A Story behind Adidas (on stick)

Here’s a great deal for bargain hunters: a pair of Adidas for only six pesos.  They come on a stick and vinegar.

Adidas or chicken feet is just one of the many street food that we see everyday in just about any crowded place or busy street in the metropolis.  Other delicacies on the menu are helmet (chicken’s head), betamax (boiled coagulated pig’s blood), gulong (pig intestines), barbeque and the very popular isaw (chicken intestines).

Leticia Llamado or Ka Letty of San Miguel, Pasig City is just one of those people who earn a living through selling street food in their makeshift carts.  According to the National Statistics Office (NSO), self-employed workers like Ka Letty represent more than a third of the 36.137 million people employed in the country as of May 2014.

Selling isaw has been the main source of income of Ka Letty and her family for more than a decade. Her husband Edwin passed away a few years ago. She now lives with her son Edgar who is now working in a factory while her daughter Carla goes to college.  Most of the time, people can see the whole family working together in their small business especially during weekends.  Edgar would set up the charcoal grill while so Carla prepare the sauce and vinegar for the street chow.

This 58-year old Bicolana confessed that they started their mini store with a capital of PhP 500 only.  Up to now, she still can’t believe how such small amount has managed to provide their daily needs for years.  That’s why she has committed to maintain and improve their livelihood.  As early as 4:30 a.m., she is already in the market to make sure that the chicken and meat she will get are fresh.  She also sells hotdogs and inihaw na bangus (milkfish) from time to time to add new entries in her menu.  From 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week, she is a regular fixture along the stretch of Lupang Pari st.  The only time you’ll see Ka Letty’s spot empty is when it rains.

Another thing that affects their business is when there is a misunderstanding between family members.  What Ka Letty would do is to remind her family how important their store is.  She would explain that it is their bread and butter and a day of not selling isaw means loosing at least Php 300 of income.  Good thing, her words are enough to heal wounds and just in time before sunset and their first customer come.

When asked how she sees herself ten years from now, Ka Letty took a deep breath and said that she don’t mind if she still sells isaw by that time.  For her, the future of her two kids is more important.  Carla is doing well in school while Edgar is considering a job offer abroad.

She believes that her children have learned a thing or two in their small business that they can apply once they work in bigger companies with more employees in a few years from now.  She instills to their young minds the importance of passion, dedication and focus to whatever they do. 

Sure, the Llamado family would merely put meat and chicken intestines on sticks day after day.  But watching them do their thing in camaraderie would somewhat mirror a company where the management and its employees work hand-in-hand to achieved business success.

The next time we eat adidas, it might be tastier than before.  For we know now that in every stick, hard work to achieve a dream is on its tip.

Live Your Style with adidas NEO

What do Keanu Reeves, Digimon and a band from UK have in common?

Well, I don't want to waste your precious time thinking of the answer since this is not a quiz show so I'll tell you right here right now what the correct response is (which make me feel a little silly why I even bothered asking). It's Neo.

Neo is Keanu in The Matrix trilogy, is a character in Digimon Adventure and is a 70's post-punk trio from London. Apologies for the dose of useless trivia but it's really my personality. I love reading and I love sharing the things I learned. I just thanked God that i have a very patient wife who accommodates all the "according to's" and "based on's" monologues that I recite almost every day while waiting for her to serve meals on the dining table.

Funny but it seems that the series of facts that I bombarded her made cooking time faster than ever. It's either I'm inspiring her or she just want to finally have something stuck in my mouth so i'll stop talking.

I love history. I love facts. I love mysteries and Almanacs. Actually, some people told me that even if I don't talk they can still tell that I am fond of such things . No, it's not that I look like I came from an antique store. They say they can tell by my style.

Hmmm... really? Let me share one of my Instagram post where I'm wearing a shirt that makes people wanna look at my chest. It's not the hair ala-Fernando Jose or flexing chest ala-Carlos Agassi (Hey, if you don't know them, Google them up and consider them new discoveries in life). It's the facts that's written all over in front of me.

All statement shirts should be like this. I even had the one with the rubberized print of the Table of Elements on the front before which irked my Chemistry professor during our exam day. I told her that's not cheating, that's just my style. I thought I heard her whispered, "Style mo bulok."

Until now I am still fond of wearing shirts like these. Whether I am in tiangges or at the mall, I'll try to look for new cloth "that talks" to wear. This is how I live my style. Btw, neo is from the Greek word neos which mean new in case you don't know.

Talking about Neo, I should also mention that in is also the label of the latest collection from one of the trusted name in clothing and accessories worldwide. This is something I'd love to have because a  pair of these can speaks the style of the one wearing it. 

Image credit: www.nbacircle.com

Embrace fun, spontaneity and the unexpected twists in fashion when the Adidas NEO Label Spring 2013 collection hits stores in January to March.

Living a carefree journey that lets teens make their own style, NEO will capture attention with unique and innovative fashion and design twists on Spring merchandise. Products have multiple purposes or added value.

NEO will release a fresh product offering each month, spotlighting a fashion trend interpreted in a different way. In March patterns are the highlight, featuring vibrant waves of colour, with subtle patterns that appear to be one thing but on close inspection reveal another. These will include camouflage prints and edgy takes on adidas NEO slogans with a focus on windbreakers and shirts. Sporty, street and lifestyle footwear silhouettes with strong colour and graphic links create the look.

NEO footwear is available in SM and select Robinson’s Department Stores nationwide.

Join the Running Revolution with Adidas Energy Boost

Running. Many consider it to be the second thing mankind ever learned even before we discovered walking.

To those who doesn’t agree, try to imagine yourself living in the prehistoric era, waking up in the morning surrounded by a pack of T-Rex or Giganotosaurus checking which part of you is good for a power breakfast. Instinct, guys. During those times, almost every living thing on Earth grew up on the run.

For the curious souls asking what I think was the first thing humans ever learned to do, I say it’s eating. Remember Adam’s apple, err... Eve’s apple in the Garden of Eatin’, I mean Eden? (I am a catholic, you know).

Eating and running. Two unlikely combination of activities that has been passed on from one generation to another. (Forgive me if I’m beginning to sound like Morgan Freeman. I can’t help it. I’m watching History channel now). That’s why we have this thing called eat and run. Yup, that thing that you did when you attended a Christening party after your high school classmate found you on Facebook and asked to be one of  his seventh child’s godfather. Or in that suppose to be happy family reunion which turned sour when relatives started asking why you are still single. You eat a little then you run as far as you can.

Growing up, running has save me from troubles in a number of times--- away from dog bites, police chasing us after a rally at Mendiola, lunch box-swiping school bullies, etc. And now, we have more hazards to run away from like falling meteorites, mall robbers in costume, and the never-ending David Pomeranz concert series. Running is the best self-defense. That’s the secret  my grandfather told me on how he was able to survived WWII.

Personally, I also associate eating the certain food to improve my running skills--- better stamina and faster legs. That’s why at one point of my life, I became a sucker of food for the runners. I eat pasta because it can provide slow-release energy which what marathon runners require. I gobbled bananas since it’s ideal for refueling rapidly and it comes in biodegradable wrappers. I also feasted in cereals and wheat biscuits for my dose of fiber and protein almost everyday. I even used images of these food as the screensaver of my PC at one point. Well, sort of a motivation that these should only be the food that I will eat for the day. I remember attending an event where I did not eat the food served by the organizer even though the plates were mouth-watering simply because it's not pasta. And beside, I have a pack of biscuits and a couple of banana in my bag.

After half a year, I felt like a horse. Not a thoroughbred but a winded about-to-be-chopped-and-exported-to-Europe horse that is. I was unable to control my intake of those "certain food" that I became a 160 lbs. obese (according to my cardiologist). I guess I got a little over of everything on my diet, especially on pasta. I think I have tried almost every type of spaghetti during that period. As far as i can remember, That was definitely the craziest thing I’ve done to boost my run.

Today, I participate to at least six fun runs a year. One, it is fun and second, I get to prove to myself and others that I can still run even in my thirties and with a Harlem Shakin’ tummy. I am still fond of the “food for runners” but this time I see to it to eat moderately.

I also check online for tips on how to boost my run. Then I stumbled upon a great find. Unmatched energy return, superior cushioning, optimal, fit and temperature independence: Introducing the ENERGY BOOST™ by Adidas, the new running shoe with revolutionary cushioning technology that provides the highest energy return in the industry. And just like that, running will never be the same.

The foundation of the ENERGY BOOST™ innovation is centered on proprietary cushioning material, BOOST™, that allows the runner to feel a continuous energy return. The revolutionary technology allows small energy capsules in the soles to store and unleash energy more efficiently with every stride. The Adidas brand is one of the leading sports brands in the world. The Adidas brand attitude “Impossible is Nothing” drives all brand communication initiatives and helps strengthen the brand’s bond with consumers.

Now, I'm definitely joining the running revolution with this new line of soles from one of the trusted names.

With only 200 pairs of ENERGY BOOST™ available in the Philippines this season, runners will be able to reserve up to 100 pairs before the shoes hit the adidas Bonifacio Global City store on the 27th of February. This can be done via a pre-order mechanism exclusive for South East Asia that opens from 15th until 24th of February. So, be the first to boost your run at adidasboost.com.

So when you think about running, always bear this in mind:  Another Day Is Definitely Another Super (ADIDAS) run.