It is an understatement to say that Filipinos are creative. We always find different ways to tell our stories—through the food we make, the colors we apply on the canvas, or the songs we sing. And as local creatives and artists put out our stories, they are also championing the culture and heritage of the country.
A testament to that is the recently concluded Filipino Footwear Design Competition 2023 (FFDC). For years, the annual shoe design contest has invited upcoming Filipino talents and young entrepreneurs to practice design in footwear. After going through a series of pitching and mentoring, the chosen winner will get a cash prize and a chance to represent the country on the international design stage.
Spearheaded by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in partnership with the Philippine Footwear Federation Inc. (PFFI) and co-presented by the Department of Science and Technology - Philippine Textile Research Institute (DOST-PTRI), the ninth edition of the FFDC, dubbed “Paa-hon,” garnered more than 60 entries, which was narrowed down to nine finalists. They were mentored by three key movers of the local shoe industry—designer Maco Custodio, Zapateria Hub founder Unyx Sta. Ana, and Risque Design founder and CEO Tal De Guzman. These budding designers worked with local manufacturers Roweliza, Konzept, Zapateria Hub, Risque Manufacturing, Nifty Shoes, and Blackwing to bring their designs to life.
During its Final Judging and Awarding last Nov. 8 in Makati City, their designs were unveiled and this year’s winner was announced. Judging the competition were Fashion Designers Alliance’s creatur-in-chief Levenson Rodriguez, Fashion Institute of the Philippines-Ortigas’ director Patrick Lazol, Otto Shoes’ Twinkle Samson-Marcelo, Fashion Accessory Makers of the Philippines president Gina Nebrida-Ty, footwear designer Jojo Bragais, stylist Lyn Alumno, Preview.ph editor-in chief Marj Ramos-Clemente, DTI-NCR OIC regional director Ma. Sofia Narag, and DOST-PTRI Director IV Julius Leaño Jr. While leading the competition as project director is Filipino designer Thian Rodriguez.
Get to know more about the nine finalists who entered FFDC 2023 and discover how they capture the rich culture, heritage, and stories of the country through their unique shoe designs.
Ritchie Rodulfo - Zapateria Artisanry awardee and FFDC 2023 grand winner
Visual artist and sculptor Ritchie Rodulfo dipped his toes in the art of shoe-making. The result was a design that's imbued with the vibe of Filipino iconic masterpieces. Titled “Maria Clara de Filipiniana,” his shoe design was a nod to traditional Traje de Mestiza and featured his play on the baro’t saya, Baybayin characters, and a charming detachable brooch.
Ivan Fabia - Best in Story Execution winner and DOST-PTRI Choice awardee
Rambo, one of the overworked kalesa horses in Manila, was the inspiration behind the design of Ivan Fabia. It mimicked the shape of a horse’s foot with heels that looked like the wheels of a kalesa. To make it, the designer used wood and plant-based materials with a stone base to let wearers feel the experience kalesa horses go through as they take tourists around Intramuros.
Lee Villanueva - Best in Construction awardee
Lee Villanueva captured the Philippines’ art of “pukpuk,” a technique typically used on local artisan jewelry. Her “Bulawan” design, a Visayan term meaning “golden,” produced a pair of shoes with a wooden base and a pineapple leather and cotton upper adorned with ornate gold filigree.
Ira Louise Cayanan
Ira Louise Cayanan’s entry for the competition was personal yet many Filipinos can relate to it. Her “Bagong Bukas” design was dreamy and poetic. It symbolized people rising above the challenges and the nirvana state of mind. She used capiz shells and abaca to make the flowy form of her shoes' base. Adding colors to her design were the tiered piña fabric in red, blue, and yellow with delicate embroidery.
Chad Gabrielle Tanutan
Chad Gabrielle Tanutan’s “Ligum Dulom” merged traditional Filipino design with modern streetwear. The design came to the designer’s mind after a six-day blackout. “Ligum Dulom,” a Hiligaynon term for “surrounded by darkness,” was inspired by a lit candle, symbolizing hope and Filipinos’ resilience. It's made of two-tone leather and binakol fabric with zigzag stitching technique.
Reymart Dellomas
Drafting technology instructor Reymart Dellomas paid homage to 106-year-old tattoo artist or “mababatok” Apo Whang-od. His design, dubbed “Ahon,” dived deep into the rich cultural heritage of the Philippines’ Mountain Province. It featured distinct “batok” tattoo designs and a gravity-defying silhouette complete with a real plant, a nod to the breathtaking Banaue Rice Terraces.
Gerald Farofaldane
SoFA Design Institute graduate and fashion designer Gerald Farofaldane honored the memory of Dolzura Cortez, the first publicly recognized AIDS patient in the Philippines, through his entry. His “Dolzura” creation presented an anatomical vein design and turquoise-colored resin heels, representing strength and healing. Through the design, he hoped to raise awareness about Filipinos’ continuous battle against AIDS.
Ma. Daniella Louise Borrero
Experimental filmmaker Ma. Daniella Louise Borrero looked at Filipino’s passion for street food for her design. Dubbed “Tusok-tusok,” her sneaker design aimed to celebrate the classic skewered dishes, the sauce, and even their container, echoing the special bonds Filipinos made as they enjoyed the humble treats. The design also included a coin purse and a resin sculpture of fish balls and kwek-kwek for added quirkiness.
Andrei Benedict Garcia
Andrei Benedict Garcia, a former student of Reymart Dellomas, celebrated the legacy of jeepneys and the people steering them on the streets. Much like the Philippines’ “Undisputed King of the Road,” his “Patok” design is vibrant and jazzy. The design of the shoes was a tribute to the challenges that jeepney drivers face and aimed to highlight the threat of losing the iconic vehicle’s cultural identity due to modernization.
As this year’s champion, Ritchie won a P50,000 cash prize, a trophy designed by Thian, and an internship and manufacturing partnership with Nifty Shoes. He will also represent the Philippines at the International Footwear Design Competition 2024 in China.
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