Sandalias Festival in Trinoma

Sandalias Festival 2010 a smashing success

Once again the Sandalias Festival delighted sandal lovers with a fabulous showcase of Ipanema, Ipanema Gisele Bündchen (GB), Grendha and Rider footwear; an awesome fashion-cum-dance spectacle; plus fun games; pampering activities; and the first ever Giant Piñata shower.

Aptly themed “Step Into Some Love”, the Sandalias Festival truly made hearts beat happily throughout the two-day event as it paved the way for guests to enjoy a Brazilian style soiree whilst finding the perfect sole mate to match their personality and lifestyle. Ipanema attracted the eternal beach bums, while Ipanema GB appealed to social-conscious women, Grendha charmed urbane belles and Rider enticed active adventurers. 

TriNoma was enveloped by a gleeful air as Steps Dance Project sashayed around the mall donning colorful and comfy Ipanema, Ipanema GB, Grendha and Rider sandals, spreading cheers and inviting mall goers join in the festivities.  Moreover, the group rendered a superb performance that creatively played out the chic fashion and tropical inspired lifestyle espoused by the said Brazilian footwear brands. 

Guests likewise enjoyed free foot massage, nail art, as well as foot or body tattoo.  They were also able to take home souvenir photos with different captivating destinations in the background. Sporty guests who aced the climbing wall and the gyrating mechanical surf board, Ride N Surf, took home cash prizes and gift certificates.

Sandalias Festival’s show-stopper and most unique attraction was the Giant Piñata, a larger than life flip flop filled with goodies and freebies.  Once hit, it unleashed a great shower of prizes including gift certificates from Ipanema, Ipanema GB, Grendha, Rider and sponsors – Lay Bare, Planet Sports, Nivea Sun, magazines from Summit Media, Orly Nail Lacquer; as well as an air ticket to Boracay from Cebu Pacific Air and a 3D/2N accommodation at Patio Pacific, Fairways and Bluewater and Discovery Shores. Other sponsors were Us Girls, Essensuals by Toni and Guy and Terra Wellness Spa.

Indeed, the Sandalias Festival 2010 was a huge success, just like in the past two years.  Patxi Elizalde, Managing Director of ELRO Corporation, exclusive distributor of Ipanema, Ipanema GB, Grendha and Rider in the Philippines, was elated with the good turn out of the event.  “Mounting the annual Sandalias Festival is part of our continuous effort to bring our brands closer to the market.  This is our way of establishing an emotional connection with our patrons.  We want them to not only experience our products but also be immersed in the culture and lifestyle that inspire the creation of our footwear.”

Elizalde added that also part of their effort in engaging the market is opening a concept store called Bambu, which features all their Brazilian footwear brands. The launch of Bambu TriNoma, the third concept store, coincided with the Sandalias Festival.  Other Bambu outlets are located in Glorietta 4 Makati and Marquee Mall Angeles City, plus a kiosk in Alabang Town Center.

On his final note, Elizalde said that while Sandalias Festival is their banner event, patrons could look forward to more exciting activities and of course, more stylish products from Ipanema, Ipanema GB, Grendha and Rider in the near future.

Turning 40...

If 40 is the new 20, then I have all the time in the world to do so many things at the same time. This milestone marks a “second wind” of sorts after all, a time when all the planning and hard work in the past two decades slowly comes to fruition. The prospect of seeing one’s efforts and projects settle on a more stable platform, from where it can be further concretized and grow, can, I suppose, give one that invigorating feeling of living life anew.

But then again no second wind, however strong, would be enough to give you a breath of fresh air if your health is shot by that time due to neglect. No platform would be stable enough to support everything you’ve worked hard for all this time if your physical well-being was not included among its foundations.

As it is, I need a lot of catching up to do. Even if the flesh is weak, the spirit remains quite willing and insistent on the need to dump the junk food, moderate the intake of the sodium and the carbs, and get on some sort of fitness regimen. As we near 40, my hubby and I know that this is the age when people – grown contented and portly early in their marriage – become even more settled at being overweight. With so many things to take care of, such as the kids’ education, careers and building the farm as a potential family business, we certainly have very little time, and energy to spare, for self-indulgent fitness activities.

But at the back of our minds, we know that it is precisely because of these responsibilities that we need to find time to take care of ourselves, in whatever way we can, in order to stay healthy enough to see them all through. After going on a three-year hiatus from badminton, for instance, I am now driving myself to get back to it, fully aware of the cardio and endurance benefits that this sport gives. I want to encourage hubby to try and go back to his walking/running habits and avoid staying up late. Personally, I make sure I sleep at least eight hours a day.

We are also now, more conscious on our diet. We avoid too much meat (especially the fats, which I loved before), take lots of fruits and veggies. Plus we regularly take our food supplements like the Reliv shakes, Alive multi-vitamins and Circulan. Not to forget the daily dose of vitamin c and vitamin e and my milk (for my bones).