Marikina Sports Center Temporarily Closed

The Marikina Sports Center is one of the most visited multipurpose centers in Marikina. As early as five in the morning, people of all ages come to jog around the olympic sized track and field. The field is also used for non-sports activities like concerts, religious meetings, anniversary celebrations and other various events as the bleachers alone can hold thousands of people.

Unfortunately, the Marikina Sports Center wasn't spared from the floods brought about by Typhoon Ondoy. Because of this, the center grounds have been filled with mud inches thick and need to be cleaned before the Sports Center can resume operations.

The new Sports Center Building of the Sports Complex facing the Marikina City Hall is currently being used as storage and delivery for relief goods for the city.

Sumulong Highway Serves As Temporary Garbage Site

Marikina City has suffered much from the floods brought by Typhoon Ondoy.

The floods have subsided in most of the affected areas. However, sanitation has proven to be one of the problems the typhoon has left.

Mud is prominent everywhere and garbage is at an all-time high. Due to the enormous amount of trash, the fields alongside Sumulong Highway has served as a temporary dumpsite until the garbage trucks can pick them up.

The heaps of garbage though causes a foul stench within the surrounding areas. Scavengers are also searching the garbage mounds for anything of worth they can salvage.

Bluewave Marquinton and Robinsons Flooded During Typhoon

Both Bluewave Marquinton and Bluewave Robinsons along Sumulong Highway were both submerged in water during the sudden floods brought about by Typhoon Ondoy. This is the first time that the mall and supermarket have been directly affected by floods.

Several stores located on the ground floor of both buildings were severely affected.

Bluewave Marquinton ground floor stores and restaurants include Max's Chicken, KFC, Yellow Cab, Starbucks, Shakeys, Jollibee, Ministop, Tapa King, Pan de Manila and Watsons.

Aside from the supermarket at Robinsons Bluewave, it also caters to Mercury Drug, Joey Pepperoni, Rai-Rai Ken, Binalot and Mr. Quickie.

The supermarket would have been a crucial place for Marikina residents to buy food and items needed after the typhoon. Unfortunately, the supermarket fell victim to the floods as well.

We're hoping that the Bluewave Marquinton mall resumes operations as soon as possible.

Photo: Garbage Is Opportunity

Kids in front of Kia Marikina pushing a cart filled with junk going towards the junk shop to exchange their items for money

Google Responds To Typhoon Ondoy Calamity

Here is a message from Google:

We are very saddened by the loss of life and the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people in Metro Manila and nearby areas caused by Typhoon Ondoy. To increase awareness of how Filipinos at home and overseas can stay up to date and aid in relief efforts, dozens of Google volunteers around the world have been working throughout the weekend and today to compile information about the disaster on this site: www.google.com.ph/landing/typhoon-ondoy.html.

The site contains a volunteer-maintained map of flood updates and persons needing rescue, the latest news from local media sources, a list of verified donation sites and emergency hotlines. It is also linked from Google.com.ph to give easy access to the 25 million Internet users in the Philippines and many more around the world.

Our effort is but one of many being organized by countless individuals and organizations across the country in the spirit of bayanihan, to help those affected by this disaster as quickly and as comprehensively as possible.

Thanks

View Ondoy situation map for Metro Manila in a larger map

Cirma Street: New Road Opens in Sto. Nino

There is a new street which is set to be opened to the public soon.

Cirma Street lies within Sto. Nino and connects Toyota Street (beside Toyota Marikina) and Shoe Avenue (beside the old Rempson/Greendale complex). This 4-lane street extends the backroad of the Bluewave Marquinton compound and passes at the back of Metrobank Sumulong Highway and Greendale connecting to Shoe Avenue.

The road is expected to ease up congestion in nearby areas plus serve as additional routes for passing through the Bayan and Paliparan areas at one point and Sumulong Highway and Gil Fernando Ave. at the other point.

Currently, the closed road is being used as a temporary parking lot.

New Parish Priest For St Paul Of The Cross

The Passionists priests have long served St. Paul of the Cross Church in SSS Village, Concepcion Dos until February 2004 when the church was officially turned over to the Archdoicese of Antipolo.

Since then, Fr. Ric Eguia has been the 1st parish priest after the Passionists' service and guidance. He has been the parish priest for 5 years and 7 months. Under the leadership of Fr. Eguia, the parish has witnessed much progress during his service.

Last September 13 was the last Sunday mass Fr. Ric would celebrate as he is set to be transferred to Sta. Ursula Parish in Binangonan, Rizal and continue his mission there as parish priest.

Fr. Ric said in his homily that he considers this next mission as a challenging one. Coming from the current 24,000 population of Barangay Concepcion Dos that St. Paul of the Cross caters to, Sta. Ursula Parish will be catering to 40 barangays and approximately a community of 200,000 people.

The new parish priest for St. Paul of the Cross starting September 15 will be Fr. Eymard Balatbat, who came from Christ the King parish in Muzon, Taytay, Rizal also as parish priest.

We wish Fr. Ric Eguia all our thanks for his dedicated service to the parish and wish him all the blessings in his new endeavor. We also welcome Fr. Eymard Balatbat to the parish and may he continue the service and guidance St. Paul of the Cross has received for all these years.

SM City Marikina Celebrates 1st Year Anniversary

Last September 5, 2009 marked the 1st year anniversary of SM City Marikina.

Aside from the various sales the mall gave, John Lloyd was also the special guest of honor as he visited SM City Marikina that day. Exactly 1 year ago, when SM City Marikina inaugurated, the mall's special guest was Sarah Geronimo. What a coincidence !

Also Laila of ABS-CBN Games Update Live and 101.9 DJ also graced the event.

A celebration of fireworks lighted up the mall and the Marikina Riverbanks to commemorate 1 year of SM in the city of Marikina.

Happy anniversary SM City Marikina !