TIME was when I would await for dad to come home from a trip abroad and see what he would bring home. Once, after the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984, I would remember dad bring home a new shoe brand, it was called NIKE. It looked very unusual. He said it was the craze there, back then. It was brown with a smile like logo that was orange. Brown and Orange rubber shoe? Who would have thought.
Later on, my cousins would realize that indeed another brand has landed in our shores. Aside from Adidas and Converse, there was a new player. Soon after, I would be shifting from my Chucks to that of Julius Erving for Converse to Superstar, Promodel and Jabbar of Adidas to Nike from this. The most expensive pair that I got was the Adidas Top Ten, it was P550.
In high school, we were not allowed to wear rubber shoes. But since I had a new pair I wore one to school and got caught. It was confiscated and I was so mad at the teacher. But it was my fault. Still in high school in a hike up Mt. Sto. Tomas, I wore dad's Nike, it was by this time so small for my growing feet. I had the worst blisters from it.
I still love rubber shoes. I still have many until now. My son has soon taken after me. He also collects them. Up until he needed the money more than the shoes. But even before he would spend for his own gadgets from his competition earnings and cash incentives from swimming. For a gold he would get P3,000 for it. Normally he takes home seven golds. Do the math. Yes I say normally. And for bigger events a gold goes up to P5,000 each.
Once he sold a shoe to a member of a Royal family. It went through some inspections before the exchange. Once the exchange was made and authenticity confirmed the exchange for a pair of Nike's was P90,000 discounted. It was needed he said as he had to buy a guitar from the forced sale. No kidding.
Lolo Tatay would come home too from sporting events with always the latest in running shoes. Now you know the reason why I ran. A shoe surely from him. I ran alongside Olympians Carmelo Brothers and Hector Begeo. Our shoes were Asics Tiger. I still love the brand until now. In fact coming back home from abroad Manny Carmelo brought home one for me. I loved to run with it.
We knew where Lolo Tatay would hide them. In a bodega far from our reach. There was a wooden ladder that we climbed. It creaked. It was beside his room. Surely he could hear when we would venture up to it. It was also where his staff slept. No one was allowed to go up. We were. I will assume that Lolo Tatay always knew what we were up to. He was happy, as long as he sees me running and using the pair.
For Christmas we have our usual exchange gifts. Twice had I requested for rubber shoes. For my birthday too. I am easy to please. I however would have it all this way. When it would be time for me to buy one, whether it is the latest or the best, I will walk away. At 70 percent discount I will think about it. Installment is preferred if ever.
My son and I will always share or borrow each other's pair, glad for it to fit. Glad too that he and I love whatever we have.
My brother JB would go to work in UB in a coat and jeans and always with a rubber shoe. Those preferred by Sir Paul of the Beatles. JB has them. His son who plays basketball gets his preferred one too, as long as he plays too.
As of late I would buy shoes for dad. Yes. But when I get him one it would either be a hate or a like. His was more for comfort over style. Now it doesn't matter since what matters is just as long as it fits him just right. I was very happy to find something that he likes, he wears it every day. To the gym and the ball. So there you go.
Buying a pair is not just about buying a pair. It used to be about style or size, not price. But today it's all about what is in or who wears it. It is about that someone who endorses, designs or who made it. It can be ugly or expensive, but that is just how it is. And people cop them.
I will walk or run off to work, an appointment, a meeting, in uniform, in a barong or the dog in one. That to me is my rubber shoe.