Papa Bear Discoveries: GLAGLA Ventilated Shoes

Was just going through Facebook and saw an interesting Facebook ad.

Papa Bear just loves sneakers as you well know and the design of the shoe on the ad caught my eye.

Well Glagla apparently is from France and is unisex. The description of the brand on the page reads:

"The original challenge was to create from scratch a shoe that was designed for warm weather activities. Thus, the shoe would need to allow the foot to be cooler and more ventilated than any other shoe on the market. Making the creation of this shoe even more difficult was the desire to accomplish the technological revolution in a very fashionable and visually appealing design.

The Glagla shoe is unisex and is a huge hit with men, women and kids alike. Glagla has been called the revolutionary shoe of sport and leisure activities dedicated to summer. Glagla is the first sneaker in the world with natural ventilation through its high-tech components that allow complete circulation of the air in the entirety of the shoe. It also protects the natural movement of the foot thanks to its shape and flexibility. It’s extra-flexible sole creates the sensation of walking comfortably without shoes."

Hmmmmm... if its designed for warm weather then its perfect for the Philippines. Now if its waterproof and can be submerged in water then it would doubly perfect don't you think? 

Interesting also is what they say that it creates the sensation of walking without shoes. So is this shoe minimalist or part of the barefoot craze? I'm hopping over to one of their stores this weekend to try on a pair: Rustans Gateway, Rustans Alabang Town Center, Rustans Cebu, Happy Feet Robinsons Galleria, The Shoe Shop, Powerplant Mall, Rockwell.

Not sure yet if PAPA BEAR approves, so wait for the final verdict.

The Papa Bear ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS SERIES #1

I WANT #1: VSA Original 2011

With Christmas just around the corner and with so many things available for us to splurge our hard earned money on, I will be posting a list of things I would buy if I had the moolah to spend...welcome to my Christmas Wish List dear bear cubs!


In 1994, when my very own Papa Bear passed away, my dear Mama Bear bought me an original SWISS ARMY (Victorinox) watch that came with a small Swiss Army knife so that I would have something to remember Grandpa Bear by. I have since lost the knife but the watch has stayed with me and kept on ticking for the past seventeen years.


A friend of mine from the local watch industry recently told me that this classic will be released soon in the Philippines with a few modifications made for good measure yet retain the quality, dependability and classic styling of Swiss Army.

Khaki Green Victorinox Swiss Army Original 2011

This totally revamped ORIGINAL is freshly updated with contemporary aesthetics yet instantly recognizable as the authentic descendant of the line that has become, through the years, a perennial favorite among young customers looking for substance and style.

• Swiss Made
• Quartz movement
• 40mm case diameter
• Nylon fiber middle case with an aluminum bezel
• Water resistant to 100 meters
• Luminescent hands
• NATO style strap
• Four color combos available: Navy Grey, Commando Black, Desert Beige and Khaki Green

PAPA BEAR Approves! (and must have!)

Papa Bear approves URBAN PAPER TOY PHILIPPINES

I've had a love affair with toys for as long as I remember. I've gone through the gamut of collecting G.I. JOE figures and vehicles in grade school, dabbled in model kit building and totally went crazy with Gundam Model Kits to the point of re-painting, even modifying them with my office mates during weekends.

I came across their Facebook page and was blown away and inspired by what these guys are doing. They're turning trash into toys --- and not just any kind of toys, they're making waaay cool robots from trash. Check out their page https://www.facebook.com/UrbanToyDesignerPhilippines?sk=info.

Photo taken from https://www.facebook.com/UrbanToyDesignerPhilippines

Based on the info in their page:

Photo taken from https://www.facebook.com/UrbanToyDesignerPhilippines

Urban Toy Designer Philippines

Independent Urban Toy Designers. Self Produced Urban Toys.
Former Urban Paper Toy Philippines, Created by John Eugene Avila. Community that showcase some paper toy design and other crafts done by local artist, toy collectors & toy designers in the Philippines.
...
We're taking toy collection to the next level.
"WE ARE NOT A COMPANY" This is just a community / group for local toy designers in the Philippines. To cater designer toys, creativity of local artists.

I'm quite sure ONE BAD GOAT will love this...


Next step is to get in touch with these guys and join in the fun...

Papa Bear approves CREATIVE RECREATION

I've been seeing a lot more people sporting Creative Recreation. I first was quite amused by the way the styles looked as they seem to be a hybrid of sneakers and dress shoes --- and then it got me to think, maybe I can wear them to work?

Went around the mall and lo and behold, Shoe Salon carries them! I completely forgot what they called this style but I WANT!

Checked out their Facebook page and this is the information that I got about what Creative Recreation was all about

Creative Recreation was officially launched in Orange County, California in Fall 2002. The founders of Creative Recreation noticed a huge void in the footwear market. Everyone was offering either dress shoes to be worn with a suit or athletic inspired sneakers that were not acceptable at most functions. No one was offering footwear to young professionals with style. Two long time friends got together and decided they would be the ones to change the game.

"Many people have difficulties understanding what category Creative Recreation footwear falls into. That has been the best compliment to the founders. We don't want to be put into any category, we're a footwear company! We make shoes for our lifestyle, rather we make shoes for life with style.

GENO-Primary Blue and Electric Green

I also found info on one of their newest styles - THE GENO. (Sort of brings back that UAAP Ateneo vs. La Salle feel doesn't it?)

If I had a little extra, I'll be getting the BLUE one! It boasts of ballistic canvas with pops of patent and satin lining.

They're all available in Shoe Salon, Rustans and COMPLEX Lifestyle Store.

Papa Bear approves Sperry Bahama

Had the chance to be with Martin of Sole Movement and a number of other bloggers last August 31 in the COMPLEX LIFESTYLE STORE sneak peak of SPERRY TOP-SIDER in Eastwood Mall and what an experience it was.

I was quite amazed at the feeling I got when I  first entered the store and saw the rows upon rows of Sperry Top-Sider --- happy memories came rushing in. Memories of my carefree high school days, Saturdays in Greenhills with family and friends, anticipated mass in dela Strada Parish, merienda at Shakeys Katipunan and soirees with girls from Miriam, St. Paul and Assumption...all because of what greeted me as I entered COMPLEX --- the Authentic American iconic Sperry Top-Sider (in brown leather).

Kind of hard to imagine that Sperry, the originator of the boat shoe has been around for 75 years.

Back in 1935, Sperry was out for a sail with his dog, Prince, when he noticed that Prince had no trouble navigating the cold, wet, icy decks. Paul took a look at Prince’s paws and noticed that there were several cuts and ridges going through the pad on the bottom.

Prince inspired Paul, and he went home to create shoes with rubber soles that looked just like the bottom of Prince’s paw.  And, thus, Sperry boat shoes were born!
.
I still see friends and relatives wear this style in various permutations. Nephews and nieces boast of their latest finds and how boat shoes are the rave these days, how my uncle refuses to part with his ages-old navy blue Sperry Top-Sider bought in Cartimar, and how my youngest brother got cited for not wearing socks with his boat shoes to work.

In spite of falling in love all over again with the leather "Tops", one new Sperry-style caught my eye and it's the Bahama. It has a modern look yet almost retain the silhouette of the classic Top-Sider that I love. It really is a wonderful cross between sneakers and Top-Siders.

Sperry now comes in a variety of styles and designs for both men and women that ranges from the Authentic Original leather Top-Siders that we all love to vulcanized soles and canvas tops.


Sperry is now available in COMPLEX LIFESTYLE STORE, selected Shoe Salon stores and Hideout in Greenbelt 5.

Papa Bear SUPER approves SPERRY TOP-SIDER

Complex Lifstyle Store window display for Sperry

This just in...SPERRY TOP-SIDER just hit Philippine shores!

Our friends from COMPLEX, Ivan, Katrina, Brian and Karen just told me that COMPLEX Lifestyle Store (first in Eastwood Mall and then in Ayala Center Cebu) will be one of the first few stores that will stock SPERRY TOP-SIDER here in the Philippines. I'm sure SHOE SALON will not be too far behind.

Authentic Original - Sperry Top-Sider

For those of you baby bears who were not born til the 90's, SPERRY hit the Philippine shores way back in the 80's but was only available in specialty stores in Greenhills, Cartimar and PX goods stores. Sperry was actually the originator, yup that's right, the inventor of the enduring boat-shoe design (waaaaaay back in 1935) that was copied, ripped-off by the likes of international brand Sebago (check their website, it looks suspiciously like the Sperry site) and the local brand Swatch Seasider and a host of other brands.

Of course the brand carries its Authentic Original, the Top-Sider of old as well as a host of other evolutions of the product like canvas tops and canvas tops and vulcanized rubber sole styles


With the current boat shoe craze in the Philippines, all I can say is...SPERRY it's about time, and what perfect timing!

Papa Bear approves the SOMA Alti-Compass watch

SOMA ALTI-COMPASS

Being a supporter of my desire to be a more outdoorsy person, Mama Bear gave me the SOMA ALTI-COMPASS watch to match my Merrell Trail Gloves last Fathers' Day.

So I asked her...why red? And she answered: "It's your favorite color right?" She further gave me fashion advice: "Your watch color no longer needs to really match with your belt and your shoes nowadays --- it's not just a gadget to tell time, it's actually a statement piece!"

Who am I to argue with Mama Bear right?

The watch aside from looking downright mean, actually has tons of functions when doing runs, especially trail runs and other outdoor activities:

Image borrowed from http://www.soma-sportswatch.com

 

• Time/Date (of course)
• 12/24 Hour display
• Seven alarms
• Stopwatch/Chronograph
• Lap tracker
• Timer
• Backlight
• Water resistant (10 Bar)
• Lens is made from Mineral Glass
• Compass
• Altimeter
• Protective side-armor
• Lightweight

By the way, I checked around and SOMA actually is made by Seiko --- so it must be durable and will live up to its reputation. SOMA is available in LTime Studio and Time Gear stores nationwide.