MANILA, Philippines - President Rodrigo Duterte was spotted wearing a brogue-style leather boots handcrafted by a 68-year-old shoemaker from Marikina City during his meeting with US Secretary of State John Kerry on Wednesday, July 27.
Duterte proudly showed the pair of custom-designed shoes which was a labor of love by talented shoe artisan Rolando de Guzman Santos to several Cabinet members. The pair of shoes was Santos’ way of honoring the 71-year-old politician for his humility, boldness and authenticity.
Determined to fulfill her father’s dream to have Duterte wear the shoes he made, Santos’ daughter Rosemarie shared photos of her father making the shoes on her Facebook account.
"[G]agawin ko lahat ng mkakaya ko para matupad yung pangarap kong karangalan para sayo.. na isang araw maisusuot ng isang presidente ang sapatos na gnawa mo ng buong puso,” Rosemarie wrote.
( I will do everything I could to fulfil my dream of bringing honor to you… that one day, a president gets to wear the shoes you made out of love.)
Rosemarie eventually contacted Boni Adaza of Davao City's Chardin Fashion House, which designs barongs for the president.
Adaza told the Philippine Star: “Sabi niya sir, kabayan yung tawag niya, she was telling kung puwede ba daw ipadala niya yung gawa na sapatos ng tatay niya for President Duterte,”
(She said sir, she called me “kabayan”, she was telling if it was possible to send the shoes her father made for President Duterte.)
The pair of shoes reached Adaza’s team on June 28, two days prior to the inauguration and was immediately shown to the president.
However, Adaza’s team decided not to pair the shoes with Duterte’s inaugural attire as the caramel color of the shoes did not suit the black pants they made for the president. Moreover, the shoes also needed a stopper to prevent slipping.
On the day of the inauguration, Duterte was seen donning a pair of beige pants but the president wasn’t wearing the shoes made by Santos.
Barely a month later, Duterte, known for his simple fashion style, decided to showcase the Marikina-made shoes.
--Mini, The Summit Express
Duterte proudly showed the pair of custom-designed shoes which was a labor of love by talented shoe artisan Rolando de Guzman Santos to several Cabinet members. The pair of shoes was Santos’ way of honoring the 71-year-old politician for his humility, boldness and authenticity.
Determined to fulfill her father’s dream to have Duterte wear the shoes he made, Santos’ daughter Rosemarie shared photos of her father making the shoes on her Facebook account.
"[G]agawin ko lahat ng mkakaya ko para matupad yung pangarap kong karangalan para sayo.. na isang araw maisusuot ng isang presidente ang sapatos na gnawa mo ng buong puso,” Rosemarie wrote.
( I will do everything I could to fulfil my dream of bringing honor to you… that one day, a president gets to wear the shoes you made out of love.)
Rosemarie eventually contacted Boni Adaza of Davao City's Chardin Fashion House, which designs barongs for the president.
Adaza told the Philippine Star: “Sabi niya sir, kabayan yung tawag niya, she was telling kung puwede ba daw ipadala niya yung gawa na sapatos ng tatay niya for President Duterte,”
(She said sir, she called me “kabayan”, she was telling if it was possible to send the shoes her father made for President Duterte.)
The pair of shoes reached Adaza’s team on June 28, two days prior to the inauguration and was immediately shown to the president.
However, Adaza’s team decided not to pair the shoes with Duterte’s inaugural attire as the caramel color of the shoes did not suit the black pants they made for the president. Moreover, the shoes also needed a stopper to prevent slipping.
On the day of the inauguration, Duterte was seen donning a pair of beige pants but the president wasn’t wearing the shoes made by Santos.
Barely a month later, Duterte, known for his simple fashion style, decided to showcase the Marikina-made shoes.
--Mini, The Summit Express
