Marikina high schoolers take shoemaking course to keep industry alive

Marikina is polishing a new generation of shoemakers in the hopes of saving the industry that gave rise to the city's identity.

According to Cesar Apolinario's report on Balitanghali on Tuesday, Marikina's once-vibrant industry weakened in the 90's, following the entry of cheaper footwear imported from China. Moreover, a career in shoemaking had reportedly become less and less appealing among the youth.

But this year, some students in Marikina graduated from high school with the skills to make shoes and leather goods both by hand and with new machinery.

They underwent a leather craft and shoemaking course offered by the Department of Education (DepEd) Marikina division as part of the K-12 curriculum under the technology, livelihood and education (TLE) subject.

"Kasi, sa ngayon, sa mga factory, sa labas ng malalaking factory, we have machineries and equipment na malalaki talaga na push, button lang, makakagawa na ng sapatos. So kinakailangan maging aware din sila roon at maging pamilyar sila," a teacher at Marikina High School, Markster Libano, said.

Educators said it was not always easy to convince students, particularly those with shoemaker parents, to pursue the craft.

"Naging mahirap sa Marikina ang i-offer ng footwear o shoe making sa mga bata kasi sabi nga nu'ng mga iba, nu'ng mga magulang, 'Sapatero na ko. Bakit ang anak ko, magsasapatero pa rin?'" Marikina High School officer in charge Lauro de Guzman said.

Nevertheless, a few students who underwent the program were determined to take what they have learned to college, with the hope of starting their own shoemaking business one day.

"Kung itutuloy ko po ito or ipu-pursue ko po 'yung course na ito pwede po akong makatulong na para palaguin uli 'yung lakas paggawa po...Makapag-produce pa ng maraming sapatos ang Marikina," Drandreb Bernandino said.

"Sa pamamagitan ng pagdugtong nito sa academic subject o course na 'to, hindi po mamamatay ang ating industriya. Magpapatuloy ito," Noel Box, officer-in-charge of the Marikina Shoe Industry Development Office, said. — Margaret Claire Layug/BM, GMA News