from the Santolan station brings you to the Riverbanks area. Robinsons Metro East and Sta. Lucia Mall are located beside the Marikina station.

By jeepney Pasig is accessible by Jeepneys. The terminal beside the city's sportscenter serves jeepneys bound for Antipolo (town proper, Mambugan, Bagong Nayon and Paenaan near the city's border with Baras), San Mateo, Rodriguez, Pasig and Pateros. Jeepneys from Fortune near the city's border with San Mateo, SSS. Village in Concepcion Dos, and Kalumpang near the city's border with Pasig are bound for Stop N Shop, near SM City Sta. Mesa in Manila.

Getting around

Various modes of transportation are easily available in and around the city. The most affordable mode of transport for the locals is the tricycle that can sit up to 2 persons with a little extra leg room for carry-on in the cabin. It is the most preferred as it zips around the small lanes easily. However, they are not permitted on the highway. Other common modes of transport are the jeepney and taxi cabs. Marikina is the first bicycle-friendly city in the Philippines; bike lanes are placed on major roads, unfortunately, not all drivers respect this.

See

Our Lady of Abandoned Parish, V.Gomez Street, Sta. Elena. Our Lady of Abandoned is the patron saint of Marikina. This is a large church renovated in 2013. (updated Jul 2015)

Marikina River Park. Beside the Marikina River, this river park hosts the Annual Christmas Tiangge usually starts at November and ends at January. Many people used to bike, jog and walk here. You can see here the Our Lady of Lourdes Pagoda, Chinese Temple, Marikitna, Senior Citizen Gazeebo, Roman Park, Sto. Nino Skating park. It also features bars and restaurants (updated Jul 2015)

Riverbanks Center. A business center beside the Marikina River. It is a center for leisure, entertainment and shopping, it contains E-COM Center, Riverbanks Mall, Arcade Center, Marikina Convention Center, Museums, River Park, Carnival, Amphitheatre. (updated Jul 2015) Marikina Shoe Museum, J.P. Rizal St, ☏ +63 2 646 1634. M-F 10AM-noon, 1-5PM. The Shoe Museum traces the history of shoe industry in Marikina. It houses traditional Filipino footwear and 1,500 shoes from the famous Imelda Marcos collection. The museum holds shoes of several famous people including a pair of shoes from each president of the Philippines in chronological order. Other noteworthy shoes are those of celebrities, ambassadors, political figures and even traditional shoes from several countries. On the 2nd floor, you'll read history about shoe making including life-size mannequins depicting the art of shoemaking. You'll also find some unusual shoe sizes like one being 3 feet (91 cm) long. ₱50. (updated Feb 2017)

Kapitan Moy House, J.P Rizal Avenue. It is the Cultural Center of Marikina, features the Convention Center and Restaurants Kapitan Moy Building, situated in Marikina, Metro Manila, the Philippines, is the 200-year-old house of Don Laureano Guevarra, known as the founder of the Marikina shoe industry (updated Jul 2015) Marikina Market Mall, W. Paz Street cor. J.P. Rizal Avenue. It is located at the Poblacion, features wet and dry market, has 3-floor commercial building (updated Jul 2015) Philippine Science Centrum, Riverbanks Center. Philippine Science Centrum (PSC) is a premier hands-on science center museum in the country recognized by the Department of Education, Department of Science and Technology and the Department of Tourism as an ideal venue for educational field trip destination where visitors are encouraged to touch, twist, play, hear, see the interactive exhibits displayed. PSC is open to pre-school to college students, families and the general public. PSC showcases over hundred hands-on exhibits in 11

Do

Marikina Sports Center (Marikina Sports Park), Sumulong Highway, Bgy. Sto. Niño, ☏ +63 682-9573. 6AM-midnight. an Olympic-size swimming pool, a 400-m track oval, a sports building, an indoor gymnasium and several courts. (updated Feb 2017)

Buy

1 SM City Marikina, Marcos Highway. M-Th 10AM-9PM, F-Su 10AM-10PM. (updated Aug 2025) 2 Ayala Malls Marikina (Arvo), Liwasang Kalayaan, Brgy. Marikina Heights, [email protected]. M-Th 10AM-9PM, F-Su 10AM-10PM. Tenants include Puregold. (updated Nov 2021) 3 Riverbanks Center, Riverbanks Ave.. 10AM-9PM. (updated Aug 2025) 4 C&B Circle Mall, Liwasang Kalayaan. 9AM-7PM. (updated Aug 2025) 5 Blue Wave Mall (Blue Wave at Marquinton), Sumulong Highway cor. Mayor Gil Fernando Ave.. 10AM-8PM. Tenants include Robinsons Appliances. (updated Aug 2025)

Eat

Bonchalet II (River Park). Johnny's Fried Chicken. Serves fried chicken. Known as the fried of Marikina. Greg and Sally, Marikina Heights. Serves great food and tender steak. Pan de Americana, Gen. Ordonez Street, Marikina Heights (You can go there via tricycle). (updated Jul 2015) Industriya Marikina, M.A. Roxas Street, Calumpang (You can go there via tricycle). An old shoe factory turned restaurant and events venue. Wooden furniture, shoe forms and empty bottles form part of the place’s modern and industrial design. They serve international cuisines including American, Japanese, Italian and Filipino. (updated Jul 2015) Bun of Brothers, Azure Street (You can go there via tricycle). The newest addition to the ‘Brothers’ chain of restaurants, which includes Burrito Brothers and Kebab Brothers (and soon to open Breakfast Brothers). Bun of Brothers is a small build-your-own burger joint serving all-American burgers, hotdogs, fries and refreshments. (updated Jul 2015)

Sleep

Marikina Hotel, Pio Del Pilar St. cor. Tangerine St., Brgy. Concepcion II, ☏ +63 2 998 8342, fax: +63 2 998 8341. The Marikina Hotel, managed by the group that also handles the El Cielito group of inns, is one of the more popular hotels in the city. From US$29.