The greater part of the populace of Marikina during the mid-1700s were Mestizo de Sangley (Chinese Mestizo). They came to Marikina upon the invitation of the Jesuits to help in establishing a hacienda which was named after the patron saint of farmers, San Isidro de Labrador. Similarly, the patriarch of the most illustrious clan in the town, Don Antonio Tuason, was a wealthy Chinaman from Binondo, Manila. He was believed to be Sontua (presumably, the Sino-Version of the Tuason name meaning "eldest son") whose wealth has helped provide a battalion for the Spanish war with the British who ventured to get the Philippines from Spain. The Tuazon's property from Manila grew when they bought from the Jesuits their properties here in Marikina which came to be known as Hacienda se Mariquina. Undoubtedly, the Chinese were part of the lineage that formed the history of the present day-Marikina. The Chinese Chamber of Commerce had the Chinese Pagoda constructed along the Marikina riverbanks as a commemoration of the roots of Marikeños.
Accommodations
- Marikina Hotel - Pio Del Pilar St. cor. Tangerine St., Brgy. Concepcion II, Marikina City Philippines
- La Trinidad Pension House
- Family Lodging House - 31 Liamzon St., Brgy. San Roque
- Family Lodging House - 31 Liamzon St., Brgy. San Roque
- Villa Ronar Garden Resort & Hotel - 112 Dao corner Champaca St., Marikina Heights, Marikina City
- RELC - Dormitory
- MIST-TESDA
Restaurants
- Pan De Amerikana
- Cafe Qizia - Italian Cuisine
- Tapsi ni Vivian
- Macky's Eatery
- Dalay's - Filipino Cuisine
- Cafe Kapitan
- Kusina ni Kambal
- Panciteria ni Edong's
- Kubo sa Tuazon
- Cafe Lidia
- Casa Feliz Cakes & Pastries
- Pap's Dinner
- Eriz’s Driveway bar and resto Café
- NOHMU (Resto Bar)
Transportation
Currently, elevated light rail systems run through Marikina City. The first or last station of LRT 2 is Santolan located along Marcos Highway. The station connects to Claro M. Recto Avenue in Manila.
Public transportation within the city, like in most of the urban areas in the Philippines, is facilitated mostly using inexpensive jeepneys and buses. Tricycles (motorbikes with an attached two seater carriage) are the usual transportation used for short distances, while Taxi cabs are used by the upper middle class. The roads are organized around a set of long narrow and circumferential roads that radiate and circle in and around the city.
One of the most notable attractions in Marikina is the bikeways and bike lanes along major roads and streets. This is the only city in the Philippines which has an effective bikeway.
Going to Marikina
Various land transportation ply the route going to Marikina City via bus in major roads or public jeepneys in minor roads in Metro Manila. From Cainta and Antipolo via Marikina City (bayan): Take a jeepney with the sign board (Cubao), ask the driver to drop you at Mcdo Marcos highway and ride a tricycle going straight to Marikina Sports Center.
Or drop by at Fiesta Villa in A. Tuazon Marikina and ride a jeep with the sign board ( going to Marikina).
From Quezon City via Marikina City( BAYAN):
Take a ride either Fx or jeep at Gateway Cubao, ride with the signboard going to ( Parang, SSS, Kalumpang ) and they’ll drop you off to Marikina Bayan.
From Pasig City via Marikina City (BAYAN):
Take a jeepney in Pasig Palengke and ride with the signboard going to Marikina(bayan).
From San Mateo via Marikina (BAYAN):
Take a jeepney with the signboard Marikina (bayan)