Official Marikina City Website Adopts New Theme

The official website of Marikina City at http://www.marikina.gov.ph adopts a new header as the new mayor of Marikina, Del de Guzman assumes office.

The current theme is a blue background theme with seamless tiles of shoes displayed to reflect the city's pride for its shoe industry.  A photo of Mayor de Guzman is now located at the top left header with the tagline "Home of the World's Largest Shoe" pertaining to the Guiness Book of World Record entry for World's Largest Shoes custom-made in Marikina currently located at the Marikina Riverbanks Center.

The Marikina City website previously won the Best Website in the (e-LGU) Local Government Unit and People's Choice in the 10th Philippine Web Awards.

Preparations for Marikina Mayor Inauguration

Preparations are undergoing at the Marikina City Hall for the inauguration of Mayor-elect Del de Guzman.   The new mayor is set to be sworn in to office on June 30.

Several tents and chairs are being erected behind the city hall.  This is also the area where busts of all the former mayors of Marikina are located.

Marikina Riverpark and Marikina Riverbanks

In the past, friends have asked for directions how to get to both Marikina Riverpark and Marikina Riverbanks.   As similar as the names are, they're 2 different and separate places within Marikina.  The only thing they have in common is that they're both beside the Marikina River.

Marikina Riverbanks is home to the Marikina Riverbanks Center which is a mall home to Savemore Supermarket, Off-Price Dept. Store, Handyman and a lot of specialty and outlet shops.  The mall is also popular for its huge section dedicated to shoes of all brands.   The World's Largest Shoes made by Marikenos is also displayed in the mall right beside the shoe stores.

Riverbanks Amphitheater at night

Aside from the mall, there are also several other establishments within the Marikina Riverbanks. There's the amphitheater along the river banks which serves as a park and concert venue.  There's the Skyline Riverbend Hotel which is one of the two distinct hotels in the city.  There's also a branch of the Sykes call center at the side of the hotel.   In front of the hotel parking lot is the Kotse Network used car dealer with several cars displayed for sale.   At the other end of Marikina Riverbanks is Dencios Bar & Grill Restaurant with an upperdeck and a birdseye view of the Marikina River from a vantage point.  Just across the Grill is the E-com Building where the Philippine Science Centrum is located and Figaro and 7-11 by the roadside.

There are 3 ways to get to Marikina Riverbanks.  If you're coming from C-5 Libis, take the Marikina fork and follow the road parallel to the Marikina River.  It will take you straight to Riverbanks.  If you're coming from Antipolo, travel via Marcos Highway and take the exit after passing SM City Marikina and the bridge.   If you're coming from Aurora Blvd in Quezon City, take the left fork flyover leading to Barangka, Marikina.  Turn right at the 2nd stoplight which leads to Marikina Riverbanks.

Marikina Riverpark is around 2 kilometers away from Marikina Riverbankst.   Both places are also connected by a pedestrian path parallel to the Marikina River and it would take a 10 - 15 minute walk to get from one to the other.  

During the day, Marikina Riverpark serves as a bike and jogging path to several nearby residents.  Health conscious people also form regular groups and exercise daily at the Riverpark.   Just beside the riverpark is a prominent statue of a lady and a ship.  The Lady statue is popularly known as Marikit-Na who in one legend is believed to be where the name Marikina was derived.  The ship behind her used to be a floating restaurant but discontinued service after Typhoon Ondoy.  During the Christmas season, the entire open lot of Marikina Riverpark is transformed into a bargain tiangge area where hundreds of vendors put up stalls to sell all kinds of items in time for the holiday season.

Marikit-Na Statue at Marikina Riverpark

Marikina Riverpark is known for its colorful and lively nightlife.  At night, the Riverpark suddenly becomes alive with lights and sounds as several bars & restaurants are situated along the river side.   The likes of bars such as Bonchalet, Papajeks, East 53 and Enzimone offer food, drinks and live entertainment till the wee hours of the morning.   The river at night reflects the well-lighted pedestrian paths ideal for late night strolls at the park.

To get to Marikina Riverpark from Quezon City, head to Aurora Blvd and take the left fork flyover to Marikina proper.  Go straight until you reach the Marikina Bridge.  To the right is the Marikina Riverpark.   From C-5, take the same route as going to Marikina Riverbanks and head to the end connecting A Bonifacio St.  Turn right and head straight till you reach the Marikina Bridge.

If you're bringing a car, you need to take a left turn at J.P. Rizal after crossing the bridge.  Then, take the immediate 1st left which  will lead you to a road under the bridge which connects to the Riverpark stretch.  Parking is free along the Riverpark.

In any case, both Marikina Riverbanks and Marikina Riverpark are worth visiting and provide a scenic view of the Marikina River.

Photo: Construction For Cordova Tower

This is the backview of the Bluewave Marquinton where the soon-to-rise Cordova Tower is being built.  Cordova Towers is the 3rd condominium building constructed within the Marquinton Residences.   Marquinton Residences is located along Sumulong Highway corner Gil Fernando Ave.  For more details about Cordova Towers, watch this AV presentation.

Photo: Central Warehouse for Heavy Equipment

Located at the corner of Gil Fernando Ave. and Aquilina Street in Sto. Nino is the Public Service Center where the city engineering holds office.  It's also serves as the parking lot for heavy equipment such as dump trucks, bulldozers, cranes and cement mixers.  A small bulldozer monument is situated at the corner.

Midnight Marikina River

This is Marikina River along the Riverpark around midnight.   The lights along the Riverpark pedestrian and bike path illuminate the river.

Kung Tayo'y Maglalayo Likes Marikina

courtesy of abs-cbn.com

The ongoing ABS-CBN teleserye "Kung Tayo'y Magkakalayo" has had several on-location shoots, and several of them were shot in Marikina City.

Most of the action-packed car chase scenes were shot along Gil Fernando. Ave. in Barangay Sto. Nino near the Marikina Public Service Center where the Engineering Division is located.   The end of Gil Fernando Ave. is a wide road with huge empty lots filled with grass and trees on both sides.   There aren't any houses or buildings here which makes it ideal and safe to close the road temporarily for the telenovela's on-location shooting purposes.

location usually used to shoot chase and action scenes 

Other locations include Marikina Heights near St. Scholastica Marikina and the C & B Mall where scenes of the rotonda were spotted in previous episodes.   Scenes including Astrud (Jaclyn Jose) and her lawyer talking were recently shot inside Biksa Coffee in San Roque.

From Biksa Coffee

The stretch of Aquamarine St. in SSS Village is also used for the telenovela's on-location shoots.   If you're  familiar with the street, you may catch glimpes of the Concepcion Dos Barangay Hall, Marikina Convention Center, SDS Medical Center, and Water Nymph resort all along that street.

Kung Tayo'y Magkakalayo is aired every weeknights around 9:00pm on ABS-CBN and online streaming via TFCNow.

Princess' MTV Shot At Pan de Amerikana

The newest music video of up and coming acoustic artist Princess Velasco was shot entirely at Pan de Amerikana, along Gen. Ordonez St. in Marikina Heights.  In the past, the Pan de Amerikana bakery & restaurant has served as background for photo shoots, model portraits and magazine features due to its unique interior design.

The video "You Still Have My Heart", taken from Princess' 2nd album entitled "Addicted To Acoustic 2"  was shot on location at the restaurant featuring some familiar backgrounds inside such as the giant black and white chess board, the pillars at the back of the elevated platform and the side of the chessboard.   The video shows Princess singing and playing the guitar in different positions using the restaurant's scenery as backdrops.