Converse joins fight vs AIDS

When Chuck Taylor walked into the Converse shoe factory looking for an off-season job, and thereby making himself the greatest salesman Converse ever had, was he aware that he would be making history with rubber shoes? Chuck was a former high school basketball star whose ingenuity has given Converse a new lift. Chuck’s signature appears in Converse shoes, and a Chuck Taylor shoes is now part and parcel of every man or woman’s wardrobe.

Chuck sold and promoted Converse shoes around the US. When he walked into Converse complaining of sore feet, Converse gave him a job and Chuck became Converse’s ambassador. His signature was added to the All Star patch in 1923. He continued to work as Converse’s spokesman until his death in 1963. As Converse salesman and ambassador, Chuck offered suggestions and modifications which were implemented. He traveled all over the US working with local coaches and selling Converse All Stars from the trunk of his car. He also held basketball clinics, taught basketball and worked with coaches. Converse also became the official shoes of the National Basketball Association.

Today, there are Chuck Taylor hobbyists and Chuck Taylor collectors’ club. Some have even vied for the Guinness Book of World Records for the largest collection of Chuck Taylor shoes. Bianca Gonzalez and Mariel Rodriguez are Chuck Taylor collectors. Pinoy Dream Academy winner Yeng Constantino wore a Chuck Taylor hi-cut boots when she celebrated her 18th birthday.

Chuck is perhaps the greatest rubber shoes salesman in the world. Millions wear Chuck Taylor All Stars Converse shoes worlwide. It is the choice shoes of basketball stars, rock musicians, movie stars and people of consequence. Converse Chuck Taylor shoes have also been immortalized in movies and TV.

Converse has launched  its Product Red customization platform Make Mine Red which offers  consumers a one-of-a-kind design experience, featuring Converse (Product) Red Chuck Taylor All Star Sneakers (hi, low and slip), Converse (Product) Red skidgrips and a custom plate of seasonal colors and patterns that can support Product Red Initiative. Product Red is a global project wherein if you buy a red product, or sign up for a red service, a red company will give some of its profits to buy and distribute anti-retroviral medicine to our brothers and sisters dying of AIDS in Africa. Five to 15 percent (depending on the product sold) of the net sales of Converse Product Red shoes will be contributed to the Global Fund to help eliminate AIDS in Africa.

Product Red is an economic initiative created by Bono of U2 and Bobby Shriver (chairman of DATA- Debt, Aids, Trade, Africa) designed to deliver a sustainable flow of private sector money to the Global Fund to invest in African Aids program with emphasis on the health of women and children.

The Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria was established in 2002 with the support of UN Secretary General Kofi Anan and world’s leaders to increase resources to fight three of the world’s most devastating diseases. Since its creation in 2002, the Global Fund has become the dominant financier of program to fight AIDS, TB and malaria with 7.6 billion invested in 460 programs in 136 countries.

Converse has gotten the services of Grammy Award winning rapper Common as the face of its Converse Product Red Ad Campaign titled Weapon of Change.  “Converse and Product Red are about people —  educating and reaching out to people to help humanity. Converse Product Red allows me to affect change and have an immediate impact on people,” says Common.

Michael and Gina reunite in Dogeaters

Former couple and two of the country’s finest actors, Michael de Mesa and Gina Alajar, reunite on stage for Atlantis Productions’ staging of Dogeaters which will be staged from Nov. 16 to Dec. 2 at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, Makati.

They join a roster of highly-acclaimed actors from the stage and screen including Joel Torre, Rez Cortez, Leo Rialp, Jon Santos, Andoy Ranay, Chari Arespacochaga, Ana Abad Santos, Jerald Napoles, Nicco Manalo, Cheryl Ramos, Jenny Jamora, Paolo Rodriguez,  Richard Cunanan and Teresa Herrera in what is the most star-studded play of the year.

Filled with rich characters from every level of the social ladder in  Manila of 1982, Jessica Hagedorn’s Dogeaters  (based on her New York Times best-selling novel) follows in particular the fates of Rio, a young, movie-obsessed girl from an upper-middle-class family, and Joey, a poor, young Afro-Filipino hustler. Their coming of age stories are intertwined with the tales of generals, waiters, a soft-porn bomba star, the richest man in Manila, journalists, politicians, a revolutionary fugitive, a middle-aged drag queen and even the First Lady of the Philippines.

Michael will play multiple roles including that of Chuci Alacran, the richest man in Manila. Gina will also be playing multiple roles including Leonor Ledesma, the penitent wife of the head of the military.

Dogeaters is directed by Bobby Garcia, production design by Kalila Aguilos, lighting design by Jay Aranda and original music scoring by ManMan Angsico. Because of explicit content, parental discretion is advised.  For details, call 892-7078 or 840-1187.