The Doll Museum, opened in 2003 and originally housed in Kapitan Moy Building , was conceptualized by Mayor Ma. Lourdes C. Fernando to showcase the history of Marikina, its culture, beliefs and traditions. The dolls portray the evolution and progress of Marikina as it is now…. A thriving economy with hard working, tenacious, and disciplined citizens.
There are more than 500 papier-mache and resin dolls encased in 47 glass dioramas, highlighting the history of Marikina and the many facets of our cultural legacy – from our fondness for kinship, tradition, and gaiety to our distinctive celebration of milestones, family occasions, and festivals.
The dolls were designed and made by renowned Filipino fashion designer Patis Tesoro in partnership with Guia Gomez. The dolls heads, hands and feet are made from resin and are all hand-painted. The clothes are made from locally produced fabric.
The Doll Museum depicts the most significant aspects of Marikina’s transformation reminding us of our rich cultural heritage… from an agricultural past to an urbanized, industrial present as depicted by the bamboo in the City Seal.
The riverbanks, the river intersecting the Marikina Valley, had long been settled in by river-dwellers or taga-ilog. The clean, fresh waters of the river then provided them with fish.
In the 1570s, a group of Augustinian friars came to the valley. Along the river, they found a cluster of huts around a manantial (later called Chorillo and today Barangka). The Augustinians exercised ecclesiastical control and supervision of the valley until the Jesuits took over on April 16, 1630 upon their appointment by Fray Pedro de Arce, apostolic ruler of the Archdiocese of Manila. The Jesuits
promptly established a mission on the west bank of the Marikina River, calling it Jesus de la Pena (Jesus of the Rock) in honor of the Infant Child Jesus. They invited Chinese traders and agriculturists to join hands with the natives in launching a hacienda. After a century, the entire hacienda was officially named by the Jesuits in honor of San Isidro Labrador, the patron of families.
The chapel at Jesus dela Pena marks the foundation of Christianity of the Marikenos. The first Catholic Mass and wedding were celebrated in 1630.
In 1687, the mission became a parish known as Mariquina and later on Marikina during the American occupation as suggested by Pardo de Tavera, a member of the US-Philippine Commission.
The Industrialization of Marikina
The main industry that Marikina is famous for – shoemaking – began in 1887 through the pioneering efforts of Don Laureano “Kapitan Moy” Guevara. Kapitan Moy started experimenting with shoemaking when the soles of his own imported shoes broke. For want of a shoe repair shop nearby he tried to fix his shoes. At that time only the Chinese located in Manila were engaged in shoe repair and manufacture, although the Marikenos were already engaged in the limited production of slippers and clogs, or bakya, even before the coming of the Spaniards.
Shoes then were made in the silong (basements) of the houses or in kubos (huts) near the living quarters. During the planting season they would till soil, then while the harvest was growing they would make shoes.
Modernization of Marikina
Honed by years in shoe manufacturing, the Marikenos developed a work ethic that prepared them for the arrival of the heavy industries in the 1950s. The influx of migrant workers who decided to stay rapidly increased the population, bringing with it problems like shortage of housing, sanitation, pollution, and zoning. Squatter colonies and factories along the Marikina River quickly affected the quality of the water through the dumping of industrial and domestic waste products. These serious problems were finally addressed by Mayor Bayani “BF” Fernando upon his election in 1992 through a comprehensive
recovery and renewal program.
On December 8, 1996, Marikina was proclaimed a city through Republic Act 8223. Today, a multi-awarded Marikina City has a vibrant business life, a highly skilled workforce, and a responsive local government that puts a premium on governance, sustainable urban development, and public service.
The Culture of Marikina
A community thrives on its values and way of life. Marikina boasts of its own traditions – some unique to it, some in common with most Filipino communities.
Hours 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Monday - Sunday
Lunch Break 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM Closed on Holidays
Admission P50 per person
Senior Citizens and Marikina students who are residents of Marikina are exempted from paying entrance fee upon presentation of Marikina Senior Citizens card and Student ID.
Tours and Group Visits For information on special tours and group visits, please call Marikina Cultural, Tourism, Trade and Investment Promotions Office (MCTTIPO) at (632) 646-2360 loc 207/208; (632) 646-3787 (telefax) or email us at : invest@marikina.gov.ph
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- Created by MISCC Department
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