Though Liliw may be small, it carries a presence bigger than its borders. Tucked at the foothills of Mount Banahaw, the Laguna municipality wakes up each day to cool highland air, the quiet industry of local makers, and streets lined not with rush, but with rhythm. For travelers coming from Metro Manila, the drive south through the South Luzon Expressway leads to Calamba and then farther into the provincial spine of Laguna where the scenery softens into small-town arches and winding roads; those taking public transport often transfer via San Pablo, Laguna before heading to Liliw via local jeepneys or tricycles, winding through neighboring towns like Nagcarlan, Laguna before finally arriving in Liliw. 

Once there, it doesn’t really take long to notice that Liliw walks to its own beat — quite literally. Considered one of the country’s slipper-making capitals, its identity is stitched by generations of artisans who turned humble footwear into cultural currency. Shops dotting their very own slipper street of Gat Tayaw, sell everything from the beloved “3-for-₱120” tsinelas to embellished leather sandals and handcrafted shoes that sell less than those sold in shopping malls. Unlike fast fashion footwear, Liliw footwear carries the signature of family enterprise, tactile labor, and lived experience. On days like the lively Tsinelas Festival, celebrated every April, the town becomes a parade of color, craft, and pride. Filling the streets slippers, umbrella garlands overhead, food stalls, and locals dancing and celebrating craftsmanship as one.