Marikina City Mayor Marcelino “Marcy” Teodoro called on Marikeños and Marikeñas to keep history alive as the city commemorated its 393rd founding anniversary on Monday, April 17. “Ang pakiusap ko sana sa lahat ay tumingin tayo sa paligid natin at ang kasaysayan ay makikita natin, at sa pagtingin na iyon ay maalala natin kung saan tayo nanggaling; at sa pag-alala na ‘yon ay mapahalagahan natin ang kasalukuyan, at mapangalagaan natin ‘yung ating patutunguhan (I ask everyone to look and see the history that surrounds us. As we remember where we came from, let us value our present and safeguard our future),” Teodoro said during his speech at the event. The city has been celebrating Marikina Memorial Day every April 16 since its founding in 1630, in accordance with Proclamation No. 1417, series of 1975. Marikina City Mayor Marcelino "Marcy" Teodoro speaking at the celebration of the city's 393rd founding anniversary on Monday, April 17, 2022. (Marikina LGU Photos / MANILA BULLETIN) The mayor led the founding anniversary ceremony at the Roman Gardens in the Marikina River Park along with his wife, District 1 Representative Marjorie Ann “Maan” Teodoro, Vice Mayor Marion Andres, and members of the City Council. They were joined by the law enforcement agency officials, and personnel from the local government. To honor the solemnity of the special occasion, a Mass was celebrated during the event. Teodoro also officiated the oath-taking of various homeowners associations. “Marami na tayong pinagdaanan, at kung ating makikita ang Marikina ay isa sa pinakamatandang lugar sa Pilipinas, halos kasing tanda ito ng Lungsod ng Maynila (We have been through many things, as we can see that Marikina is one of the oldest places in the Philippines, almost as old as the City of Manila),” Teodoro said. The mayor recalled how, in the past, all the lands that make up the City of Marikina now was one of the biggest haciendas in the country that was owned by the private sector, following the haciendas of members of religious orders who had large farming fields. “Napakalaki at napakatagal na ng kasaysayan ng ating lungsod at marami na tayong ginampanan sa kasaysayan. At ngayon nga ay pinagdiriwang natin ito, ang pagkakatatag ng ating lungsod (Our city’s history is rich and long. Now, we celebrate the milestones of our city through the years),” he added. Marikina City Mayor Marcelino ‘Marcy’ Teodoro, Marikina 1st District Representative Marjorie Ann “Maan” Teodoro, and other local government officials receive the awards bestowed by the DILG to the city government of Marikina during the celebration of the city’s 393rd founding anniversary at the Roman Gardens on Monday, April 17. (Marikina LGU Photos / MANILA BULLETIN)
As a testament to the city’s achievements, the mayor and the congresswoman received the Mark of Recognition for passing the 2022 Good Financial Housekeeping (GFH) assessment from the Department of the Interior and Local Government - National Capital Region (DILG-NCR). DILG-Marikina Director Mary Jane Nacario said the GFH recognized the local government’s efforts in ensuring financial transparency and accountability, as well as public reporting of the city’s budget and expenditure. Marikina was also named the “Most Improved LGU” in 2022 by the DILG. The local government also won third place among the 17 other Metro Manila government units in their implementation of the Manila Bay Clean-up, Rehabilitation and Preservation Program (MBCRPP). The P100,000 cash prize will be used for the city’s cleaning and clearing activities such as the “Tagalinis On Wheels” and “Munting Basura Ibulsa Muna” projects, said Nacario. Marikina earned the Seal of Excellence in Governance from the DILG in 2019.