The Largest Shoe in the World

The city of Marikina formally launched yesterday its bid to make it to the Guinness Book of World Records in the largest shoe category. Mayor Ma. Lourdes Fernando said a ten-man team from Marikina Colosan Footwear will try to beat the 3.12 meter shoes made by Zuhit Okurlar of Kenya, Turkey during the Kenya International Shoe Fair on Feb. 2000. Under the auspices of the Guinness Book of World Records with claim ID 27199 and Membership No. 26514, Fernando said the team would create a 5-meter long pair of men’s shoes which will vie for the World Record during the largest shoe fair scheduled on Oct. 21.

Fernando named the members of the 10-man team as Noel Box, Daniel Cotter, Florinio de Asis, Rommel Villareal, Emmanuel Samson, Arthur Rivera, Armand Javier, Norman Aranda, Cezar Paz and architect Ernesto Leaño. The World record bid, according to Fernando, will also highlight the commemoration of the First Sapatero Festival initiated by the city government to promote the unique designs, creativity and quality of Marikina-made footwear.

Marikina City is known as the "Shoe Capital of the Philippines". Fernando will also launch 1,000 city commemorative plates and 1,000,000 Postal Stamps during the First Sapatero Festival, which will run until November. Also expected as crowd-drawers are the Tiangge cum Bazaar sa Ilog, Food Festival, Shoe Fluvial Parade, Sapatero Olympics, Shoe Caravans in Metro Universities, Shoe Design contest, pulsating Rondalla and Drum and Bugle Corps exhibition, bubbly dog shows and the bouncy tap dance contest.

Sapatero Festival

The implementation of Ordinance No. 028 other wise known as the Ordinance Prioritizing Marikina City residents for Enrollment in Marikina City Public Schools has been in the center of much controversy. But Congressman Del de Guzman explained that the bigger issue is the inability of many LGUs to provide sufficient school buildings for their constituents.

Congressman de Guzman articulated that a portion of the government’s responsibility on education has been devolved to LGUs. The 1% tax collected from the residents of each LGU is allocated to a Special Education Fund which should be used in the construction of school buildings, he explained explained. Apparently, the budget for construction of school buildings is not enough. Even Marikina City opted to borrow P100M to be able to sufficiently provide school buildings.

The neophyte solon clarified that the inability of some LGUs to provide school buildings for their localities while its contiguous LGUs have adequate provision results to and encourages free riding. Free-riding occurs when others take advantage of what is freely and efficiently provided by others. We should address this problem and instead encourage LGUs to efficiently provide the needs of their constituents. If free riding will continue, it will be a disincentive for LGUs to work efficiently in the delivery of basic services in their very area of responsibility. What will encourage an LGU to build more school buildings for their constituents if they can just freely access the education provided by neighboring LGUs?

The representative adds, We want to provide good quality education for our youth and a clear requisite is an adequate learning space for the students, not overcrowded rooms. That’s what we want to do in Marikina City and we encourage other LGUs to do the same.

The solon pointed out the necessity to amend the formula of the Internal Revenue Allotment. The Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) is the just share of the LGU’s from th national budget. The formula in allocating the IRA should encourage LGUs to raise their own income and be innovative in the management of their finances instead of making them solely dependent on what the national government provides said the Congressman. The Congressman also expressed his intent to file a bill that will help address the problem of free riding in LGUs.

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Ka-Angkan 2002 Celebration
"Ka-Angkan Ko, Mabubuting Tao"

Marikina City is once more in the atmosphere of eagerness and merriment as she celebrates her 372nd founding anniversary on April 16 this year. A good number of major activities are in tow. On April 15-20, the city will present the traditional celebration of Ka-Angkan, billed as “Salamyaan sa Tabing Ilog”, which will showcase the gathering of clans and the recognition of their 100 years of residency in Marikina.

For this year’s anniversary celebration, Mayor Marides C. Fernando is the over-all chairperson alongside Vice Mayor Marion Andres, city councilors and officials, Community Relations Office, Hermana Mayor Carlota Asuncion-Abella (Asuncion clan), Hermano Mayor Ramon Fernando (Fernando clan) and the different sectors which have pledged their commitment of support to ensure the successs of thissure the successs of this momentous event.

Furthermore, Mayor Fernando is very optimistic that with a good line up of events, more visitors, both local and foreign, will drop by and join in the commemoration.

With the rallying cry, “Ka-Angkan Ko, Mabubuting Tao”, this observance is one of the most awaited activities in the city.

Having been in the mainstream of Mari-kina’s long line of cultural tradition (together with Rehiyon-Rehiyon) for the last four years, the ka-angkans has been earning the appreciation and recognition of the city becasue ofh the importance given to family values and cultural heritage.

Also interesting to note is the fact that this celebration is the first of its kind in the whole country.

Highlights of this affair are its launching on April 15th withthe Agahan ng mga Angkan, followed by the clan’s exhibit that will feature the participating Angkans’ family trees, histories, and photo gallery. The Angkans will have the opportunity to express themselves and impart their talents through nightly variety shows, organized by the Association of Barangay Captains (ABC) from the 16th to the 19th.

The grand celebration happens on the 20th. Ka-Angkan parade will start at the Marikina Sports Park going all the way to its main venue, the Noah’s Paper Mill, Riverbanks, where all clans gather each year for the event. A concert shall be staged on the same day and will be capped by an awarding ceremony for the clan with the Best in Gimmick and Presentation, the biggest delegation and the Best in Float.

A Catholic mass and a citywide motorcade are scheduled on the 16th as the city culminates into another memorable year.