| Santa Elena | |
| Settlement Type: | Barangay |
| Pushpin Map: | Metro Manila |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | Philippines |
| Subdivision Type1: | Region |
| Subdivision Name1: | National Capital Region |
| Subdivision Type2: | City |
| Subdivision Name2: | Marikina |
| Subdivision Type3: | District |
| Subdivision Name3: | 1st Legislative district of Marikina |
| Government Type: | Barangay |
| Leader Title: | Barangay Captain |
| Leader Name: | Bernard Bernardo |
| Population As Of: | 2010 |
| Population Total: | 6,954 |
| Timezone: | PST |
| Utc Offset: | +8 |
| Coordinates: | 14.6326°N 121.1001°W |
| Postal Code Type: | Postal Code |
| Postal Code: | 1800 |
| Area Code: | 02 |
Santa Elena is a barangay of Marikina, Philippines.[1] According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 6,954 people.[2] Bordered by San Roque, Jesus Dela Peña, and Santo Niño, Sta. Elena is said to be one of the first towns established by the Augustinians in what was known as the Marikina Valley and home for the heritage sites such as the Our Lady of the Abandoned Parish and the Kapitan Moy Residence.
Records have shown that the barrio has traced its beginning in the year 1687, when the Jesuit missionaries crossed the river from Jesus Dela Peña, in search for a place to build a new church. According to a legend, the barrio got its name when the people saw a huge cross floating down the Marikina River. Many people dove into the water to get it ashore, but failed to do so. They then decided to build a chapel in honor of the mysterious cross. At first, the cross stood alone, but later the image of Sta. Elena appeared beside it. The last renovation for the chapel was done in 1945.[3]
The peaceful life in the barrio was occasionally disturbed by minor natural catastrophes such as the earthquake in 1825 and 1880 and the fire of 1887 which nearly gutted down the house of Capitan Venciong. But the people considered the bombing of the combined soldiers of the American liberation Forces and the Philippine Commonwealth troops on February 10, 1945, as the worst tragedy in Sta. Elena's history.
Because of the construction of the Our Lady of the Abandoned Parish by the Augustinians in 1791, Sta. Elena soon emerged as the town's religious center.[4]
Sta. Elena is known for its distinguished, if not illustrious sons. Marikina's shoe legacy also began as it eventually grows into a prominent town center.
Sta. Elena, being one of the earliest settlements developed by the Augustinian friars, is home to famous landmarks and cultural sites of Marikina. Here are various sites and places of interest found within the vicinity.