Marikina restores world-famous giant shoes, celebrates city’s shoemaking legacy

The Manila Times

Marikina restores world-famous giant shoes, celebrates city’s shoemaking legacy

MANILA, Philippines — Marikina City has restored the giant shoes that once held a Guinness World Record as the world’s largest shoes, bringing back into public view one of the city’s most recognizable symbols of its shoemaking heritage. The restored landmark was unveiled at Marikina City Hall, where it is now temporarily displayed to allow residents and visitors easier access to the attraction, the city government said on Tuesday. Marikina Mayor Marjorie Ann “Maan” Teodoro said preserving cultural heritage helps safeguard the history, traditions and achievements that define the city’s identity. The giant shoes were originally crafted by a nine-member team from Colossal Footwear in October 2002. The 18-foot-long leather shoes were recognized by Guinness World Records that year as the largest pair of shoes in the world. Since then, the giant shoes have become a landmark representing Marikina’s long-standing reputation as the Shoe Capital of the Philippines. City officials said the structure suffered damage over the years, including delamination and deterioration caused by the massive flooding brought by Typhoon Ondoy in 2009 and Typhoon Ulysses in 2020. The shoes were eventually removed from public display to undergo repair, restoration and rehabilitation. The latest restoration project was carried out by the Marikina City government in partnership with C-Point and the Philippine Footwear Federation, Inc.. “Our cultural heritage tells the story of who we are and where we came from. By preserving it, we ensure that future generations can appreciate the traditions, achievements, and values that helped shape Marikina,” Teodoro said. She said the shoes were placed at City Hall to make them more accessible to the public and to encourage residents to take pride in the city’s shoemaking legacy.

Go to News Site

Google Play

App Store