Kumpara sa ibang lugar sa Metro Manila, totoong masayang manirahan sa Marikina. Pero kailangan pa ring ipaglaban ang pag-unlad para sa karamihan.

Kumpara sa ibang lugar sa Metro Manila, totoong masayang manirahan sa Marikina. Pero kailangan pa ring ipaglaban ang pag-unlad para sa karamihan.

Sadyang masayang manirahan sa tinaguriang Shoe Capital ng Pilipinas.

Siyempre’y maraming sapatos na mapagpipilian. Mas mura sa palengke pero mayroon din naman sa mga mall. May sariling gusali rin ang mga “sosyal” na tatak tulad ng Otto at Rusty Lopez. Siyempre’y mas mahal ang sosyal. Mas matibay ba ang mahal kumpara sa mura? Simple lang ang sagot: May sorpresang resulta sa matiyagang pag-iikot sa palengke!

Pero higit pa sa sapatos ang Marikina. Malinis ang paligid sa pangkalahatan. Medyo maluluwag ang mga bangketang nalalakaran. Sa katunayan, ang siyudad ay para sa mga mahilig maglakad o magbisikleta. Kaya huwag magulat kung maraming residenteng gumigising nang maaga para mag-jogging o mag-biking.

Sa oras ng almusal, tanghalian, hapunan o kahit simpleng meryenda, may mapupuntahan ang mga tinatamad magluto sa bahay. Napakarami kasing makakainan, lalo na sa kahabaan ng mga kalyeng Lilac at Gil Fernando. Lutong Asyano, Amerikano o Europeo? May mapagpipilian ang kahit maselang panlasa kaya dinarayo ang mga kainan sa Marikina lalo na kung payday. Pero may isang putaheng malamang na magpapangiti sa tinaguriang tunay na Marikenyo: Everlasting.

Hindi perpekto pero sinisikap na maging inklusibo. May mga kalyeng hindi man masyadong maluwag ay may bicycle lanes naman. May mangilan-ngilan ding kalyeng para lang sa bisikleta.

Kahit na mayroon pa ring sumusuway sa mga alituntunin, may sistema pa rin naman sa iba’t ibang bagay tulad ng waste management, street parking at traffic flow. Kapansin-pansin ang maayos na sistema noong panahon ng pandemya dahil may sapat na impormasyong ipinamahagi sa bakuna at ayuda. At ngayong tag-ulan, maayos din naman ang isinagawang evacuation sa mga apektadong lugar.

Ang wagas na binabaha noon, hindi na masyadong malala ngayon. Pero may pagbaha pa rin sa ilang lugar, lalo na sa pinamamahayan ng mahihirap. Ligtas na ang Provident Villages na inabot hanggang bubong ang baha noong 2009. Pero panibagong problema sa lugar na ito ang planong pagpuputol ng maraming matatandang puno para magtayo ng isang tulay. Buti na lang at tinutulan ito ng maraming residente.

“Cherished ecological treasures” ang terminong ginamit ng isang opisyal ng homeowners association. Kung sabagay, hindi dapat kinokompromiso ang kapaligiran kapalit ng diumanong kaunlaran. Sino ba kasi ang makikinabang sa kaunlarang kinokompromiso ang ekolohiya ng lugar? Hindi ba’t layunin lang ng mga mayaman ang lalo pang magkamal ng yaman?

May ganito ring isyu sa isang malaking mall sa Marikina na nagbukas halos 10 taon na ang nakaraan. Maraming punong nawala para itayo ang mahigit 10,000 square meters na estruktura. Inireklamo rin ng maliliit na negosyante ang paghina ng suplay ng tubig, bukod pa sa pangkabuuang paghina ng negosyo. Sa katunayan, maraming nagsara dahil nalugi. Mayroon mang pikit-matang kumuha ng puwesto sa malaking mall, napilitan ding umalis dahil hindi nakayanan ang napakataas na renta.

Muli, para kanino ba ang tulay, mall at iba pang estrukturang nagreresulta sa pagkawala ng mga puno’t halaman? Kahit na may ginagawa naman ang pamahalaang lokal para panatilihin ang mga lumang parke, kailangan pa ring mapigilan ang pagsasamantala ng mga mayaman at makapangyarihan.

May bahagi ng Gil Fernando na sinasara tuwing Linggo ng umaga para makapaglaro ang mga bata at makapag-Zumba ang mga hindi na. Pero mula Lunes hanggang Sabado, nariyan pa rin ang trapik at usok mula sa sanlaksang sasakyan. Ang kalahating araw na kasiyahan ng pamilya ay pansamantalang pagtakas lang sa araw-araw na kalbaryong bunga ng mapagkunwaring pag-unlad.

Kumpara sa ibang lugar sa Metro Manila, totoong masayang manirahan sa Marikina. Pero kailangan pa ring ipaglaban ang pag-unlad para sa karamihan.

Para makipag-ugnayan sa awtor, pumunta sa https://risingsun.dannyarao.com/

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  • Lemmygradwontallowme [he/him, it/its]@hexbear.netEnglish
    2·
    2 hours ago

    Compared to other places in Metro Manila, it is very pleasant to live in Marikina. However, there is still a lot of work to be done to improve the quality of life for the majority.

    Context - Danilo Aranya Arao

    It is a pleasure to live in what is known as the Shoe Capital of the Philippines.

    Of course, there are plenty of shoes to choose from. It is cheaper in the market but there are also some in the shops. “Social” brands like Otto and Rusty Lopez also have their own buildings. Of course, social distancing is more expensive. Is expensive more durable than cheap? The answer is simple: There is a surprising result with a patient spin in the market!

    However, the brand is more than just shoes. The surroundings were clean in general. The sidewalks are a bit loose. In fact, the city is for those who love walking or cycling. So don’t be surprised if a lot of residents get up early to go for a jog or a bike.

    At breakfast, lunch, dinner, or even a simple snack, there is a place for those who want to cook at home. There is plenty to eat, especially along Lilac and Gil Fernando streets. Asian, American, or European? There is a choice for even delicate tastes so the Marikina diners are flocked, especially on payday. But there’s one dish that is likely to make the so-called real Marikenyo smile: Everlasting.

    Not perfect but trying to be inclusive. There are some streets that are not too loose with bicycle lanes. There are also a few bike lanes only.

    Even though there are still some who are disobeying the guidelines, there are still systems in place for various things such as waste management, street parking and traffic flow. The system was remarkably good during the pandemic because there was enough information distributed on vaccines and aid. During the rainy season, evacuations have also been carried out in the affected areas.

    The road that used to be flooded is no longer so bad. However, there is still flooding in some areas, especially in areas where the poor live. The Provident Villages were safe from flooding in 2009. But a new problem in this area is the plan to cut down a lot of old trees to build a bridge. Sadly, many residents were opposed to it.

    “Cherished ecological treasures” is a term used by an official of the homeowners association. At the same time, the environment should not be compromised in exchange for sustainable development. Who will benefit from the development that compromises the ecology of the area? Isn’t it just the goal of the rich to make more money?

    A similar issue exists at a large shopping mall in Marikina that opened almost 10 years ago. A lot of trees were lost to build the more than 10,000 square meter structure. Small business owners also complained of weakening water supply, in addition to the overall weakening of business. In fact, many people have lost their jobs. A lot of people were forced to leave because they couldn’t afford the high rents.

    Again, for whom are the bridges, malls and other structures that result in the loss of trees and plants? Even if the local government does something to preserve the old parks, the exploitation by the rich and powerful still needs to be curbed.

    There’s a section of Gil Fernando that closes on Sunday mornings so kids can play and those who don’t can do Zumba. From Monday to Saturday, however, there was still traffic and smoke coming from the surrounding vehicles. A half-day of family fun is just a temporary escape from the daily grind that results from hypocritical progress.

    Compared to other places in Metro Manila, it is very pleasant to live in Marikina. However, there is still a lot of work to be done to improve the quality of life for the majority.