Marikina eyes record in big shoe

The city of Marikina formally launched yesterday its bid to make it to the Guinness Book of World Records in the largest shoe category.

Mayor Ma. Lourdes Fernando said a ten-man team from Marikina Colosan Footwear will try to beat the 3.12 meter shoes made by Zuhit Okurlar of Kenya, Turkey during the Kenya International Shoe Fair on Feb. 2000

Under the auspices of the Guinness Book of World Records with claim ID 27199 and Membership No. 26514, Fernando said the team would create a 5-meter long pair of men’s shoes which will vie for the World Record during the largest shoe fair scheduled on Oct. 21.

Fernando named the members of the 10-man team as Noel Box, Daniel Cotter, Florinio de Asis, Rommel Villareal, Emmanuel Samson, Arthur Rivera, Armand Javier, Norman Aranda, Cezar Paz and architect Ernesto Leaño.

The World record bid, according to Fernando, will also highlight the commemoration of the First Sapatero Festival initiated by the city government to promote the unique designs, creativity and quality of Marikina-made footwear.

Marikina City is known as the "Shoe Capital of the Philippines". Fernando will also launch 1,000 city commemorative plates and 1,000,000 Postal Stamps during the First Sapatero Festival, which will run until November.

Also expected as crowd-drawers are the Tiangge cum Bazaar sa Ilog, Food Festival, Shoe Fluvial Parade, Sapatero Olympics, Shoe Caravans in Metro Universities, Shoe Design contest, pulsating Rondalla and Drum and Bugle Corps exhibition, bubbly dog shows and the bouncy tap dance contest. – Non Alquitran