The world’s largest pair of shoes in Marikina gets a fresh shine

It’s one of the city’s most iconic symbols.

After years of wear, flood damage, and fading into the background, the world’s largest pair of shoes has finally received the polish it deserves.

Marikina City this week unveiled the newly restored Guinness World Record-holding Largest Pair of Shoes, bringing back one of the city’s most iconic symbols and giving it a new home at the Marikina City Hall Quadrangle.

The restoration was carried out through the efforts of C-Point Shoes and the Philippine Footwear Federation, Inc., following the directive of Mayor Maan Teodoro.

For many Filipinos, the giant shoes are more than a roadside curiosity. They are a monument to Marikina’s identity as the country’s Shoe Capital and a showcase of the craftsmanship that once made the city famous around the world.

Officially recognized by Guinness World Records in 2002, each giant wingtip shoe measures 5.29 meters long, 2.37 meters wide, and 1.83 meters high. The pair was handcrafted by a nine-member team led by master shoemaker Ernesto Leano, who spent 77 days building what remains one of the most unusual records ever held by a Philippine city.

The shoes suffered significant deterioration after being submerged during major floods, including those brought by Typhoons Ondoy and Ulysses. Years of exposure left the landmark in need of extensive restoration.

Now fully refurbished, the giant shoes once again stand as a tribute to the generations of shoemakers who built Marikina’s reputation.

City officials hope the restored attraction will draw visitors and remind younger Filipinos that one of the world’s most extraordinary footwear records belongs not to a global fashion capital, but to a city along the banks of the Marikina River.

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