LERION - THE OFFICIAL FOLK DANCE OF MARIKINA
Lerion is the official folk dance of Marikina. In the early 1950's the late national artist in dance, Francisca Reyes Aquino and a resident artist Simeona Chanyungco pains takingly scouted to look for a dance in this area. They found this dance in Parang, Marikina. History tells us that Parang for many, many years was a typical agricultural village. Today, we don't find a trace of the old Parang of yesteryear's. But looking back one can find a a trace In the older days, villagers would group together after their harvest in the spirit of community and fun. They would sing and improvise non-sensical rhymes to their melodies and then later would spontaneously put movement phrases into their songs. The words in Leron, Leron Sinta gives a picture of a space yonder filled with trees and plants,birds and bees, animals and insects, being observed and enjoyed by the natives in their habitat. Eventually these unadulterated movements of nature were slowly absorbed in the life and culture of the villages such as in their expression of love and courtship. This was Parang of yesteryears that adopted Lerion as their festival dance (a concocted) word from Leron, Leron, Sinta.
CITY FESTIVITIES
Festivals are integral part of the Marikeñan Culture. Rain or Shine, Festivites such as the Ka-Angkan, Rehiyon-Rehiyon, and Marikina Christmas Festival must go on. With a celebratory spirit at their core, These occasions represent everything that is good about Marikina: Zeal, Resilience and Hopefulness