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 here has risen in the last decade, the latest of which was the Gabby-KC tandem. Liliw is becoming even more popular especially among the ladies, and the reason? It’s tsinelas baby!
Female of all ages will go gaga over the fashionable, affordable, and quality shoes, slippers and sandals that the liliw master shoemakers creates. Guys, worry not, as there are slippers too for you, albeit a bit limited compared to the choices open to the ladies.
Liliw made footwears
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!. Tourists and visitors can’t help but bagged a pair or more of slippers and sandals when they visit. Quality wise Liliw products are very good, I have been using liliw footwears for ages now and I don’t have any complain. In fact, I want more. Yeyyy.
TIP: Bring a shopping bag as this town observes ‘no plastic’ policy.
Liliw Tsinelas Lane in Gat Tayaw Street
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.
Native, Abaca Sandals
And the best time to visit Liliw is during their annual Gat Tayaw Tsinelas Festival! 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 already low-priced items Best, best buy indeed!
Proudly Liliw Made!
UPDATE: Gat Tayaw “Tsinelas” Festival for 2015 will run from April 29 to May 1,2015.
Check here for the 2015 Schedule of Activities.
By the way don’t leave Liliw without visiting the centuries-old, red-brick church, St John The Baptist Church; the fame Arabela Café and Chef Mau’s, my top restaurant recommendations in the town.
A giant owns this slipper hehehe
climb the Tourism Tower at the end of the tsinelas lane to get near this.
Sunset in Liliw is mesmerizing, worth waiting for.
This picture was taken at the top of the Tourism Center.
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. Alternative: Take the ‘Lucena’ buses, get off in San Pablo, take a jeepney to Liliw (the Liliw terminal is beside the San Pablo Fire Station which is just across the San Pablo Cathedral).
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hello, im from cavite and i want to visit lliw tsinelas lane tonorrow can i have a direction so that i wont ge lost? pls! thank you!
Hi Xanthe, hindi ka maliligaw once you are in Liliw, kasi yung tsinelas lane is the main street at dadaan mismo ang jeepneys sa street na to. If you are driving and coming from San Pablo, tsinelas lane is the second street. Enjoy shopping!