The Philippines is endowed with diverse natural resources. Across the country, locals continue to struggle in developing all these to better use regardless of economic instabilities. Filipino discoveries are certainly making waves throughout the world.
The province of Laguna is one of the many places in the country that has a lot to offer. Its abundant mountains and hot springs will surely have you mesmerized and its native delicacies are undeniably scrumptious. But in the little town of Liliw, its people have something more to be proud of – their trendy collections of slippers locally known as tsinelas. A three-hour drive from the bustling city of Manila will take you to the Tsinelas Capital of Laguna. Despite the long hours traveling, the plethora and serenity of its vast forest will take you on a soothing journey.
In the Philippines, the tsinelas never goes out of style. Given the country’s tropical climate, the Filipinos choose to wear light garments, sandals or slippers. The tsinelas is best worn when you’re exploring the city or in the province. Not only the Filipinos, but even foreign travelers find comfort in wearing locally made slippers.
Liliw has been in the footwear industry for about 50 years but it was only a few years ago when the Department of Tourism officially recognized the once a year mark of this town’s festival. Every last of the April, locals, balikbayans and tourists join the Liliw Gat Tayaw Tsinelas Festival in paying tribute to the town’s chieftain founder Gat Tayaw. Large colorful floats parade through the town’s streets as the people indulge in tasty native foods, good music, arts, and variety of games. The booming industry and its annual celebration aim to improve the economic status of the town. Shoe stores along the Gat Tayaw Street are loaded with people, colorful shoes, slippers, sandals and even bags of different kinds find their places in nooks and stalls of notable stores. These products are sure to suit everyone’s individual lifestyle. Prices of slippers range depending on the materials used and its style. A pair for everyday use usually ranges from P50-100. They also have bargain prices like 3 for P100. And of course, expensive ones are found in exclusive boutiques within the commercial area. No wonder it’s tempting to grab a few more pairs perfect for all occasions! Whether made from genuine leather, synthetic or even native materials, the footwear of Liliw is widely known for its fine quality.
When putting up a business, it’s all about taking risks. This kind has its strong point – the products don’t expire. However, keeping up with the fast changing trends in fashion is the challenging part. Footwear entrepreneurs always keep a close watch on what’s in and what’s new to keep their business alive.
It’s a tough competition between style and quality, especially when other countries like Korea and China started bringing in cheaper footwear. Liliw’s very own shoes, slippers and sandals are just a few of the many proud creations by the Filipinos recognized worldwide. The road to success is never far from reach as long as we continue to patronize our very own.
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