Shoe Industry in Carcar, Cebu

Known as Cebu’s "Shoe Town," Carcar, Cebu's leading shoe industry has created waves all over Visayas and in some parts of Mindanao. Carcar-made footwear has penetrated the markets of Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental, Samar, Leyte, Bohol and even Davao.

Despite the gruesome competition in the industry, Carcar’s shoe manufacturing has managed to survive through the centuries. It really is centuries ago when one man started it all…

Indeed, what now is business to most of the Carcaranons dates back in the 17^th hundred when Sotero Solon or Mano Teroy, as what they call him, saw a painting. It was the famous "Last Supper." Very much intrigued with the painting, Mano Teroy learned to appreciate what could have been the smallest detail - the leather sandals worn by Jesus’ apostles. It was this that he decided to design one. With his ingenuity Mano Teroy who’s resident of Liboron, made use of "panit sa kahoy," "goma sa trak" and "lubi" for the sandals.

Mano Teroy began everything, his neighbors followed. Years after, residents of Barangay Liboron and other neighboring barrios were into footwear manufacturing. But, by then, they were using animal-skin instead of "panit sa kahoy". Later on, a certain Fernando Macasero built a tannery for the purpose of increasing the supply of animal-skin. Unfortunately, it was stopped when Macasero died.