Shoes for Obama

As a tribute to US President Barack Obama, the country’s No. 1 local sports footwear and apparel brand Accel has brought out a limited edition shoe with his image.

Willy Ortiz, president of Sporteum, which owns Accel, says the shoe is “an expression of admiration and support for the first African-American president of the US.”

Only 200 pairs were manufactured in two colorways - pristine white and a combination of charcoal grey, red and white, both with Obama’s likeness on the outer sides near the ankles. A few pairs are still available at Shoemart, according to promotions specialist Reli de Leon.

“A great number of Filipinos were truly elated with the election of Obama as US President because he belongs to a minority group just like Filipino-Americans in the US,” says Ortiz. “While this project may connote a commercial agenda, we believe that it will help foster good relations and camaraderie among Filipinos and Americans.”

Ortiz recently sent a formal letter to US Ambassador Kristie Kenney offering to send Obama several pairs of the Accel shoe “as our way of honoring him.” Ortiz says Accel’s tribute is a show of support for Obama who “is expected to bring about change and prosperity to America and the rest of the world.”

De Leon says the US Embassy has advised Ortiz that his letter was forwarded to the White House.

“We’re actually giving away 100 pairs so only 100 pairs are in the market,” says De Leon. “This is a real collector’s item. The shoe was designed by Filipinos but manufactured in China where Sporteum has an exclusive arrangement with shoemakers. A pair sells for about P2,000 and from what I know, there aren’t too many left in stock. The biggest size is 12 so unfortunately, we couldn’t produce a size for Sen. (Robert) Jaworski who wanted a pair. We’ll make a special pair for him.”

The charcoal grey-red-and-white shoe is definitely a looker. It’s a low-cut lifestyle/walking shoe with a charcoal grey front, red laces, red Accel stamp at the back, Obama’s graphic likeness in black, red outer layer connecting the upper with the sole and a black bottom.

De Leon says the limited edition collector’s item is called “D’ Shoe.”

“Thanks to your column, we found out about Obama’s rich basketball background,” adds De Leon, referring to back-to-back columns published in The STAR last Jan. 22 and 23 (additionally, columnist Philip Juico wrote on Obama’s basketball passion last Jan. 27). “Because basketball is our No. 1 sport and the US is our close ally, Sporteum thought it only appropriate to commemorate Obama’s historic presidency with a special shoe.”

For details on D’Shoe, contact De Leon at 0917-8168675.

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There is a six-day golf tournament hosted by the Alabang Country Club and it’s probably the longest of its kind in the world.

Organizing committee member Tom Banguis Jr. describes the Mango Tee as the club’s annual showcase event, which started 25 years ago. What makes this year’s affair extra special is it will be the silver anniversary celebration of the tournament from Feb. 2 to 7.

Johnny Castillo and Vic Guzman, overall co-chairmen, promise the event to be the biggest and best ever - six days of competitive golf, nightly cocktails and raffles, specially-designed trophies, first-class giveaways and grand raffle prizes as a treat for club members and guests.

Banguis reports that 384 pairs of members and guests are competing in the event. The member-guest team concept has been a successful formula for the Mango Tee since its inception in 1983 with only 50 pairs teeing off in the two-day pioneer tournament. In 1990, the event was expanded to four days because of the strong clamor for playing slots. Now, it’s up to six days.

Among those signed up for the 25th Mango Tee are US-based Gil Mendiola, Peter Hasslein (a German who relocated to Australia three years ago and makes it a point to play in every Mango Tee), Iggy Clavecilla, O. V. Espiritu and reigning club champion Seve Roxas-Chua. At stake is P1.2 million worth of Awards Night raffle prizes with two Yamaha golf carts as grand prizes. A major traditional attraction at the Awards Night is a special lottery, “Cash Bonanza” offering cash prizes of P500,000 broken down into lots of P250,000, P150,000 and P100,000. Lottery tickets of P1,000 are available to any player, guest or member.

Banguis says despite expanding the tournament format to six days, there remains a big group in the “waiting list.” No tournament in the country boasts of a “waiting list” of as many as 250 members, hoping to play on the 18-hole course in the event of late withdrawals.

Banguis says the challenging course makes it extremely difficult for tandems to repeat as champions. “It requires virtually flawless shot-making over the two days that each pair is assigned as the tournament seems to bring out the best competitive form from everyone,” he points out. In 24 years of Mango Tee, only two pairs have successfully defended their titles - Rafael Santiago and Francis de Borja in 1998 and 1999 and Arnel Maganti and Arnold Duay in 2007 and 2008. Maganti and Duay will be back to attempt a three-peat this year.

The club’s welcome giveaway to every participant in the Mango Tee is a top-quality Mizuno golf bag whose retail price exceeds the registration fee.

Slated to hit the ceremonial ball is former President Fidel Ramos who has graced the tournament as a special guest since 1994. Other VIPs expected to hit ceremonial balls are Edgar Chua, chairman of the major sponsoring organization Shell, Julie Carceller of Smart and Paul Ching of Citimotors.

Club chairman Joel Bodegon, club president Gen. Rodolfo Estrellado, Cid Diomampo, Association of Senior Golfers president and former club president Paul Cortez and 20th Mango Tee overall chairman Ed Lacson have been constantly meeting the last nine months to prepare for the silver anniversary. The organizing committee is made up of Castillo and Guzman as co-chairmen and Lacson, Boy Leonio, Bobby Kanapi, Ramon Garcia, Mario Aguinaldo, Raul Camu, Banguis, Diomampo, Angel Apuyan, Jaime de la Cruz, Boni Pimentel, Cortez, Archie Lacson, Jimbo Inigo, Leo Villanueva, Virgilio Guilatco, Rafael Mapua, Alfred Velayo, Cynthia Matias, King Stehmeier, Orie de la Cruz, Neneng Palmares and Me Anne Cabanero as members and Estrellado, Dominador Tiongco, Carlos Coscolluela, Bodegon and Godofredo Galindez in the oversight committee.