German "Kuya Germs" Moreno Buried in Loyola Memorial Park in Marikina

The entire entertainment industry and supporters mourned the loss of a great person in the entertainment industry, German "Kuya Germs" Moreno, who passed away at the age of 82, last January 8, 2016 due to cardiac arrest.

German Moreno's modest beginning in the entertainment industry started as working as a janitor and telonero (curtain raiser) of Clover Theater in 1957.  Since then, Kuya Germs was known for being a comedian, actor, radio commentator, host and eventually earned the nickname of "Master Showman." He has discovered a lot of talents and launched careers of many celebrities.

Last January 14, 2016 German Moreno was buried at Loyola Memorial Park in Marikina City.

German Moreno joins his parents, Jose Moreno y Calvo (April 23, 1946) and Aurora Molina Vda de Moreno (Sept. 1991) and only sister Pilar Moreno Nite (June 13, 2011) at the Garden of Devotion in Loyola Memorial Park in Marikina.

To visit German Moreno at Loyola Memorial Park, enter the main gate and take the left road.  Look for the San Antonio de Padua statue to the left side, and walk towards the wall.   Landmark is the Barangka Credit Cooperative (blue and yellow) building.

To watch the entire internment services, click below.

Become The Next Big Star!

Are you talented and you know it?  Then showcase your talent here!

Marikina Riverbanks Center invites you to become the The Next Big Star!

This is open to all amateur contest participants, male or female, ages 15 and above. Come to the Riverbanks Center on November 14, 3pm and get ready to showcase your talent.  Grand prize winner takes home P10,000. No one goes home empty handed as non-winners will receive P2,000.

Interested participants may get their application form at the Christmassaya Bazaar information table starting October 16.  You may also download the entry form at the Christmassaya Bazaar Facebook page.

To join, participants must submit the following requirements to keenahticzon.com

• Accomplished entry form
• Guardian's signature on the form (for participants below 18 years old)
• Scanned copy of photocopy of Valid ID with photo and birth certificate
• One (1) colored full body shot of the applicant

After submission of requirements, auditioners will receive a call of confirmation from the event organizer to attend the screeninng on November 14, 3pm at the Christmassaya Bazaar Activity Center.

• During screening, present a P100. single or accumulated receipt from any of the bazaar tenants.
• Prepare two talent materials. Each contestant willbe given 10 minutes to chowcase their talent during the screening and if chosen, another 10 minutes during the finals.
• Only 5 contestants will be chosen to compete during the grand finals.
• Finals will be held on the same day (November 14, 2015) at 8pm at the Christmassaya Bazaar Activity Center.

Criteria for Judging: (*Judges decision is final and irrevocable)

• Poise and Confidence: 20%
• Talent (musicality and gracefulness) 40%
• Stage Presence 30%
• Audience Impact 10%
• TOTAL 100%

Special guest will be The Voice finalist, Lea Patricio.

For more details, check out the Christmassaya Bazaar Facebook page.

Goodluck to all the contestants!

Marikina Sapatos Festival 2015

The Marikina Sapatos Festival officially starts on October 26, 2015 and will run until December 30, 2015 at Freedom Park in front of Marikina City Hall.   The grand opening will be held at Plaza de los Alcaldez at 8am.

This year marks the 10th Marikina Sapatos Festival.  In 2005, a City Council ordinance renamed the Sapatero Festival to what it is known today as the Sapatos Festival, with its objective of revitalizing the city's shoe industry and give recognition to Marikina-made shoes.

This year, the Sapatos Festival has also expanded to include Marikina-made bags.
Aside from the Mega Shoes and Bags Bazaar at Freedom Park, which will be held every Monday to Thursday from 8am - 6pm, every Friday - Saturday from 8am - 10pm and every Sunday from 8am - 7pm, weekend fairs will also include activities such as Zumba (every Saturday at 7am), Banchetto and food fairs (every Fri & Sat. from 8am - 10pm), cooking demos (every Friday 6pm - 9pm), and movie nights/variety shows (every Saturday & Sunday from 9am - 10pm).

An evolution of shoes exhibit is located at the Marikina City Hall quadrangle.

Other events during the Marikina Sapatos Festival are:

• Philippine Footwear Leathergoods Trade Show - November 6 - 9 (4th floor Legislative Building) (8am - 5pm)
• Tour de Takong (Stiletto Race) - November 14 at Freedom Park (3pm)
• Time Capsule - December 4 at Kapitan Moy (7am)
• Grand Parade Festival Queen, Street Dance Competition, Float Parade - December 5 at Marikina Sports Center (3pm)
• Danza de Takong (Stiletto Street Dance) - November 27 - 28 (Elimination); December 12 (Finals) at Freedom Park (6pm)

For more details and to support the Sapatos Festival on social media, follow

• @SapatosFest2015 on Twitter
• @SapatosFestival2015 on Instagram
• Marikina Sapatos Festival 2015 on Facebook
• Official hashtags #SapatosFestival2015 & #iWearMarikina

Feast of St. Crispin, Patron Saint of Shoemakers & Our Lady of Marikina Replica Procession - Marikina Sapatos Festival 2015

Our Lady of the Abandoned Church celebrated the Feast of St. Crispin on the eve of the 2015 Marikina Sapatos Festival.  .

The feast of St. Crispin is observed every October 25 by Marikina being the patron saint for shoemakers and is the feast day of the Christian saints, and martyred twins Crispin and Crispinian. This feast is the first of the events included in the Marikina Sapatos Festival 2015 which will run from October 26 - December 30, 2015.

One of the events was the "Our Lady of Marikina Replica Procession" which was held on the 2nd day celebration for 10th Canonical Coronation Anniversary of Our Lady of the Abandoned, Patroness of Marikina.

SOHAiesta - The 1st ever Food Banchetto and Bazaar

Everyone is invited to join the 1st ever Food Banchetto and Bazaar dubbed as SOHAiesta organized by OLOPSC Alumni Batch 1996 in cooperation with Society of OLOPSC High school Alumni ( SOHA ) at OLOPSC DC Arcadia Gen Ordonez St. on Oct. 23 and 24 at 5 pm onwards.

Your favorite Marikina Restaurants like Crepeman, Mad Mustard, Kanzen Sushi and Cripy Doki will be joining the event. And not to be outdone, your kids get their share of fun... A Trick or Treat costume party from 5pm - 6pm. Also enjoy and listen to acoustic performers to liven up the night. 

For more details, call 3308756997 or 997-7777

See you all there!

Directions to OLOPSC DC Arcadia Gen Ordonez St., Marikina City.

Lilac Food Fest 2015 Amidst the Typhoon

Despite rainy weather caused by Typhoon Lando, the 2015 Lilac Foodfest proved to be a successful one last October 17, 2015 with people dropping by to sample different cuisines and types of food offered.

Similar to popular Food street destinations such as Maginhawa in Quezon City and Kapitolyo in Pasig City, Lilac Street in SSS Village, Marikina City is slowly becoming another food street with various non-food chain restaurants and cafes each worth visiting and checking out.

All Aboard The Riverland Express

The Riverland Express train at Marikina Riverbanks Center.

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