Reception Hall, Malacañan Palace
July 27, 2016

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte showed off the pair of Marikina-made leather shoes he was wearing while having a chat with Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr., National Security Adviser General Hermogenes Esperon, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III at the Reception Hall inside Malacañan Palace.

According to the President, the pair was given to him by a lady whose father is a Marikina shoemaker.

“… sa craftsmanship, number one ang Pilipinas. Even sa furniture walang makatalo sa Pilipinas,” the President said in praise of the work of Filipino artisans.

Marikina is known as the country’s shoe capital and its local government is trying to revive the industry of shoemaking that is now being threatened by cheap imports from China.

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