Photo by Raymond Lee, MNLtoday.ph
The Sapatos Festival 2016 marks the 11th year of the annual event. This year’s event features proudly Marikina-made shoes and leather products. The skilled and world-class shoemakers from Marikina was headed by Rolando “Oly” Santos, known as the presidential shoe-maker ever since the boots he made for the president went viral, where President Rodrigo Roa Duterte was shown, proudly wearing Santos’ shoes.
In 2005, a City Council ordinance renamed the Sapatero Festival to what it is known today as the Sapatos Festival, with its objective of revitalizing the city’s shoe industry to give recognition to Marikina-made shoes.
Photo by Raymond Lee, MNLtoday.ph
During the opening last November 14, the local government of Marikina headed by its Mayor Marcelino Teodoro, together with Rolando “Oly” Santos formally opened this year’s Marikina Sapatos Festival.
Organized by the Marikina Shoe Industry Development Office, its objective is to transform the shoe industry into a competitive force in the world market for the purpose of creating a financially sound environment for all stakeholders, by formulating strategies, plans, programs, regulatory and mitigating measures related to the development of the shoe industry.
Photo by Raymond Lee, MNLtoday.ph
Marikina City, considered as the shoe capital of the Philippines has been the home of world-class and skilled shoemakers way back since 1887. Honed by years in shoe manufacturing, Marikinos has developed an industrial work ethic that prepared them for the arrival of heavy industries in the 1950’s.
Undoubtedly, Marikina stands out as the shoe capital of the Philippines. Now, if you are thinking of giving yourself or your family the perfect Christmas gift, visit the Sapatos Festival 2016 at Freedom Park in Marikina City and check out world-class leather products that are proudly Philippine-made.
