Recently, my husband, Jared, and I stumbled upon a local cobbler’s bazaar at City Hall. We just moved into a new house in a brand new town earlier this year, and Marikina just happens to be the “Shoe Capital of the Philippines”!
One thing that got us excited about moving here was the prospect of being close to local cobblers. Marikina has a long and colorful history of shoemaking. Today, it is known for its surprisingly durable shoes, even compared to other well-known international brands. I own a pair of sandals made by Marikina, and they have lasted six years of rain and sun, wear and tear. I have never had to repair them and they are still solid.
Jared loves shoes. He comes across as a simple guy and doesn’t desire many material things, but he admits that a shiny new pair of shoes is his biggest temptation. Whenever we go to a mall, he never fails to check the shoe department in case his favorite brands have new models in stock. He feasts on rows of shiny leather and takes a few pairs for a quick spin. Ironically, he almost never buys anything.
Despite being the ultimate leather shoe freak, Jared has been wearing the same pair of dress shoes for five years. He says they are just too comfortable on his feet. He found several well-made pairs of shoes – some very expensive – but so few matched the comfort level of his current favorite shoes.
Comfort is one of Jared’s main considerations when choosing the right shoes. He has severe hemophilia B, so he bleeds frequently into joints that wear and tear. Because his right ankle is his target joint, he developed synovitis in that area. Every time her synovitis bursts, her foot movement becomes severely restricted. He is also unable to walk long distances without experiencing painful swelling. If the swelling persists, it could lead to a severe bleeding episode, which in turn worsens his synovitis. And so the cycle repeats itself.
With proper ankle support, the risk of ankle injury is much lower. Jared needs to be careful to choose shoes that aren’t too stiff around the ankle, but still support the joint so it doesn’t overstretch.
For this reason, boots are one of her favorite types of footwear. Their raised tops act as ankle support pads, which provide slight restriction and cushioning to her sensitive ankle joints.
Dress shoes can be harder to choose, as their lower cuts often mean less ankle support. If the shoes are not well made, their sides might be too stiff and pointy. Too much stiffness isn’t a good thing either, as it will force his ankles to flex at an unnatural angle.
Fortunately, Jared managed to find a good pair of shoes at the bazaar. He tells me these are the most comfortable pair of shoes he’s ever worn – with cushioned insoles, sturdy yet supple leather and a timeless yet youthful design.
When I looked up the cobbler who made them, I learned that the small business had been around for several decades, supplying shoes to the national army and various service professions. I’ve tried some of their shoes myself, and now I can better understand Jared’s shoe selection process.
Now we can’t wait to buy new shoes for both of us!
To note: Hemophilia news today is strictly a disease news and information site. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. This content is not intended to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of anything you read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Hemophilia news today or its parent company, BioNews, and are intended to spark discussion on issues relating to haemophilia.
