In the outskirts of Laguna you will find the quaint little town of Liliw, it’s popular among filmmakers as number of films being shoot there has risen in the last decade, the latest of which is the Gabby-KC tandem this July 2010. But Liliw is becoming even more popular especially among the ladies, and the reason? It’s tsinelas baby!
Liliw made footwears
Female of all ages will go gaga over the fashionable, affordable, and quality shoes, slippers and sandals that the liliw master shoemakers creates. Guaranteed to make even the most jaded of shoppers race to the last store. Once in Liliw, you can’t miss their tsinelas lane, it’s one whole street of stores that sells every footwear imaginable! Your one thousand pesos can get you at least 3 pairs!. Hence, tourists can’t help but bagged a pair or more of liliw slippers and liliw sandals when they visit. Quality wise Liliw products are very good, I have been using liliw footwears for the last five years now and I don’t have any complain. In fact, I want more hehhe. And lately espadrilles are all the rage!
Liliw Tsinelas Lane
Their footwear industry remains a cottage industry to this day, and usually the production happens in their houses and each piece is painstakingly made by hand (except for the use of sewing machines). One pair of shoe may be made by one, two or more persons in a sort of assembly line system. Note though that a design you found on one store may greet you in another store I was told that they used to submit their own design to the municipal council for patent recognition and to keep everyone from producing the same design but unfortunately that practice has been forgotten over time. Still going to Liliw on a shoe-hunting trip will not leave you disappointed.
And the best time to visit Liliw is during their annual Tsinelas Festival every May! Liliw will be transformed from a generally quite town to a center of bustling revelry! Local tv channels even covers the celebration. Best of all stores give additional discounts on an already low-priced items Best, best buy indeed!
By the way don’t leave Liliw without visiting their centuries old church, the fame Arabela Café, Chef Mau’s and lastly, that mountain you see in the picture is the fame Mt Banahaw, yep, Liliw lies at her feet.
How to go to Liliw, Laguna:
1. Via SLEX – Sto Tomas – Alaminos – San Pablo – Rizal – Nagcarlan – Liliw (longer because of traffic)
2. Via SLEX – Calamba – Los Banos – Calauan – Victoria – Pila – Sta Cruz – Pagsanjan – Magdalena – Liliw (best for leisurely road trip)
3. Via SLEX – Calamba – Los Banos – Calauan – Nagcarlan – Liliw (shorter but you will used the diversion road in Calauan to Nagcarlan (that road is near the Bayan ni Juan Resettlement Site), winding road, passes mountain, a bit isolated but road is very good though, best for adventurers.)
4. Bus – From Buendia or Cubao terminal take the bus with ‘Sta Cruz’ signage, get off in Sta Cruz bus station wait for jeepneys for Liliw or alternately, take the ‘Lucena’ buses, get off in San Pablo, take a jeepney to Liliw (the liliw terminal is beside San Pablo church).
About Cille Anne
Cille is the blogger behind Penfires, a lifestyle and travel blog based in the Philippines. She bid adieu to the corporate world a couple of years ago and so far she’s lovin’ her new world working from home. A wanna-be explorer and food trip adventurer who can’t possibly win a food-eating challenge. She plans to visit the whole Philippines, Asia, and the World! Heyyy, it's within reach she insists; it's just blog hops away! Lol ^_^
