Marikina Events: Sapatos (shoe) Festival 2014

The 2014 Sapatos Festival will officially start on September 29, 2014 and will run until December 31, 2014. The opening ceremonies will be held during the Monday Morning flag ceremony at the Marikina City Hall. The Marikina Sapatos Festival aims to showcase the proudly made high quality Marikina shoes and and the Marikina shoe industry.

Local officials opened this year's Sapatos Festival with a motorcade from Marikina City Hall, followed by a pocket concert with live performances from the bands Silent Sanctuary and Mayonnaise, and solo artists Princess, Darryl Shy, and Jireh Lim at Freedom Park.

"This festival will help revitalize the local industry that produces high quality footwear products - Marikina made, Philippine made," said Mayor Del De Guzman.

Laoag City Mayor Chevylle Farinas was the guest of honor. Laoag City has been supportive of the Marikina shoe industry, particularly by supplying some materials at no cost, such as inabel (woven fabric) that were used in making footwear featured at the Manila Fame trade exhibits last October at SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City.

The city government, through the Marikina Shoe Industry Development Office (MASIDO) is inviting everyone to the Sapatos Festival, as it offers high quality shoes sold 30% to 50% cheaper at the North Parking Area of the Marikina City Hall.

Meanwhile, other activities lined-up for the week-long celebration include a theater play "Sandosenang Sapatos" to be presented November 8 at Teatro Marikina; a thanksgiving mass during the celebration of the Feast of St. Crispin on November 10 at the Freedom Park; a forum dubbed ASEAN Integration, which aims to provide shoemakers with additional knowledge regarding the opening up of ASEAN trade in 2015, to be held on November 12 at the Marikina Convention Center; the much-awaited Stiletto Race/Bike-athlon that will take place on November 13 along the stretch of Shoe Avenue; and a float parade and street dance from A. Bonifacio Ave. to Plaza de los Alcaldes and a pocket concert on November 15.

On November 25, Marikina-made shoes are to be showcased in the High Fashion Show to be held at the Ayala Museum, Makati City.

Events during the Sapatos Festival includes:

Shoes Sale at Patio del Zapatero – shoes at bargain prices… up to 50% off the regular price.

Marikina Sapatos Festival Caravan

Shoe Float Parade,

Street Dancing Competition

Tour de Takong

Shoe for a Cause

Shoe Exhibit

Re-launching of the Shoe Museum

Jazz Up my Shoes

Singing Sapatero at Mag-aareglo

Shoe Cosplay

Fashion Shoe

Gabi ng Parangal

Konsyerto sa Plaza

The official list of activities during the Sapatos Festival 2014 is still bing finalized. Be sure to subscribe to Inside Marikina Blog and Facebook Page for updated.