I remember Footsteps during my elementary days. It carried the
Zenco Footstep surviving the ever changing market landscape of Sorsogon.
brands of Kaypee, Swatch (before the watches, there’s the shoes), Grosby and other local brands. If my memory serves me right, it also carried Adidas for a while.
It was the only, and still is, specialty store in town. I remember it’s one of the most popular products – Islander. It’s some sort of status symbol of that time; it’s expensive than Spartan – the former cost almost PHP100 a pop, while the latter is only less than PHP20/pair.
It also offered alternative models of black shoes for students, and it was cheap, too. After Sunday mass, together with my neighbor-friends, we would drop by just to window shop.
Kaypee shoes. image via http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r248/markianrena/KAYPEE2.jpg
Kaypee was popular among the boys. In my opinion, it was comparable to Adidas back then (the latter almost closed shop in the Philippines). Its popularity can be attributed by the fact that popular PBA players like Alvin Patrimonio served as its model.
I know that there were other Footstep branches in the Philippines. I know there was one in Quiapo area, and in Legazpi. It’s amazing that the branch in Sorsogon survived.
It will always be part of my childhood memory.
Rambo flip flops. One has to try it before buying because sometimes the strap can be rough on the skin. Image via http://pinoy1990s.tumblr.com/post/8028691945/rambo-tsinelas-isa-sa-pinakamatibay-na-tsinelas
Author’s Note: Zenco Footstep is located along Magsaysay St., just in front of Hollywood store (one of the oldest store in the city proper as well).
Sorsogon City 
Yes, the rubber I wore in high school was Grosby. And I think you forgot to mention Mightykid for the little ones…he he
Hi Gideon300,
Thanks for that. I will include MightyKid, I just remembered it after I read your comment.
Sorsogon City
You also forgot the brand evans..and barbie shoes for little girls..also the main competitor of islander was the rambo slippers..
HI Turz,
Thank you for the additional info. Yes, I remember the Rambo tsinelas – we just loved it when playing tumbang preso! If your Rambo is big and thrown strong enough, the can of Carnation evap can turn into a projectile.
Also, going around some towns in Southern Tagalog, Zenco Footstep is very much alive!
SC
I can not forget what Footstep has done to my memory remembering my skill of running too fast when I was a Kid. During the 80’s my Elementary Days in Colegio DeLa Milagrosa filled me with fun, and has taught me a roller coaster ride hell of an unforgettable childhood memories… and that includes my lightning speed of running whenever a playmate or me has to be chased in the game Kids used to call Agaw Base, hehe.. At first I was too envy to some of my boy classmates I used to play with because they can run like a human machine programmed not to be catched. Until I noticed they were wearing Grosby Soccer Shoes, a kind of shoes with spiked sole. I made up my mind to be one of them by blackmailing my GrandParents at home not to get high grades anymore if they won’t buy me that “Amazing Shoes”. I used to be a consistent Honor Student and that pride didn’t made way for them to frustrate me. It didn’t took long and I just found myself one day with my GrandMa entering FootStep looking to buy that shoes, hehe. Getting too excited wore it on Monday with my mind set to run fast. During break playmates got surprised never expected I could run faster than them, even the crucial act of sudden brakes and acceleration during game they got difficulty of catching me…Thanks to Grosby and the likes, you made my childhood a wonderful experience.
It is true that when We get old, the Magical Moments we can remember when we were kids are not all just fantasies. They were meant to become reality, molded at a young age, because a Store like FootStep that does exist through time has become a big part of the confidence we have and what we are now.
I still remember that Herbrt, saro ako sadto na magin kakaskas mo magdalagan…
Yup, pag naka Grosby ka, mas makaskas an dalagan mo.
Thanks for sharing..
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