Marikina has been considered a model city within the metropolis for its cleanliness and good urban planning that has remained unchanged amidst the changing administrations of the city. This is evident in the many places within the city that the Urban Roamer has written about Marikina’s beauty which you can check out in the archives. Moreso this particular place which is the subject of this entry.
Truth be told, this was a long overdue entry as the Urban Roamer has been to this place a few times. Nevertheless, during those times those were just cursory visits and were not opportunities for this roamer to fully explore what it has to offer. And when the opportunity came, it was a pleasant surprise to see what this place has to offer.
Evolution
The 23-hectare commercial and leisure complex in Marikina’s Barangay Barangka that we know today as Riverbanks Center was the former site of what was considered the largest textile mill in Asia, Universal Textile Mills (UTEX) which started its operations in the 1960s. However, globalization and fierce competition from foreign textile companies, particularly those in China, dealt a heavy blow on the Philippine textile industry. UTEX in particular was hit the hardest, forcing the company to cease its operations by 1994. The textile manufacturing facilities were shut down and for a while became a virtual ghost town that left a huge hole in Barangka which has long been kept alive by UTEX’s operations.
However, hope arrived the following year when the UTEX property was bought by Meneleo Carlos Jr, a chemical engineer and businessman who owned a resin manufacturing company. Carlos Jr., who passed away just last May, is an interesting figure as he was one of the proponents of the roll-on roll-off (RORO) transportation concept, which has served as the backbone of the Philippines’ modern infrastructure development, not to mention being the father of former Marikina mayor Ma. Lourdes “Marides” Carlos-Fernando, which also makes him the father-in-law of the beloved late Marikina mayor Bayani Fernando.
But going back to the story, Carlos Jr. envisioned the former UTEX property to be a new shopping and leisure destination for the soon-to-be-city, not to mention an opportunity to diversify into the commercial development business. The development of the old factory site into a shopping complex did not take long. It was decided that the most of the old factory buildings will be adaptively reused for the shopping complex, keeping the old industrial history of the area alive while creating a new landmark for present and future generations to appreciate.
Marikina’s first shopping mall
Riverbanks Center opened its doors to the public in 1999, the first shopping mall to be opened in Marikina. The former factory buildings were repurposed to be the shopping and leisure areas for the shopping complex. Thus, most of the buildings there are mostly made up of one-level buildings, in contrast to the multilevel shopping complexes that abound the metropolis. But this also makes for a unique shopping experience that makes Riverbanks Center stand out from the rest.
The mall’s interiors can be described as “quaint”. Nothing too fancy to rave about to be honest though one noteworthy thing about it is the presence of a roller skate rink, a rarity in itself. And while there are no large retail stores that have a presence in the mall, what this mall has quite a presence of is a range of outlet stores, stores that sell items (oftentimes overruns and items pulled out from other retail stores) at discounted items. As such, the mall has become known as the go-to place to find bargain deals on clothing and furniture.
Outside the mall, there are also additional commercial areas such as standalone fastfood outlets, value grocery chain, an outdoor food park, office spaces (which I’m not sure is being utilized at the moment), and even a convention center.
The river bank at Riverbanks
But what really makes Riverbanks Center special lies in its location. As the name implies, the complex is located just beside the Marikina River, a river that is an interesting character of its own. It can be proven a force of fury that brings flooding and, at times, destruction to the areas surrounding it during storms and at the same time, it offers a mighty but calming presence that has contributed to the lively landscape that borders it.
As such, Riverbanks Center takes advantage of this geography and the everchanging character of the river by alloting a huge open space alongside the river while the commercial area is situated meters high enough for it to be spared from flooding, at least if the floods were not to the extreme as those experienced during the height of Typhoon Ondoy in 2009. Between the commercial area above and the open space by the banks, the sloping ground was designed such that it serves as an amphitheater where performances are held from time to time. Otherwise, it serves as a place for people to relax while having the view of the river.
On non-flooded days, the (literal) riverbank area serves as an open park where people play, relax, and, do their biking activities since Marikina after all is one of the few true bike-friendly cities in the metropolis. There are also a few monuments that can be found along the banks which add a bit more character to the area.
The present and the future
Despite the unique character of Riverbanks Center, it has faced numerous struggles eversince, not just the natural kind owing to its proximity to the force that is the Marikina River. For one, the opening of SM City Marikina in 2008 nearby and at a more advantageous location compared to Riverbanks Center was a heavy blow already to the mall as it could not compete with such a behemoth. It also had to face establishments having to close shop, especially at the height of the pandemic, leaving parts of the complex barren with activity even until today.
However, as Marikina’s first largescale retail destination, Riverbanks Center remains a central part in the city’s modern identity and losing this landmark would be a great loss to the city and its people who have come to appreciate what it has to offer, even with the presence of larger malls nearby. It is fortunate that to its credit, Riverbanks Center has managed to survive and somewhat thrive thanks to the outlet stores and the riverside park which has made ita a beloved destination in the city. Here’s hoping Riverbanks Center continues to be a beloved Marikina landmark for years to come.
Acknowledgements as well to Wikipedia and Insider PH
