Marikenya Readers on SM Marikina

September 13, 2008 · Filed Under general, travel · Comment 

Here are feedbacks from our Marikenya readers on SM Marikina:

SM Marikina

Hoping that the opening of SM marikina is safe and have access to the river.

From Carmencita Decastillo

So far, we’re in luck. No mishaps since the opening day. The problems I just encountered with my mall visits at SM were difficulty using the bathroom (because of the long lines) and fully occupied food courts and restaurants. The heat is still on with SM so it’s hard to enjoy just walking around because of the large crowd.

Mayor MCF,

As a motorist, can you help us convey our comment on the parking flow at SM City Marikina. We hope that SM management will swap the parking entrance with exit. We went there last week and it took us almost 20minutes to get to the parking area of the mall. We are worried when Christmas comes the traffic will spill over the Marcos Highway if SM will not swap the entry with the exit. I noticed that the guard have to stop the vehicles in the driveway going to the parking entrance to give way to the vehicles going out of the mall parking area. This looks strange and funny to us.

Hoping that SM will consider the traffic flow of the mall.

We are happy with the current development of the area (where SM City Marikina is located). We are expecting the banks along the river will soon be developed similar to Clask Quay of Singapore. Where there is a pedestrian bridge crossing the river. a giant statue or icon that landmarks the city of Marikina as a tourist destination, fine dining restaurants along the banks, and a boat restaurant where tourists can enjoy eating inside a boat while cruising the Marikina river. Singapore is a very good example.

Hoping to see something like it in the future.

Michael Nuez

Michael, we’re sending a copy of your message and pingback to the sites of SM and Marikina City Government.

To everyone, keep sending your feedbacks, suggestions, concerns, or contributions to marikenya@yahoo.com or through the contact form. Thank you!
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SM Marikina Hype

September 6, 2008 · Filed Under about marikina, travel · Comment 

My fellow Marikeño, have you seen the newly opened SM Marikina?

I did. I just went there this evening with my friends and I’d say it calmed a bit since yesterday. The first opening day was Friday and from what I heard, the mall was totally crowded with people that the traffic flow in Marcos Highway and Barangka where SM is located was terrible.

In fact, the traffic going to SM via Kalumpang, was also slow moving. Simply driving to the car park takes more than fifteen minutes but one need not wait long since SM boast the biggest car park of all the malls in Marikina and nearby towns. As expected, the mall is full with people, I bet majority of Marikeños are there plus mall goers from Cainta, Pasig and even Antipolo and other parts of Rizal.

SM is perfect. The shops are great, the restaurants are inviting. I made my first SM shopping today and I got my purchase on sale price, all items are 10% less since yesterday. Being a shopaholic, having SM just within the vicinity really excites me. I’m positive that having a mall with ten cinemas and all the entertainment and dining facilities once can think of would really excite any Marikeño, even those who are not as addicted to shopping as I am.

So, see you at SM?

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SM Marikina Opening on September 5

September 2, 2008 · Filed Under about marikina, general, shopping, travel · Comment 
The long awaited SM Marikina is set to open this Friday, September 5, 2008. Are Marikenians excited? Uhmm… quite a bit. About 90% of those I know would definitely be present on Friday, I would be too if not for a seminar I have to facilitate. Tough luck huh!

SM is Marikina’s first big mall and you can just imagine how excited Marikenians are with this mall invasion. Marikina is now a certified SM City!

I am getting nostalgic. Way back in the 80’s to 90’s, Marikeños were hopefuls that there will be cinemas or even small malls in this town (not yet city then). At that time, there were only small groceries and three small theaters in the town (if my memory served me right, only one or two were still operational in the 90s). Marikina, dubbed as a “bedroom community” with majority of its land use dedicated for residential use, was not a bustling area then for investment. It was only in the mid 90s when the development started and investments came in to the city.

The first mall in the city was the Riverbanks Mall. When it was constructed, people hoped and expected that this mall would have cinemas but enjoyed it anyway because it has depots of branded clothing and sports apparel plus a big and complete grocery not to mentioned the infamous Green Gallery, a smaller version of Greenhills tiyangge.

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Choosing the Right Job. Part of the Series for Resources on SM Marikina Jobs Fair.

May 26, 2008 · Filed Under about marikina, general, jobs, self-help · Comment 

Marikina will be holding the 3rd (third) SM Marikina Jobs Fair this June. In anticipation of this jobs fair,you will find in Marikenya site tips and guides on how to win “that” SM job.

Every one dream of getting the perfect job, receiving good salary with nice benefits, and having own savings or even a checking account. First things first, you must find that job. In finding the right job, it is important that we have a clear picture of the kind of job that we wanted to get, and if that job matches our qualifications. More than that, there are other factors to consider in finding the right job for you.

  • Location. More and more Marikeños are now finding jobs within or close to Marikina. In a study conducted by the International Labor Organization in Marikina, some respondents said that they working in Makati or Ortigas area means prestige but if you will only get a salary less than 10,000 pesos, it would not be enough to compensate for the cost of transportation and other expenses like food. It is the very reason why there are a lot of applicants for SM Marikina.
  • Commute or Transportation. Accessibility of the work place is very important. Are there public transportation in the area for commuters? Would it require long commute? For those with vehicles, this factor is also very important because of the escalating price of gasoline. Not to mention that if you get to work with a vehicle, you always have to worry about parking.
  • Benefits. The good thing about call center companies is that they offer good benefits for their employees. For SM and manufacturing companies though, the sad thing is that they are into contractualization and most probably than not, do not offer medical or other employees benefits aside from SSS, Pag-ibig and Philhealth.
  • Work Environment. This does not only mean the physical environment but also the kind of people you are going to work with. In call center industries, there are also quite a number of “fall-outs” especially for employees being assigned in “graveyard shifts.”
  • Job Security. Unfortunately, for those in the rank and file (in SM, this is the term for salesladies, baggers, etc.) and in the manufacturing (factory workers), hiring are usually in five to six months basis only. It would be very hard to find a company that promise regularization after a six-month contract in these areas.
  • Opportunities for Advancement. Love companies that provide opportunities for their employees to be trained, exposed and be promoted. You may ask the interviewer if they provide for employees development.
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    The Third SM Jobs Fair for Marikeños

    May 15, 2008 · Filed Under about marikina, jobs · 22 Comments 

    Good news to Marikina Job Hunters, the City Government is holding for the third time a week long SM Jobs Fair for Marikeños. The last jobs fair for SM Marikina was held in February where 600 applicants came. Since SM Marikina is hoping to open in September or October this year, the company is still filling the vacant positions and of course, prioritizing Marikina residents for employment.


    Once again, the offices in-charge for the jobs fair are the Public Employment and Services Office and Center for Excellence. Like in the past jobs fairs, the prospective applicants need to register with PESO and undergo the four-hour career orientation prior the actual jobs fair dates.


    Registration is open from now until first week of June.
    Schedule of Career Orientations is from June 9 to 13 but applicant’s schedule would depend on PESO. Venue and time for orientation would also be given by PESO.
    Jobs Fair Dates: June 16 to 20
    Venue: Marikina City Hall Quadrangle, Sta. Elena, Marikina City
    What to bring: Any valid I.D. and Resumes
    For Inquiries, call PESO at 646-1621 or CENTEX at 682-9280

    For available positions, please check this previous post, SM is hiring for the same positions.

    For questions and clarifications, contact PESO or CENTEX or leave a comment below or use Marikenya’s contact form in the sidebar. For tips on how to get a job, see my next articles.

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    SM Marikina Jobs Fair for Marikeños

    January 21, 2008 · Filed Under about marikina, general, jobs · 52 Comments 

    Last month, the Public Employment and Services Office and Center for Excellence of Marikina held a 5-day Jobs Fair for SM (Shoe Mart) for Marikeños. The hiring particularly focused on providing manpower for the soon to be opened SM Marikina.

    Fortunately for those who were not able to make it last time, there will be another SM Jobs Fair this coming February for Marikeños.

    Venue: Marikina City Hall Quadrangle, Sta. Elena, Marikina City
    What to bring: Any valid I.D. and Resume
    For Inquiries, call PESO at 646-1621 or CENTEX at 682-9280

    Important:
    All applicants need to REGISTER first with PESO and attend the Career Orientation Seminar which will conducted prior the actual hiring dates. You may register until FEBRUARY 5, 2008 from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

    This time, there will be different hiring for SM Department Store and SM Affiliates. See the schedule below:
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