Featured image above shows Marikina 1st District Rep. Marcy Teodoro (left) and C-Point Shoe Store General Manager Noel C. Evangelista displaying a giant shoe. (Photo: SDN)
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- By EDD K. USMAN| X (Twitter): @edd1819 | Instagram: @bluestar0910 |Facebook: SDN – SciTech & Digital News
MARIKINA CITY, October 22, 2025 (SDN) — Shoemakers of this clean and progressive city of Metro Manila have been clamoring for a One-Stop Shoe Bazaar for their world-class footwear.
A site where all the shoe shops of the city are located to make it easy for customers to look for and buy shoes “Made in Marikina”, hand-made with top class genuine leather materials and are known for their durability, quality, and design that Filipinos can be proud of.
Well, they won’t have to wait for very long anymore because the top local chief executive of this city, Mayor Marjorie “Maan” Teodoro has already put in motion a project to build what they have been yearning for.
The lady mayor is serving the first of her three-year term and has appeared to hit the ground running, so to speak.
Her husband, Marikina Rep. Marcelino “Marcy” Teodoro met today, Wednesday, with a select group of reporters representing the PaMaMariSan-Rizal Press Corps covering Eastern Metro Manila and the province of Rizal for a morning of informal get-together during which he fielded questions about the status of the shoe industry in his city.
As a former multi-term mayor of the city he has been championing the cause of the thousands of shoe manufacturers as his administration had offered various incentives and benefits.
Reporters going gaga over ‘Made in Marikina’ shoes.
The three-year coronavirus pandemic that started in China in December 2019 had decimated the ranks of the shoemakers. Presently, they are still recovering from the pandemic’s crippling impact in the country on business, people, mobility, everyday life because of lockdowns and quarantines. Over 66,000 Filipinos died from the Covid-19.
Marikina shoes not just product, but a story of industriousness, patience, and talent
Now, a returning congressman for the 1st District of Marikina, he still continues to do so, looking after the shoemakers. Thus, the shoemakers now have two allies in the couple.
Congressman Teodoro revealed in the interview that her wife, Mayor Maan, has already started a project to establish a One-Stop Shoe Bazaar for the makers of shoes.
Part of the promotion of the “Made in Marikina” shoes is the holding of the annual shoe bazaar and on November 13 the “Marikina Shoe Festival 2025” will be opened as the shoe manufacturers get ready for Christmas Season.
Next month’s shoe bazaar usually held in front of Marikina City Hall will feature newly designed footwear, bags, belts, wallets, and others. Visitors will have the opportunity to join trainings and business seminars to learn about the steps and processes in making shoes.
“Ang sapatos ng Marikina ay hindi lang produkto — ito ay kuwento ng sipag, tiyaga, at talento ng acting mga kababayan,” the congressman emphasizes.
(Translation: Marikina’s shoes is not just a product — it is a story of industriousness, patience, and talent of our countrymen.)
He added that the shoe festival is aimed at elevating the level of the shoe industry of the city and shoe that “Made in Marikina” footwear are a symbol of talent, durability, and something that shows the Filipino identity.
Some of the Marikina shoemakers like C-Point Shoe Store Corporation owned and managed by Noel C. Evangelista, are exporting their products abroad like in Japan, United States, Italy and others.
“Made in Marikina” shoe brands can compete with world’s products
Evangelista, a third-generation shoemaker, welcomed the project of the city mayor to establish a One-Stop Shoe Bazaar, saying they need because customers are having difficulties in looking for Marikina’s shoe stores.
He added that the city government continues to support the local shoe industry, including helping out in marketing and introducing them to local government units (LGUs) for a potential bulk order.
Evangelista said his brand like his fellow shoemakers want to revive the pride of Filipinos in local craftsmanship that create footwear that are with high quality and affordable compared to imported brands.
“Ang bawat pares ng sapatos ay bunga ng tiyaga, disiplina, at pagmamahal sa sining ng paggawa. Sa C Point, hindi lang kami gumagawa ng sapatos — gumagawa kami ng kwento ng tibay at tagumpay ng Marikenyong sapatero,” Evangelista says.
(Translation: Every pair of shoes is a fruit of patience, discipline, and love for the art of the craft. In C-Point, we don’t just make shoes — we create stories of durability and success of Marikiño shoemakers.)
Meanwhile, the Marikina Shoe Industry Development Office (MSIDO) noted that there is a rising demand for shoes made locally, particularly the handcrafted leather and custom-made designs that officials, professionals as well as overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) favor.
In relation with this, the local government urged the public to patronize their own products by buying shoes manufactured by Filipinos like in Marikina as a way of supporting the workers and entrepreneurs who continue to shine a light on the local shoe industry.
Congressman Teodoro made this more plain.
“Every Marikina shoes is not just affordable but also with quality and has winning design. So, we are inviting everyone to come to Marikina and go around the city, explore, stroll, and buy shoes,” he says in the vernacular. “Let’s go local.”
Evangelista is confident of the durability and design of C-Point Shoe products as he offers lifetime free warranty for repairs with customers only paying for any part needed to be replaced.
C-Point, he pointed out, is a proof that local made shoes in Marikina can compete with the world’s best. “Dito, bawat pares ay gawang puso, hindi ng makina.” (Here, every pair is made by the heart, not by a machine.)
The C-Point Shoe Store owner said their shoes can bought from Php500 to Php2,500, which is around 50 percent less than some imported brands sold in malls. His store employs 60 regular craftsmen and women.
Evangelista pledged to continue to use only quality materials or their shoes and other products. (©)