Officials from Sakai Town in Japan, led by Mayor Masahiro Hashimoto, recently visited Marikina to interview applicants for teaching jobs in Japan.

Marikina became a sister city of Sakai after a memorandum of agreement was signed by the two cities in May 2017 at the Kapitan Moy. Mayor Marcy Teodoro signed the MOA on behalf of Marikina. Following the signing of the MOA, officials from Sakai visited Marikina in October of the same year.

At this year’s visit, Mayor Masahiro and his team interviewed applicants to the English teaching posts in Sakai schools at the Provident Village Career Development Center. After that, they had lunch at Marita’s Restaurant, during which the Marikina Dance Guild entertained them by performing folk dances.

The group proceeded to the Marikina City Hall to pay a courtesy call to Mayor Marcy. At the entrance of the city hall, they were met by the candidates to this year’s Ms. Marikina search.

After the courtesy call, Mayor Masahiro and other delegates from Sakai toured the Bristol shoe factory. After that, they proceeded to the Marikina River Banks, where they took photos of the world’s biggest pair of shoes that was on display at the mall. While there, the Sakai visitors dropped by the Bristol shoe outlet and shopped for shoes.

Mayor Masahiro has also donated a firetruck to Marikina City. The firetruck will be turned over to Mayor Marcy on April 16, when Marikina celebrates its 388th Founding Anniversary and the Ka-Angkan Festival.

Officials from the Marikina's tourism department and the Marikina Shoe Industry Development Office accompanied the Sakai town officials during their brief visit to the city on March 5.