Marikina can kiss my fat ass. Those shoes are mine, betch! PICTIONARY GALORE!
Marikina can kiss my fat ass.
The reason why I got up so early yesterday (7AM to be precise) is because I wanted to go the so-called "shoe capital" of the Philippines (aka Marikina) to a) visit the Imelda Marcos shoe museum and b) have custom-made shoes done for me.
I left the house around 1PM. Having skipped breakfast earlier in the day and having realized how fucking fat I am at the moment (shit, I even wrote a blog entry about it), I thought skipping lunch is the sensible option.
I guess not. Our first stop was Jollibee.
All I wanted to do is to take a piss and buy something to drink... then I thought, "shit, we're here anyway, I might as well pick up a few things here and there."
I threw calorific caution to where the sun doesn't shine and bought my favourite meal ever: the usual 2-piece chickenjoy, large fries and loads of extra gravy.
Mmmmmm.... chicken skin. Looooovely.
After almost 2 hours on the road...
TA-DA!
I made it to Mrs. M's Shoe Museum!!!!!!
There were shoes... lots of shoes. Lots and lots of shoes!
OK.. it wasn't a lot really. I have to admit I was kinda disappointed. I was expecting something like 10,000 pairs. The museum is tiny. There's probably about 500 or so pairs there. I don't know the exact figure but I have a feeling Mouna Al-Ayoub or Carrie Bradshaw has more shoes than the ones at the museum.
The most prominent labels in her collection were Beltrami, Charles Jourdan and Bruno Magli. I even discovered something new: Xavier Danaud Paris... beautiful, beautiful shoes.
Most of the shoes were a tad worn out (it was obvious they were mishandled (?) in the process... whatever government entity who stole these babies from her had no clue of the sheer value of these shoes) though I also saw a lot of Christian Dior Couture shoes in super pristine condition.
One thing I noticed is the fact that a lot of the shoes were specifically made for her because her name is either engraved, stamped, embossed, whatever on the sole. It was mind-blowing!!!! Mrs. M's taste is amazing. Truly amazing!
Mrs. M!!!!!! If you are reading this (which, I highly doubt, I might as well wish for the stars), please, please, please, pretty please, give me an old pair of your shoes and sign it on the sole with a permanent marker!! That would be the best christmas gift ever! I'll put it inside a glass box and guard it with my life!
My trip to Marikina ain't over yet. I went there with a bag full of cash and I didn't want to leave empty-handed. Ok, who am I kidding? I didn't have that much cash. I mean seriously... I wouldn't be going to Marikina to buy custom-made shoes if I had the cash to splurge on a couple of pairs of custom John Lobb... or, if I was a woman, some fantastic Pierre Hardy or Roger Vivier...
I want shoes!!! Let's get some shoes! Let's get some shoes! These shoes are three hundred dollars. These shoes are three hundred dollars. These shoes are three hundred fucking dollars. Those shoes are mine, betch!
Before I went to bed last night, I spent quite some time browsing old magazines to find the shoe style that I really really really really really really really want. I told myself I only want 2 styles because I wanna get it in different colours and leathers.
I reaaaaallly wanted a few pairs of a pointy toe shoe, especially a white one. Oooh how nice...
... and a pair of exotic leather boots. In various colours.
I figured it would be best to ask around **IN** Marikina for custom-made shoe vendors and shoemakers because I had no luck searching on google. I mean, if these people say they are the shoe capital of the Philippines then surely they must know something about their pride and joy. It's funny cause I asked all my friends about custom-made shoes and they all told me "to go to Marikina"... I'm like "WHERE THE FUCK IN MARIKINA". I guess nobody knows where!
On my way out of the museum, I asked the caretaker (and the security guards) the $64 Millon dollar question of the day...
----
Me: "Manong, saan po puwede magpagawa nung mga magagandang sapatos? Yung gumagawa ho, hindi yung nabibili na gawa na."
Me: "Sir, where can I find a shoemaker who makes beautiful shoes?"
Museum Guy: "Ay wala po akong alam, magtanong tanong nalang po kayo diyan sa labas."
Museum Guy: "Oh, I don't know anything, why don't you ask around outside?"
----
Oh. my. god. I wanted to slap the men right then and there.
They live in Marikina, they work in Marikina, heck, they even work in the Shoe Museum of Marikina yet they can't give me shoemaker referrals?
My quest didn't end there.
We spent almost a tank of gas over the next 2 hours roaming around the city's tiny alleyways, went from one area to the next, to find myself a shoemaker. My driver and Eunice asked at least 50 people, from security guards, traffic enforcers, school children, old women, restaurant people, random people on the street, heck, we even went to the police station and ask a policeman and everyone gave the same tiresome answers or vague directions.
"Kumaliwa ho kayo sa ganito tapos magtanong po kayo doon."
"Turn left on XXX then ask around for directions.
"Kumanan kayo diyan, tapos kumaliwa, tapos doon po kayo magtanong."
"Turn right on that road then turn left and and then ask around."
"Ay wala ho akong alam."
"Oh I know nothing."
"Doon ho sa subdivision maraming pagawaan. Magtanong nalang po kayo doon."
"There's a lot of factories on that subdivision. Go there and ask around."
UGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
Everyone is sooo fucking dumb it's not even funny.
What reaaaally pissed me off is the fact that we even found shoemaker supplies stores and asked them for shoemaker referrals and they were all fucking clueless and/or they gave us the wrong directions.
I don't understand why these motherfuckers are making it soo fucking difficult. It really is fucking ridiculous that NOBODY IN THAT DAMN CITY knew where I could get custom-made shoes done.
After two and a half agonizing hours, my super gal pal maid Eunice found this place...
There's a lot of shoes on the window which means they sell shoes that are already made. BTW, the shoes look wayyyy too dodgy for my own good. We both went inside to ask where I can have custom-made shoes...
Lady had the worst attitude ever and said:
"wala hong gumagawa ng sapatos dito kung gusto niyo ng sapatos, bumili nalang kayo nung gawa na."
"nobody makes shoes here. if you want shoes, just buy the ones that are already made."
Right.
I wanted to scream my lungs out but I can't afford the wrinkles. Shoe capital my fucking fat ass.
I told my driver to get the hell out of that area and go somewhere where people know shit.
On our way back, I found this little corner of heaven...
YES!!!!!!!!
... complete with cows made out of stone!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! GORGEOUS! FUCKING GORGEOUS!
I thought, "shit, I might as well take a shitload of photos considering I will NEVER, EVER, EVER SET FOOT IN THIS AREA EVER EVER EVER INFINITY EVER."
Unfortunately, those stone cows are on one side of the riverbank so Eunice and moi had to walk for like, god, forever... and y'all know how much I despise walking. Whatever though... it's all fucking worth it! I LOOOOOOOOVE those cows!!!!!!
CHA-CHING!!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
THE ONLY TIME I'LL EVER GET FUCKED BY A FARMER...
I'm not racist. It's just that I prefer my balls enormous and... white! Hurrah for bestiality!
See, even the farmer got his arm extended... POSE POSE POSE! WORK IT LIKE YOU OWN IT!
And that pretty much wraps up my Marikina trip. The shoe museum and the stone cows made the trip worthwile. They should seriously beautify these cow sculptures and promote it as a tourist attraction. People will have more fun with these creatures than look for shoes.
I had a little bit of cash to burn so I went to Store For All Seasons, owned by Chuvaness. I've been wanting to go here for the longggggest time but it's wayy too far out. I'm so glad I did.
Store For All Seasons
605 Shaw Blvd.
Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila Philippines
http://sfas.livejournal.com
SFAS is a lovely little emporium with lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots of tops and other gorgeous little things.
I saw this really cute t-shirt but it's a little too small for me and I'm too dirty to wear white. I wish they have a black one in a larger size.
I ended up buying 4 striped tops -- 2 of them are these cute little cropped hoodies. I get them in different colours. Here's 3 of em... I asked Eunice to wash the other hoodie cause I'm gonna use it tomorrow. Hahaha! ;) ;) ;)
Today's Obligatory Paparazzi Shot(s)
My last stop was the I Love You Store. I had several items reserved for me a few weeks ago and I finally had the time to pick them up. Hahaha! I was hoping they haven't forgotten about me. Now that's what I call service.
I Love You Store
7840 Pilar Place
Makati Avenue, Makati City Philippines
I ********REAAAAAALLLLLLY***** WANTED THIS CHIC PIECE OF VINTAGE BEAUTY! I'M SOOOO HAPPY THAT THEY HELD IT FOR ME. I SWEAR... I FELL IN LOVE WITH IT THE MOMENT I SAW IT. I GOT IT FOR AROUND US$80 (oh I dunno, about P3,500) AND IT'S WORTH EVERY PENNY. IT'S SOO CHIC! THE PICTURE DOESN'T GIVE IT JUSTICE.
I also bought a hat...
two pairs of vintage sunglasses and other nifty things (not pictured).
I was really looking forward to having size 8 or 8.5 men's (did you know Imelda is a size 8.5 women's?)shoes done for me but these idiots are making it sooo fucking difficult. I'm very disappointed. I really am.
Imagine how cool it would be to have marvelous shoes made especially for moi, moi, moi by Marikina craftsmen and then I'll show it to y'all and say "made in the fabulous third world!!"
Bah! Fuck it. Maybe Filipino shoes aren't really for me.
Goodbye Marikina shoes. :( :( :( :( Time to save up cash I guess so I can buy a pair of Hermes riding boots. I'm poor!
Email me and tell me you love me! My email address is bryanboy@gmail.com or SMS +63.915.785.1492.
I love you all, as always!
P.S. My advice to Marikina people: FOR THE LIFE OF GOD, PLEASE PUBLISH A BROCHURE OR A FLYER OR WHATEVER WITH A COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF SHOEMAKER NAMES, ADDRESSES AND CONTACT NUMBERS AND GIVE IT TO THE SHOE MUSEUM PEOPLE! Thank you.
