During the pandemic, with people confined to their homes and not needing for many shoes, among the most-hit sectors was the shoemaking industry in the Philippines’ so-called “shoe capital,” Marikina.

But a few years after the pandemic, Marikina’s shoe industry is now alive and kicking, no pun intended.

The industry’s biggest challenge, however, is how to encourage the youth to continue the legacy of Marikina’s aging sapateros (shoemakers), tourism officers and tour guides at the Marikina Shoe Museum told this author.

An answer is by creating more awareness through touring museums such as Marikina Shoe Museum and its neighboring Otto Shoe Museum in Marikina. Although popular field trip destinations, these museums can be visited by anyone for free to learn more about the country’s shoemaking craft, whether for ordinary days or for special occasions such as National Arts Month this February.

Built in 1870, the Marikina Shoe Museum’s building was originally built as a rice mill by a wealthy local family, the Tuasons, who managed the country’s largest hacienda during the 1800s — the Hacienda de Mariquina and the Hacienda de Sta. Mesa. During the Spanish times, the edifice served as an arsenal, then a detention cell during the Filipino-American War, where one of the leaders of the Katipunan, general Macario Sakay, was detained before he was brought to Bilibid Prison. During the American era, the structure served as American soldiers’ motor pool or garage.

Initially conceived as the Footwear Museum of Marikina in 1998 and officially opened to the public in 2001, with former First Lady Imelda Marcos leading the opening, the Marikina Shoe Museum displays shoes across the ages, including footwear believed to have been worn in 3300 BC by icemen. It also houses some of the biggest shoes ever made, including giant Dutch wooden clogs and a large leather shoe constructed in Marikina.

At the centerpiece are hundreds of Imelda’s shoe pairs, including her favorite white ones, pieces from her own shoe label, and those she commissioned or bought from local and international designers such as Joe Salazar, Cesar Gaupo, Christian Dior, Charles Jourdan, Oleg Cassini, Louis Vuitton and Gucci.

Apart from Imelda, the museum also displays the shoes of her late husband, President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., as well as those worn by other politicians and personalities like movie stars. In keeping with his family’s tradition, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. also donated some pairs on display. Some of these personalities had their names in a “Walk of Fame” circling the museum.

Artifacts and an audio-visual presentation explain how the shoemaking process has evolved in the city — from manual machines and pure wooden molds sapateros used, to modern techniques and designs using silicon mold and 3D printing.

Only a short walk away from Marikina Shoe Museum is Otto Shoe Museum, owned by one of the country’s top local shoe brands and manufacturers, Otto Shoes. This museum showcases not only pairs worn by some of the country’s elite athletes and celebrities, such as Manny Pacquiao, Carlos Yulo and Paeng Nepomuceno, but also provides more glimpse into the modern shoemaking process through its display of various machines and locally-sourced leathers. Of note is a giant tree made of parts used in making slippers.

Historically, every person who commissioned customized shoes would have a wooden shoe mold made just for that person. If the person’s shoe size or shape changes, then the wooden shoe mold became useless and a new one was made. Instead of discarding these old molds, which were made of pure wood, Otto Shoe Museum had these upcycled into works of art made by local artists through a competition.

After the museum tour, guests are welcome to shop for some of the brand’s famous leatherwork, including bags, belts and accessories in addition to shoes. Since it is an outlet store, prices here are much lower as compared to other stores and to other brands, most especially international ones, but the quality is at par or even better.

Just across Otto Shoe Museum was the 200-year-old former residence of Don Laureano Guevarra or “Kapitan Moy,” the so-called “Father of Shoemaking in the Philippines” and the founder of the Marikina shoe industry. Legend has it that the industry started when Kapitan Moy brought home a pair of leather shoes from abroad and had it dismantled to be rebuilt and studied by local sapateros. His former home is now a public events hall called Sentrong Pangkultura ng Marikina, with a coffee shop at the ground floor.

Truly, these museums demonstrate shoemaking as a remarkable manifestation of Marikina people’s passion, creativity and entrepreneurial pride.