Marikina Participates in the Metro Manila Shake Drill for July 30

Aside from the city government of Marikina scheduling its own series of earthquake drills in its 16 barangays this July 2015, Marikina will also participate in the Metro Manila Quake Drill organized by the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on July 30.

Quoted from the Official Metro Manila Shake Drill website, it says "On July 30, 2015 10:30 AM, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, with multi-sector cooperation from schools, business, government agencies, and religious organizations, will be conducting a metro-wide Earthquake Drill. This will increase the metro’s chances of better recovery and implementation of contingencies in the event of earthquakes."

Marikina is among the 12 cities in the National Capitol Region that will participate in the largest Earthquake Drill to be held in Metropolitan Manila which starts at 10:30 am on July 30.

The Metro Manila Quake Drill scenario for the East Quadrant which includes Marikina City and Pasig City are fallen structures. The evacuation site identified for this drill is LRT 2 Santolan Station and Marikina Boys Town in Marikina, and Ultra in Pasig City.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHILVOLCS) had earlier warned of a 7.2 magnitude quake following movement from the West Valley Fault which passes through the barangays Barangka, Industrial Valley, Malanday and Tumana in Marikina.

Map of West Valley Fault passing through portions of Marikina City

MMDA is counting on public's participation.

For more details, visit

• http://www.metromanilashakedrill.com/
• http://www.bepreparedmetromanila.com/
• http://tremors.instigators.io/
• #MMShakeDrill hashtag
• Metro Manila Shake Drill Audio Broadcast - signalling the start of the drill

Project Tremors Website Determines How Near or Far You Are From the Valley Fault Line

Lately, the Valley Fault System (also known as the Marikina Valley Fault System) has been in the news including locations where the Fault Line passes through.  In response to providing valuable information on the Valley Fault System, a group of developers came up with an online tool that maps out the fault along with barangays and cities affected.

Project Tremors is a website that uses data sources from GMA Network, ABS-CBN news, nababaha.com and Local Waters Utilities Administration (LWUA) to map out the East and West portion of the Valley Fault System.

Developed by Dominic Tuazon , Louis Michael Concepcion, Emmanuel Soriano and designed by
Kyle Abughanem, the website graphically illustrates the barangays affected and in the path of the fault line through a map.  In addition, the barangays listed show the population breakdown.  You can also search for your location and it will calculate your distance frmo the fault line.

Affected areas in Marikina include:

• Loyola Garden Village
• Loyola Subdivision
• Monte Vista Village
• Industrial Valley Subdivision
• Cinco Hermanos Subdivision
• Wood Crest Subdivision
• Loyola Grand Villas
• Dela Costa Homes

To access the website, visit http://tremors.instigators.io/

The Official Marikina City Government Website also provides an Earthquake Prepredness Guide called Lindol 101, which includes tips on what to do before, during and after an earthquake, an emergency checklist useful contact numbers.  To access the guide, visit http://marikina.gov.ph/#earthquake

OLOPSC High School Batch 1990 Celebrates 25th Anniversary with a Reunion

Batch 1990 of Our Lady of Perpetual College in Marikina will be celebrating their 25th year High School reunion at the Dionisio Sr. Hall.

This reunion hopes to bring together the 200+ alumni who graduated high school from OLOPSC (then known as OLOPSS - Our Lady of Perpetual Succor School).  Also invited are Elementary graduates of the same year.

This batch was one of the batches who enjoyed the newly constructed campus at General Ordonez (then Molave St.) transferring from the old campus along Bayan Bayanan Avenue.

Fourth year High School advisers who handled this batch were Mrs. Eva Faytaren for Assumption of Mary,  Mrs. Ruby Reyes for Coronation of Mary, Mrs. Grace Rarang for Legion of Mary, Mr. Gener Pascual for Immaculate Concepcion and Mrs. Cecilia Ramos for Solemnity of Mary.

One of the most notable people from this batch was Navy Lieutenant Senior Grade Arlene dela Cruz, the first woman topnotcher of the Philippine Military Academy graduating at the top of the PMA "Masikhay" Class 1999.  Unfortunately, she was involved in a fatal road accident in Bataan in 2008.

This 25th year alumni reunion is a prelude to the OLOPSC Grand Alumni Homecoming tentatively scheduled for December 5, 2015 where all batches will reunite.

The reunion will begin with a mass at the school chapel, followed by dinner, acknowledgement per section, tribute to the deceased batchmates, a video presentation and end off with a party for everyone to catch up with classmates and batchmates.  

Thank you to Jack Daniels, Manila Water, Phoenix Publishing House, Pan de Amerikana sponsoring the reunion as well as several pledges from 1990 batchmates who are both living here and abroad. 

Founded in 1978, Our Lady of Perpetual Succor College is one of the leading and recognized schools in Marikina City, located along Gen. Ordonez St.

M is for Marikina. M is for Malaking Sapatos

Marikina City is well known for its shoe industry.  And because of this, several fixtures around the city are created in the form of shoes.  Along the Riverbanks road leading to C5, you'll find this huge M with a high heel on top.  Just before this, are two huge high heels that can be climbed into.

5 Churches in Marikina You May Have Visited This Holy Week

Holy Week is widely observed in the Philippines and churches are visited consecutively during this period not only during Visita Iglesia but almost every day of the week leading up to Easter Sunday.

Which of these churches have you visited in Marikina?  Here's a list of some of the most popular churches.

Our Lady of the Abandoned Church facade

1. Our Lady of The Abandoned Church. This is one of the oldest churches in Marikina being built in the 1700's by the Augustinians. The church is where Nuestra Señora de los Desamparados resides, the Patron Saint of Marikina City. Unforunately, it didn't survive 2 major earthquakes and so the current church is a rebuild. It's located near Bayan along JP Rizal St. in Sta Elena. Despite it's location, it's locally also referred to as the San Roque church. It is also a popular church for weddings.
2. Immaculate Concepcion Church. Located along Bayan-bayanan St. in Concepcion Uno, this is the second largest and most populated church in Marikina. It's one of the most populated becuase it is in the heart of Marikina several barangays and subdivisions surrounding it. Most jeeps and buses travelling through Marikina pass through this church. 
   
3. St. Paul of the Cross. This church is located in SSS Village. The church used to be run by the Passionists Fathers of the Philippines. It is currently under the Roman Catholic Diocese of Antipolo. This is the main church for SSS Village but neighboring subdivisions like Rim View Park and Rancho Estates also visit. 
   
4. Jesus dela Pena. This is first permanent Church established in Marikina built by the Jesuits in 1630 located in the community of Jesus dela Peña. Marikina has once been called Jesus dela Pena in honor of the Infant Child Jesus. The chapel has been declared a national shrine by the National Historical Commission.
5. Nativity of Our Lady Parish. Located along Major Dizon St. in Industrial Valley, this church is a small but tall church.   It's not too big to fit a lot of people, but it's architecture is of the pointed and elongated type, a bit similar to Iglesia ni Cristo facades. 
   
   
   

4 More Reasons To Visit Marikina Riverbanks

Marikina Riverbanks has been known to be a place for shopping, a park to hang out, a place to meet friends over a meal, or to see that gigantic pair of shoes on display inside Riverbanks Center.  Now there's 4 more reasons to visit Riverbanks Center.  And if you love museums, then you'll love all of these 4 reasons.

1. The Spirit of Bethlehem (Private Belen collection)

The spirit of Bethlehem is a private collection of over 500 belens/nativity sets/ posters/paintings and sculptures from all over the world. It boasts of numerous pieces from here and abroad, collected thru decades of devotion to the Infant Jesus, by its owner Gigi Abaya-Carlos. Among those on display is her very first belen set bought in 1952 at Catholic Trade School in Tayuman.

Belens/Nativity sets from different countries like the United States, Mexico, Spain, Israel, Africa, Guatemala, China, and from the different regions of the Philippines, will certainly catch your attention because they reflect the culture from where they originated. Some are made from different materials like paper mache, stones, glass, clay, resin and more. About 80% of these Belens are proudly Philippines made.

2.  Joey Velasco Gallery

Right next to The Spirit of Bethlehem is the Joey Velacso Gallery, now home to the spiritually moving art pieces and legacy of the late Joey Velasco. The artist was only 43 years old when he passed away because of a life-threatening kidney disease. Best known for his works “Hapag ng Pag-asa”, or “Table of Hope”, which depicts the Last Supper with Jesus and street children instead of the disciples, Velasco has stirred the hearts of many with his paintings.

Those who have seen his paintings will certainly attest that it is not just a gallery. Though there is an appreciation of art, it is more of a place of reflection. It is a “living museum” where art reflects the spiritual dimension of day to day living and sparks social awareness. According to Ms. Queeny Velasco, wife of the late painter/writer, it is a museum of “faith and patriotism”.

The gallery is being supported by the Joey Velasco Foundation (JVF) whose current priority is to give support to the Hapag Kids and their families of Hapag Village in Amparo, Caloocan City. JVF created livelihood projects for them, gives training to enhance their skills and other activities for the value formation of the community.

3. Philippine Science Centrum

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 eleven (11) exciting galleries (Lights, Bodyworks, Mathematics, Electricity & Magnetism, Water, Vision and Perception, Infectious Diseases, Earth Science, Space, Kids’ World and Mechanics) and various educational activities, outreach programs and trainings complementing the Department of Education ‘s K to 12 education curriculum and its goal of upgrading the level of science education in the country. 

Other services offered: rental of exhibits for school and corporate events, venue for birthday parties, trainings and seminars and science-related events. The 2,500 sq meters facility can comfortably accommodate 3,000 visitors in a day or 500 visitors in any given timeslot.

4.  Museum of Miniatures

After seeing all the Belens, one is awed by the collection of tiny but real-looking replicas of things you would find in all the different rooms of a European mansion. It is a collection of shadows boxes filled with Lilliputian pieces of 1:1 scale.  The miniatures are part of the collection of the late Aleli Vengua, a passionate  artist who handcrafted most of the pieces herself. A lot of the materials used were scrap  from items in our day to day living, be it plastic, wood, aluminum, fabric, and glass.

Each room is designed with so much detail and attention that one will never want to look away.

So what are you waiting for?  Come and visit the Marikina Riverbanks museums on display today!

Online Resources for Marikenos on Typhoon Mario

With Typhoon Mario's amount of rainfall hugely affecting Marikina City, Mayor Del De Guzman declares the city in a state of calamity. Residents in surrounding areas of Marikina River were issued a force evacuation as standard protocol once Marikina River reaches critical level.  As of 5pm today, Adrian Ayalin reports current river level at 19.8 meters, which is above the 17 meter critical level.

Marikina river at 19.8 meters as of 5PM. pic.twitter.com/hXR8d9mdMn  — Adrian Ayalin (@adrianayalin) September 19, 2014

The sudden flash floods experienced prompted some Marikenos to compare Typhoon Mario with 2009 Typhoon Ondoy.  PAGASA recorded 268 mm of rainfall in the past 12 hours as compared to Typhoon Ondoy's 455 mm in a 24 hour time frame and notes that their forecast shows that Typhoon Mario will not likely achieve the same amount.

To assist Marikenos, here are some online resources available:

• Crisis Map of Evacuation centers where families have been relocated due to TS Mario
• Marikina River Water Level Updates
• Project NOAH
• PAG-ASA Website
• Marikina Public Information Office Twitter Updates
• Marikina Public Information Office Facebook page
• #RescuePH - rowdsourced disaster response initiative to help coordinate disaster response and relief operations

 Evacuation centers where families have been relocated due to TS Mario.

(Resource: DSWD/PCDSPO)

Other city announcements:

• Mayor Del announces the suspension of classes in all levels for Saturday, Sept. 20, 2014 in Marikina.

Our Lady of the Abandoned Parish Church - National Historical Landmark

This church in Marikina is also known as:

1. Diocesan Shrine and Parish of Our Lady of the Abandoned
2. Santuario y Parroquia del Nuestra Señora de los Desamparados
3. Dambana at Parokya ng Ina ng mga Walang Mag-Ampon
4. San Roque Church

In 1999, the National Historical Institute declared it a National Historical Landmark.