The Marikina Association of Southern California-Los Angeles (MASCLA) had a very modest beginning. While organizations, in general, are formed with lofty goals and launched with great fanfare, MASCLA started with a simple purpose of rekindling the friendship and camaraderie among Marikeneans in the southern part of California. And unlike most organizations where the leadership has a specific term of office, this association has not observed a predetermined interval of succession.
In the past years, MASCLA has selected only four presidents including the incumbent. As the "folklore" of its beginning is repeatedly recounted, the idea of forming the association did not come from a local southern California resident. It has been told that the idea was impressed upon the founder through a "transcendental" medium.
One afternoon, in the summer of 1981, Nestor Trinidad, a former Sta. Elena resident, was sitting in the front porch of his house and was facing the wooded area that shielded him from a very heavily traveled freeway. Due to the intensity of the afternoon heat, and probably more so due to the fumes from exhaust of vehicles traveling on the freeway, he became dizzy. It was at this moment that he saw a vision of a group of people gathered at the wooded area. A stocky man among the group stood up and walked toward Nestor. He recognized him. It was the late Victor Jocson. He asked Nestor "Why don’t you organize Marikeneans from your area similar to what we did in the north?" Before he could respond, Nestor regained consciousness.
The vision was gone, but the message remained in his mind. Nestor devoted countless hours, since that incident, in contacting Marikeneans in the Los Angeles area and discussing the feasibility of forming an organization. He was assisted in this early effort by Eli Santos Angeles and Tessie Asuncion Carlos. On October 3, 1981, a gathering of Marikeneans took place at the backyard of Nestor Trinidad’s residence. This event marked the founding of the association. A record of the meeting indicated thirty families were in attendance but their names were not noted.
Recollections by those in attendance can only come up with a short list of names that included, in addition to the organizers, the families of Manuel Antonio, Rene Bruno, Marcos Santos, Justino Labrador, Jesus Pabalan, Danny Saguros, Boying de la Paz, Gennie Cruz, Ricky Teves, Celso de la Paz, Fe Asuncion, Nardo de Guzman, Rafael Gomez, Lita Santos Gerasmio, Ric Manuel, Toti Zabale, Supling Santos, and Cesar (Tetak) de Guzman.
The only official elected at the meeting was Nestor Trinidad as the association’s president. The other personnel who assisted him were appointed to chair the different committees that were created.

1981-1988
Nestor Trinidad was president of the association for seven years from October, 1981 through December, 1988. The team that assisted him during the first year of his term was comprised of the following: Boying de la Paz-program; Eddie Fong-accommodations; Manuel Antonio-games; Lori Pabalan-food; Tessie Carlos-reception; Celso de la Paz-finance; and Eli Santos Angeles-records/communication.

1989-1995
Boying dela Paz became the second association’s president. His term lasted seven years, from January, 1989 through December 1995. The other officers elected included Jessie Pabalan – vice president; Charito de Leon – secretary; Leo Ignacio – Treasurer; and Onchie Nepomuceno – PRO. In addition to the elected officers, an advisory group was created that included Ariong Teodoro, Nestor Trinidad, Celso dela Paz, and Maneng Antonio.

1995-1998
Jessie Pabalan was elected as the third president of the association. Other officers elected were Roberto Nepomuceno – first vice president; Odie Nepomuceno – second vice president; Charito de Leon – treasurer; and Onchie Nepomuceno – secretary. There was one change in the leadership team that occurred during this short period. Charito de Leon, the Treasurer of the association and of the Marikina Mahal Kita Foundation, found it too much to handle her dual responsibilities. In early 1997, with concurrence from other officers, she relinquished her position as treasurer of the association. Onchie Nepomuceno became the treasurer and Dolly de la Paz was appointed to perform the association’s secretarial duties.

1998-2006
Roberto "Obet" Nepomuceno was elected as the fourth president of the association. Other officers elected were Evelyn Cruz – first vice president; Rodora "Odie" Nepomuceno – second vice president; Peddy Senga – third vice president; Rhodora "Dolly" dela Paz – secretary; Ramon "Onchie" Nepomuceno – Treasurer; Nanding Cotangco – Treasurer and Alicia L. Abustan – Auditor.

2006-Present
Leo Ignacio was elected as the fifth president of the association. Other officers elected were Dr. Noli Sta Ana – first vice president; Oscar dela Paz, Jr - second vice president; Bert Teodoro – third vice president; Rhodora "Dolly" dela Paz – secretary;   Ramon "Onchie" Nepomuceno – treasurer; Mary Sta Ana - Asst. Treasurer; Alice Abustan - auditor; Charito Diamos - auditor; Ricky Teves - Sgt. at Arms; Edwin Saul - Sgt. at Arms; Alberto Enriquez - Sgt. at Arms; Pio Santos Jr - public relations officer; Nida Alvarez - public relations officer, Mirla Santiago - public relations officer; Angelito dela Paz - Marikina Mahal Kita Foundation; Celso dela Paz - historian; Oliver dela Paz - youth coordinator; Josie Santos - events coordinator; Arthur Antonio - security coordinator; Totie de Leon - facilities coordinator; Lori Pabalan - food coordinator; and the advisors appointed were - Oligario Teodoro, Roberto Nepomuceno, Jesus Pabalan, Angelito dela Paz, Celso dela Paz, Manuel Antonio, Roger Carlos, Ben Reyes, and Augusto Cruz.