Let me share with you a wonderful letter from a Marikenya reader, Lisa-Chanyungco Masbad. Chanyungco’s own of the oldest and pretties ancestral houses along the Marikina Cultural and Heritage zone in Sta. Elena.
I finally surrendered and gave in to the effects of jet lag, or a better word for it should probably be a “hangover” from my Marikina visit (but the good kind not the bad kind), and so I started surfing the net. I had just gotten back to NY, from a two week visit there and as always, each time I get back from there, I go surfing searching for articles, and sites about Marikina, to cure my being “homesick”.
You see each year, my siblings and I make our Feb visit for our Nanay’s birthday. And yet, each time, when I get back to NY, I still find the first few weeks to be the hardest part for me, of ridding the feeling of yes being “homesick.” What a very pleasant surprise having to accidentally come across this site! God Bless You!!! You may not believe it but each year during our visit, as my siblings and their families enjoy the usual “rounds” of visiting beach resorts and other tourist spots and preferring to stay outside Marikina, I am proud to say that I never tire of just staying behind to “marinade” myself with what Marikina has to offer.
Friends and family ask me if I don’t get bored,and truth is I just don’t. Being a “tubong Marikenya” myself, I just never tire of just staying put and of enjoying the town and the townspeople. It may be due to age, that I have gotten more sentimental, but for whatever it is, through the years, I have gotten to appreciate and love Marikina even more for the priceless memories it brings back to me and for what it has become. I am not into politics nor am I one who is well informed about that aspect, but honestly I do believe the changes in Marikina have to be credited from the time that BF was elected as Mayor, and with God’s graces his good work and objectives continue with his wife, now the the current mayor. BF proved his love for the town and poured his heart and soul in making Marikina the way it is now. Being a “tubong Marikenyo” himself, his good work seem to be just expected, and effortless even though he did go thru a lot of blood sweat and tears to accomplish them. One fact remains and that Marikenyos and Marikenyas will forever be grateful.
Photo from flickr by danielygo
But don’t get me wrong, being a “foodie” myself I do avail myself of trying restaurants outside of Marikina, courtesy of invites from family and friends, more often than not, by my first cousins, “tubong Marikenyans” as myself. However, I have always expressed my pride about how Marikina has really become a city, offering residents all the good fine dining, recreational get aways (entertainment, spas, cultural centers, etc.) at an arm’s reach almost… When I was growing up, I remember how we had to drive or take buses from point A to Point B, just to be able to get to places Manilenos brag about. But now, every Marikina resident, can find everything easily accessible, either by walking or an easy tricycle ride. A family can have a good night out just going thru the river walk, or by taking a P25-P30 tricycle ride to SM Calumpang!
Some have commented that once you have resided overseas for a number of years, people will be able to “spot” a Balikbayan in a NY minute, and that you will stand out in a crowd. That has never happened to me ever in all my trips to Marikina. Perhaps if I made an effort to stand out I would. But once I find myself back in Marikina, I automatically feel as if I was never gone, my “punto” comes back, I put all my trust on my flip flops to take me everywhere I need to go, blend in and go with the flow. I adjust and let go, contrary to other”turistas” choose to expect that it should be the people who should adjust to their ways, their so called American ways. I can’t and don’t bother with that.
As soon as I get settled at Nanay’s house,I visit my “sukis”(Aling Babing’s for native handicrafts, Aling Rosa for my husband’s and sons’ undershirts, Mang Totong for my “borloloy” suede step ins, Aling Tacing, the ever reliable modista on the 2nd floor) at the palengke, the local parlor”Pinky’s” by Sumulong Optical, which I prefer to any “sosyal” salons both in and out of Marikina, have my “pit stop” at Johnny’s Fried Chicken for refreshments. Yes, and how can one not like Macky’s…not only is it conveniently right across from where I stay, but the goto is just too good to miss, no matter how hot the weather may be. Then there’s the home based dry cleaning service close to it if I have to wear a formal outfit that has been abusively wrinkled inside my luggage during the long flight from the US.
They would even give you same day service if need be. And I should mention that shoe repair man who holds his fort just by the side of the street, along that “eskinita” beside Marikina cemetery, that leads you to the palengke. He sits there with a makeshift table, a box for his tools, but can repair your worn out soles and make your shoes look like brand new better than any shoe repair shop I have dealt with in New York city! And it never occurred to me that we have our won signature puto (Rocha’s/Aling Remy’s)…having eaten that kind of puto since I started walking, I took it for granted that it is a Marikina specialty! What about Luyong’s pancit canton? Each time I get to eat that, I get a “taste” of my childhood days in Marikina, that I can almost smell the scent of those days, if that is even possible!
As far as Bellini’s, my despedida was held there a week ago. We all loved it. It’s a bit pricey but for special celebrations, such as anniversaries and birthdays, it is something worth trying. This restaurant doesn’t serve the usual spaghetti and meatballs or cream carbonara, but it serves authentic Italian cuisine, typical of what you would be served if you were in Little Italy in NY..the pizzas are thin crusted, the pastas are made fresh and they even make use of truffles! It’s a father and son owned restaurant and we got to meet Daniel, originally from the town of Pisa, (hence that small replica of the leaning tower outside by the front door)the younger of the two. He was really very friendly and welcoming, and surprisingly speaks fluent Tagalog but with a thick Italian accent. He claims he is a “Marikenyo” ( yes he insists!) residing in Lamuan married to a Fil from Montalban. A former photo journalist, he even showed us some of his previous work. We all left the restaurant stuffed and happy, I do hope Bellini’s makes it for the long run. I think it is a good addition to the rest of what Marikina features and offers.
Well, thank you so much for this site. I haven’t read all of the pages, but I definitely will and it is comforting to know that I can visit this site to “re-charge.” Thank you again and God Bless! Lisa
You know Lisa, it’s always once in a while that I get sincere and heartwarming letters like yours. It was like traveling in time with you and your experiences. I even get to know nice information from you too like Aling Babing’s native Handicrafts, Aling Rosa’s sons’ undershirts and Mang Totong’s suede step-ins, it is time to visit the market mall again.
You are such a wonder and I really hope that many Marikenyos abroad are nostalgic about our hometown, I know I will be. I am very thankful that this site provides you and other Marikenyos in other countries the comfort of revisiting this city we all grew up in and loved. Thanks Lisa for your candid stories and I hope I’d receive more letters from you to be published in this blog site.
Again, my invitation to everyone who wanted their experiences for this city or this blog be read, please write me at marikenya@yahoo.com or through the contact form. Suggestions, feedbacks, and recommendations are also very welcome. If you wanted to assist in this site’s development for free, I’d be happy to hear from you.
Thanks again everyone!
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