Mural via Quezon City Government

Mural via Quezon City Government

From 1948 to 1976, Quezon City was the capital of the Philippines.  Manuel L. Quezon, the second President of the Philippines, founded the city as the new national capital after World War Two. Today, Quezon City stands as a vibrant city bustling with commerce, culture, and education.

From its rich history to entertainment and nature, here are 15 cool things to see and do in Quezon City.

Bird watching at La Mesa Nature Reserve

Bird watching at La Mesa Nature Reserve

Photo via Wikimedia Commons

Bird enthusiasts will be happy to know that there is a bird hot spot in Quezon City.  Spanning 2,659 hectares, the La Mesa Nature Reserve is the last rainforest in Metro Manila.  It is home to wide variety of bird species endemic to the Philippines and migratory birds from Taiwan and Japan. Avid bird watchers can hike the forest nature trails and see Black-crowned Night Herons, Ospreys, Spotted Wood Kingfishers, Lowland White-eye, Golden-bellied Flyeaters and others.

 

Photo via Wikimedia Commons

For a more relaxed bird watching, there is the La Mesa Eco Park, a public park at the southern boundary of the reservoir. Keep your eyes peeled for Red-bellied Pitta Pitta, Emerald Dove Chacophaps and the rare Ashy Ground Thrush along the forest path and spillways near the parking areas.  You can also enjoy other activities in La Mesa Eco Park like picnic, swimming, hiking, zip-lining and more!

Zumba at Quezon Memorial Circle

Photo via Wikimedia Commons

Iconic for its triangular art-deco monument and the Elliptical Road surrounding it, the Quezon Memorial Circle is a national park at the city’s center.  The park offers a little bit of everything like a free morning exercises, free Zumba, Dance of the Water Fountain, ballroom dancing classes, picnic grounds, bikes for rent, an orchidarium, a children’s playground and a small amusement park at Circle of Fun

Did you know?

Photo via Inquirer.net

In 2014, Quezon City attempted to break the largest Zumba class world record.  The event attracted 10,000 zumba enthusiasts, however the heavy rain and inaccurate tagging of participants botched the attempt. Camarines Sur now holds the record of the largest Zumba class with 13,350 participants during the province’s Kaogma Festival in 2018.

Animal Rescue At Ninoy Aquino Parks And Wild Life Center

Photo via Wikimedia Commons

Across the Quezon Memorial Park is the Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center.  The park simulates a natural forest setting to serve as a rehabilitation facility for the rescued animals before they are set free to their natural habitat.  Aside from the rescue center, the park also features a lagoon, an aquarium, a children’s playground, a botanical garden and picnic grounds among others.

Lechon at La Loma

Photo via Quezon City Government

Dubbed as the Lechon Capital of the Philippines, the La Loma district in Quezon City is the place to be for some crispy and juicy roasted suckling pig.  The district is lined up with restaurants open 24/7 to cater to all your lechon needs like birthday parties, special celebrations or just plain old lechon craving.

Food Crawl at Maginhawa St.

Photo via psst.ph

If you cannot decide where to eat, you can never go wrong with the many restaurants of Maginhawa St.  The Maginhawa St. in Diliman is a foodie’s dream come true with almost a hundred hole in the wall restaurants in one long street.  They have Italian trattorias, French pasta, Japanese ramen, Chinese dimsum, Middle Eastern grill, Mediterranean kebab, Lebanese shawarma, American steak, Tex-Mex nachos, Indonesian ayam goreng, Thai tom yum goong, Vietnamese spicy noodles, Indian curry, European bistro, Filipino street food, healthy vegetarian options, meat-lover’s comfort food, icy desserts, board game cafes, Instagram-worthy food parks, and more!

Protip: make sure to bring your food buddies and come in a group to try more restaurants for a less.

Comedy at South Triangle

Photo via Flickr

If laughter is the best medicine, then the South Triangle area in Quezon City has the best hospitals in the city.  The streets of South Triangle have the funniest comedy bars that can cure away your boredom, loneliness and monotony with just one appointment. There are five comedy bars to choose from.  Popular comedy bars Laffline, Punchline, Klownz and Zirkoh boasts of famous comedians and celebrities as part of their lineup.  While the comedy and sing along bar Music Box is famous for upholding their mission of honing the skills and talent of starting comedians.  Their most famous alumni include Pokwang, Arnel Ignacio and Ai-Ai Delas Alas.

Did you know?

Vice Ganda got his stage name from the owner of Punchline.  His original moniker, Vice, was too short for the comedy bar’s marquee so the owner added Ganda for that extra appeal.

Higher Learning at the Top Universities

Photo via Flickr

Manila may have many universities under the University Belt, but Quezon City is home to the country’s top two universities: University of the Philippines in Diliman and Ateneo De Manila University in Katipunan Avenue.  From famous TV personalities to savvy businessmen to national artists and presidents of the Philippines, UP and Ateneo produced some of the best minds the country has ever seen.

Quezon City is also the home of the main campus of Philippine Science High School. PSHS or “phisci” is a specialized public high school system that offers scholarships to those gifted in the math and sciences.

Social Change at PETA Theater

Theater lovers out there will be glad to know that Quezon City is the home of the outspoken and daring PETA Theater.  Known for having a heart for social change, PETA Theater stages comedies, musicals, dramas and various performances that help raise awareness of social issues.  Notable plays shown in PETA Theater are Rak of Aegis (2018, 2014), Caredivas (2017), and Batang Rizal (2007).

Tv & Film at City of Stars

Photo via ABS-CBN Star Magic

Quezon City is a hotbed of arts and creativity.  In the 50s, the city is called “Hollywood of the Philippines” for hosting the “Big Four” of film industry: Sampaguita Pictures, LVN Pictures, Premiere Productions and Lebran International.  Between the four studios, they produced 350 films a year and established the Philippines as a major filmmaking center in Asia.

Though the four studios have closed their doors, Quezon City still remains the home of media giants.  Today it is dubbed as the “City of the Stars” due to major broadcasting networks such as ABSCBN and GMA Network, RPN, INCTV, PTV, UNTV, Net 25 and IBC have their headquarters in the city.  Quezon City also has the highest concentration of celebrity residents due to the nearby broadcasting networks.

Did you know?

The Philippines has their very own Walk of Fame in Eastwood City, Libis.  Patterned after the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the Walk of Fame Philippines honors media personalities that made notable achievement in these six categories: Movies, Television, News and Public Affairs, Radio, Music and Theater.

Retail Therapy at Supermalls

Quezon City is host to a number of malls and shopping places.  For the usual shopping needs, there are SM City Fairview, SM City Novaliches, SM City North EDSA, Trinoma Mall, Landmark Trinoma, Ayala Malls Vertis North, Ayala Fairview Terraces, Fisher Mall, UP Town Center, Robinsons Magnolia, SM City Sta. Mesa, Gateway Mall, Ali Mall, Robinsons Galleria and more.

For the classy signature brand stores, there is the Eastwood Mall at Eastwood City in Bagumbayan.

For the bargain-hunting experience, there is the Dapitan Arcade at Kanlaon St. corner Dapitan, and Cubao Expo Araneta Center in Cubao.

DIY Mechanics at Banawe St.

Photo via Quezon City Government

Banawe Street in Quezon City is the hub of car parts and accessories.  You can get a new headlight, a new sound system, floor mats and car paint for a fraction of your car dealer’ price.

Protip:   You can haggle the prices but be sure to be kind and friendly to the store clerks and mechanics because they can give you better price.  And if they do not carry the part you need, they can make a few calls to their other stores and have it delivered to you.

PC Build at Gilmore IT Center

Considered as an IT shopping mecca, Gilmore St. in Quezon City is dotted with an assortment of stores offering computer hardware, software and accessories in competitive prices. Most stores are located in Gilmore IT Center, a four-story IT shopping mall that serves as a one-stop shop for all office, personal and gaming needs.

Protip:

LRT remains the easiest way of going in and out of Gilmore Street.  However, security guards sometimes ask to search your purchases for security inspection.  If you are buying in bulk, you can avoid this by hailing a taxi or booking a Grab car.

Weddings at Sto. Domingo Church

Photo via Quezon City Government

The Santo Domingo Church along Quezon Avenue is one of the favorite churches of brides and brides-to-be.  It is made in Spanish modern style with Romanesque and Gothic designs that gives it large space and tall ceilings.  The church also features dome murals, stained glasses, and bas relief façade, ideal for vivid wedding photos.  The long aisle gives brides a long dramatic walk to the altar.

History at EDSA Shrine

Photo via Wikimedia Commons

 

If you think history is made in distant provinces, you will be pleasantly surprise to know that the monuments around the city are concrete manifestations of our history.   The Cry of Pugad Lawin Shrine in Project 8, Quezon City immortalizes the time when Andres Bonifacio and 1000 katipuneros tore their cedulas as a sign of rebellion against the Spaniards.  Tandang Sora, the Mother of Katipuna, is interred in her shrine along Banlat Road in Tandang Sora, Quezon City.

In recent history, The Shrine of Mary, Queen of Peace at the intersection of Ortigas Avenue and Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) saw history happen when it became the site of the People Power Revolution of 1986. For three days, people stood in front of tanks and offered flowers to soldiers in a campaign of civil resistance against the Marcos dictatorship.

Did you know?

Photo via Quezon City Government

The Cry of Pugad Lawin is commemorated every last Monday of August as National Heroes’ Day.

Grand Homes

Quezon City is also known for the stately mansions of the prominent families who migrated from Manila when the capital was moved to Quezon City.  They are the political leaders, the wealthy merchants, and the landed hacienderos. Noteworthy mansions that still stand today are President Manuel Quezon’s vacation house now turned Heritage House and Iglesia ni Cristo founder Felix Manalo’s house now a pilgrimage site.

Through the years, Quezon City evolved to keep up with the needs of a modern family.   As the picturesque mansions age and get replaced by new condominium communities, Quezon City retains its affluent atmosphere, now with a modern and vibrant vibe to match.

As Quezon City progresses to be the capital of entertainment, business, and art, potential residents can take advantage of moving into the long admired address with Federal Land’s newest condominium, Valencia Hills –  Tower E.   Designed with the modern and classic in mind, Valencia Hills – Tower E is a charming residential enclave in the quaint part of Quezon City.   Valencia Hills celebrates the convenience of modern living within the quiet part of the capital.  It is an ideal home for families, retirees, and professionals looking for peace and quiet in the bustling city.


Photo via Real Living

Marikina City is a mix of a picturesque old city and a verging urban modernization featuring a thriving economy, modern malls, ancestral houses, wide green parks, and friendly citizens.

Best known as the Shoe Capital of the Philippines, Marikina City is famous for its high-quality handcrafted shoes. The city produces 70% of shoes manufactured in the country. It is also the home of the world’s largest pair of shoes certified by the Guinness Book of World Records, and the infamous shoe collection of former First Lady Imelda Marcos.

Just east of Manila, Marikina is an easy escape to the metropolitan hustle and bustle. So if you are looking for a quick but interesting weekend getaway, you will definitely enjoy Marikina City.


Photo via Philippine Lifestyle

Admire the shoes in the Shoe Museum
As the shoe capital, Marikina, of course, has a Shoe Museum. Officially opened in 2001, the Shoe Museum is built to nurture the historical and cultural value of the local shoe industry.

The museum features the traditional footwear of Filipinos and other nationalities, and the shoes owned and worn by famous politicians, public servants, and celebrities. The museum is also the home of the largest pair of shoes, and a fraction of former First Lady Imelda Marcos’ (in)famous shoe collection.

Address: J. P. Rizal St, San Roque, Marikina City 1801
Hours: Monday to Sunday, 8 AM to 5 PM
Door fee: Php 50.00

Wander around the Book Museum
Tucked away in a quiet neighborhood in Dao Street, the Book Museum cum Ethnology Center exhibits the personal book and artifact collection of Atty. Dominador Buhain, chairman and president of Rex Group of companies. The museum includes first edition books, small edition books and various curiosities Atty. Buhain picked up from his travels to over 223 countries (and counting).

The Book Museum cum Ethnology Center occupies three buildings. The first building houses the book collections, while the second and third building houses artifacts from the Cordilleras, Visayas, and Mindanao. The museum also features two totem poles that illustrate Philippine mythology and two murals narrate the history of Marikina City and the printing press.

Address: 127 Dao St, Marikina Heights, Marikina City 1810
Hours: Monday to Sunday, 9 AM to 5 PM
Door fee: Php 300.00

Learn Science at Philippine Science Centrum
The first interactive science center in the Philippines, the Philippine Science Centrum (PSC) is launched in February 1900 at Manila Film Center in Pasay City. However, after being wrecked by an earthquake that same year, PSC transferred to the University of the Philippines Manila. In 2004, PSC transferred to its current location in Riverbanks Center, Marikina City.

Have fun and rediscover science with over 100 interactive exhibits in 10 galleries including Bodyworks, Earth Science, Electricity and Magnetism, Lights, Liquid, Space, Mechanics, Mathematics, and Perception.

Address: E-Com Building, Riverbanks Center, Marikina City 1800
Hours: Monday to Saturday, 8 AM to 5 PM
Door fee: Php 150.00

Try the food crawl at Lilac Street


Photo via Yedylicious

Now, you might be familiar with the popular food hubs in Maginhawa St. in Quezon City, Kapitolyo in Ortigas, and Aguirre Avenue in BF Homes Parañaque. But there is another thriving food scene you don’t want to miss – Lilac Street in Marikina.

Basically the Maginhawa Street of the East, Lilac Street in Concepcion Dos is a strip of highly-rated restaurants set up in a charming neighborhood. Wandering around Lilac Street and nearby streets, you will find restaurants offering the best Singaporean, Japanese, Thai, American, Mexican and Filipino cuisine. Protip: make sure to bring your food buddies and come in a group to try more restaurants for a lesser cost.

Address: Lilac St, Marikina City 1800

Attend mass at Our Lady of Abandoned Parish


Photo via Trip Advisor

The Our Lady of Abandoned Parish in Marikina opened in 1572 and consecrated in 1690. The church was originally constructed from bamboo and leaves, and then on 1687, it is constructed in Baroque style with heavily fortified façade, high ceiling, and round pediment bell-tower. The church enshrines several images of the Virgin Mary, one of which is venerated as miraculous and was canonically crowned in 2005.

Address: V. Gomez St, Marikina City 1800

Relax at Marikina River Park


Photo via Marikina City Government

Found alongside Marikina River, the Marikina River Park is a 220-hectare system of parks, trails, open spaces, recreation facilities and commercial complex. The Marikina River Park is the focal point of the city’s communities and cultural activities. The park is host to the Mama Mary Fluvial Parade and Festival, Marikina Christmas Festival and Metro Manila Pride March and various performing arts and concerts throughout the years.

Main attractions in the park include a skating rink, amphitheater, riverboats, Roman Garden, Chinese Pagoda, Animal trail, Freedom Park, and Women’s Park among others. Marikina River Park is open for picnic, running, biking, skating, and camping activities.

Address: 300 Shoe Ave, Sto. Nino, Marikina City 1800

Stretch out in Marikina Sports Center
A haven to sports enthusiasts and hobbyists, Marikina Sports Center is a three-hectare complex featuring an Olympic-size pool, an athletics track, a natural grass pitch, basketball courts, volleyball courts, tennis courts, badminton court, and an indoor gymnasium. Marikina residents can come in for a run or exercise as the sports center is open 24 hours every day.

Marikina Sports Center offers various sports clinics for children age seven to 16 every April and May. The sports center also hosts several sports competitions including 2014 ASEAN School Games and grand concerts, television shows, and community events.

Address: 24 Sumulong Highway, Marikina, 1800 Metro Manila
Hours: Open 24 hours
Door fee: Php 10.00

A visit to Marikina City will serve a good mix of urban and rural Philippines. Though it is a city with a growing business district, Marikina retains its charming small town ambiance. The city preserves its historical sites, ancestral houses, clean streets, and colorful festivals; while it welcomes new business investments and shopping centers. No wonder generations chose to stay close to their roots and manage the family businesses. Marikina is a good place to raise a family.

Located near Marquinton Residences along Sumulong Highway, the Tropicana Garden City and the Siena Towers of Federal Land offer condominium homes ideal for starting families. The two communities offer quiet, green and generous living spaces near to major weekend destinations, office towers, retail centers, and premier schools like the Marikina Science High School, Marikina Catholic School, Marikina City University, Ateneo de Manila University and the University of the Philippines Diliman.

Siena Towers is a two-tower condominium along Marquinton Drive that offers a beautiful and secure home in a vibrant community with the Blue Wave Mall a few steps away. Tropicana Garden City is a Mediterranean Castilian inspired community with lush pocket gardens and wide-open spaces. Residents of both Siena and Tropicana Garden will enjoy outstanding amenities, convenient location, and spectacular views of the Sierra Madre in the East and the metropolis in the Southwest.

With Federal Land, owning your first condominium residence is easy. Just contact our representatives, provide a Philippine government-issued ID (with your Tax Identification Number), fill up the required forms, pay the reservation fee and voila! The unit is booked under your name. You are now ready to start a home loan application through in-house or bank financing.


Photo via Patrickroque01 (Creative Commons 4.0 License)
Marikina City is a picturesque old city verging on urban modernization featuring a thriving economy, modern malls, ancestral houses, wide green parks, and friendly citizens. Just east of Metro Manila, Marikina may feel like a small town with clean streets, quiet neighborhood and green spaces; but it is still very much a city with a thriving shoe industry with easy proximity to major business districts of the Metro Manila.

Though it is best known as the Shoe Capital of the Philippines, Marikina City has more to offer to those looking to settle down in her land. From museums to food trucks to pride parades, here are seven reasons why we love Marikina:

The Vast Green Spaces And The Fresh, Clean Air

Photo: Marikina City Government
In the early years of Spanish colonization, Marikina was one of the largest haciendas in the Philippines. The fertile land produced excellent crops, bountiful harvest, wealthy farmers and a prosperous town. Though the Marikeños turned to shoemaking in 1887, Marikina has preserved its greenery and transformed its farmland into parks. Each of Marikina’s 16 barangays has at least one mini-park, and in the middle of the city is the vast Marikina River Park.

So thanks to the lush greenery, the air in Marikina is so much cleaner than the rest of Metro Manila.

Did you know?


Photo via judgefloro (Creative Commons 1.0 License)
The Carabao Trail along the riverbank traces the old route used by the farmers and carabaos to and from their home and rice fields.

The Rich Culture And Heritage

Photo: Philippines Lifestyle
Marikina has a colorful history of how the shoemaking industry started. A visit to Don Laureano “Kapitan Moy” Guevara’s home turned museum will give you a quick history lesson about the birth of shoemaking industry in Marikina City. Down the street, you will find the Marikina Shoe Museum. The museum features the traditional footwear of Filipinos and other nationalities, and the shoes owned and worn by famous politicians, public servants, and celebrities. The museum is also the home of the former First Lady Imelda Marcos’ (in)famous shoe collection.

Marikina also holds vibrant and colorful festivals celebrating its heritage and culture. The Ka-angkan Festival celebrated every April 16 honors the founding families of Marikina. The Rehiyon, Rehiyon Festival celebrated every December 8 honors the migrant families and their contributions to the city’s progress. The Sapatos Festival is a three-month long celebration beginning in September honors the creativity, craftsmanship, style and high quality of Marikina shoes.

Did you know
Marikina City is now referred to as the “City of Pride” for hosting Metro Manila Pride March in 2017 and 2018.
Photo:

The Foodie’s Haven

Photo: Crave Park

Now, you might be familiar with the popular food hubs in Maginhawa St. in Quezon City, Kapitolyo in Ortigas, and Aguirre Avenue in BF Homes Parañaque. But there is another thriving food scene you don’t want to miss – Lilac Street and Mayor Gil Fernando Avenue in Marikina.

Dubbed as the Maginhawa Street of the East, Lilac Street in Concepcion Dos is a strip of highly-rated restaurants set up in a charming neighborhood. Wandering around Lilac Street and nearby streets, you will find restaurants offering the best Singaporean, Japanese, Thai, American, Mexican and Filipino cuisine.

Mayor Gil Fernando Avenue, on the other hand, hosts new Instagram worthy food parks. The Crave Food Park features not only multinational gastronomic experience but also badass artsy murals. The Carnival Food Park stays true to its name with its carnival-themed setup, costumes and food. The other food parks are Terminal 8 Food Park & Lifestyle Hub, Windsor Food Park, and EATsetera Food Park.

Protip
Make sure to bring all your food buddies and come in a group to try more restaurants at a lesser cost.

The Huge Workout Space

Photo via Patrickroque01 (Creative Commons 4.0 License)
A haven to sports enthusiasts and hobbyists, Marikina Sports Center is a three-hectare complex featuring an Olympic-size pool, an athletics track, a natural grass pitch, basketball courts, volleyball courts, tennis courts, badminton court, and an indoor gymnasium. Residents can come in for a run or exercise as the sports center is open 24 hours every day.

The sports center also hosts several sports competitions including 2014 ASEAN School Games and grand concerts, television shows, and community events such as summer clinic for children ages 7 to 16.

Did you know?

The city government has started the rehabilitation of the Marikina Sports Complex.

The Convenient Access to What Matters Most

With only an area of 22.64 square kilometers, Marikina is a small city with at least 80 private schools, 7 colleges and universities, 10 hospitals, 10 malls, 5 churches, 20 gas stations, 89 banks, public market, mini parks, the iconic Marikina River Park and the vast Marikina River. With everything just a few minutes’ drive away, there is no shortage of essentials.

Moreover, major highways such as the C-5, Katipunan Avenue and Commonwealth Avenue, connects Marikeños to central business districts of Quezon City, Ortigas, Makati and Bonifacio Global City; and top universities such as Ateneo de Manila University and University of the Philippines Diliman Campus. While the scenic Marikina-Infanta Highway or Marcos Highway connects Marikina to Rizal, Laguna and Quezon for an easy weekend getaway.

The Growing Business Hub

The main industry in Marikina is shoemaking at Shoe Avenue, however there is also an upcoming food hub in Lilac Street and Mayor Gil Fernando Avenue, a booming entertainment scene at Angel Tuazon Entertainment District, a large BPO sector at IT Centers in Riverbanks e-Com, and a thriving manufacturing industry at Marikina Industrial Park.

Did you know?

The world’s largest pair of shoes is made by the shoemakers of Marikina in 2002. It measures 5.29 meters long and 2.37 meters wide.

The fusion of the urban and suburban makes Marikina an ideal home for many Filipinos starting a family. It is a city close enough to major business hubs but without the hustle and bustle of the metropolis. It is a quiet city-town where the elderly can sit and relax at a town plaza and where kids can ride their bicycles at the main street. Because of this, real estate in Marikina is flourishing. Aside from the residential house and lots in its many subdivisions, there are now a number of condominiums for sale in Marikina City.

Located near Marquinton Residences along Sumulong Highway, the Siena Towers of Federal Land offer condominium homes ideal for starting families. Siena Towers is a two-tower condominium offers a beautiful and secure home in a vibrant community with the Blue Wave Mall a few steps away. Residents of both Siena will enjoy outstanding amenities; proximity to major weekend destinations, office towers, shopping centers, and premier schools like the Marikina Science High School, Ateneo de Manila University and the University of the Philippines Diliman; and spectacular views of the Sierra Madre in the East and the metropolis in the Southwest.

The Diverse Real Estate Choices
With Federal Land, owning your first condominium residence is easy. Just contact our representatives, provide a Philippine government-issued ID (with your Tax Identification Number), fill up the required forms, pay the reservation fee and voila! The unit is booked under your name. You are now ready to start a home loan application through in-house or bank financing.

Federal Land Inc. also offer condominium units for sale -pre-selling condo units or lease to own condo units that are ready for occupancy (RFO) in Makati; BGC (Fort), Taguig; Binondo and Paco, Manila; Entertainment City, Pasay; Greenhills, San Juan; Mandaluyong; Quezon City; Sumulong Highway, Marikina; Cebu as well as in General Trias, Cavite. For lease to own plan details or pre-selling reservations, email us at digital.mktg@federalland.ph.