Launch of Havaianas Filipinas 2015 brings the ultimate Pinoy throwback

When I look back on my childhood, I can't help but notice all the changes, especially now that we live in the age of digital technology.

 While I think that this is a good thing, sometimes it also makes me want to go back to the good ol’ days, when I don’t need a ton of gadgets to entertain myself. This was exactly what I got when I attended the Havaianas Filipinas 2015 launch last Nov. 25 – a nostalgic throwback!

Bright lovely rustic atmosphere filled the hall as lawn furniture, colorful graffiti walls, and Filipino street food carts were placed around the venue.  Add to that a very cute VW Combi, and I felt like literally being thrown back in time!

Themed Lakbay, Lasap and Laro, in collaboration with contemporary Filipino artists -- letterer Abbey Sy, crafter and designer Alessandra Lanot and digital artist Patrick Cabral -- the event featured tons of exciting activities that every guest enjoyed to the fullest!


And as the first theme by Abbey Sy, Lakbay, would convey it, a VW Combi coupled with street signs,was the perfect set up for that fun, playful and dauntless spirit. After all, what is life without living it adventurously, right? And where else would it be perfect to start than around the wonders of our own motherland?

For the second theme designed by Alessandra Lanot, Lasap, we were given the perfect emblematic experiences - a taste of yummylicious sorbetes sa pandesal, a sip of cool sago gulaman or pandan, and a spoonful of sweet, sweet taho. People my age all enjoyed scouring the streets for a bite of fish ball or banana cue;  waking up in the morning, hearing the vendor calling out "Taho! Taho!" and running out, grabbing the first coins we could find, hoping to catch a taste of this sweet drink; and in the afternoons, patiently (restlessly) waiting for manong sorbetero to ring his bell, hoping he hasn’t ran out of our favorite chocolate, cheese or ube sorbetes. 

The last but definitely not least theme designed by Patrick Cabral, Laro, was inspired by the outdoor games of yesteryears. We'd recall the sounds of fun and laughter as we join other children outside playing tumbang preso, piko, patintero and the classic rock-paper-scissors or in tagalog, bato bato pick. So to bring back the thrill and joy of those days, Havaianas set up the Pinoy games booth, where we tried outdoing each other as we toss our slippers to see who gets the farthest in tumbang preso. 

The Havaianas Filipinas 2015 launch was definitely a throwback thriller for us grown-ups but still very young at heart. It was also an interesting and fun-filled adventure for the younger generations, who are growing up at the peak of the digital age. I mean, even Project Runway mentor Tweetie de Leon-Gonzalez and fitness expert mommy Maricel Pangilinan had a go at tumbang preso while enjoying street food! Lifestyle columnist Tessa Prieto-Valdes along with models LA Aguinaldo, Tola Orendain and Dimitri Tolenaars were all smiles and laughter as well at the Combi van. I just wished my nephews and nieces were there too so they could have experienced what it was like to be their age during my childhood days.

Thank you so much, Havaianas Philippines, for helping my inner child relive the fun and joy of those glory days!

Loooove the 3D effect on this big Havaianas logo by the entrance

Havaianas co-owners Jon Syjuco and Anne Gonzales posing for the camera

Seeing the young artists at work. Really love how they used color pens and watercolors to make such lovely art!

Letterer Abbey Sy beside a big version of her Lakbay flip-flops design for Havaianas Filipinas

Watercolorist Alessandra Lanot smiles sweetly as she poses with a big Havaianas Filipinas flip-flop with her Lasap  design

Digital Artist Patrick Cabral proudly poses with a big Havaianas flip-flop display of his very own design called Laro

Actress Carla Humphries

Sportscaster Janeena Chan

Lifestyle & fitness expert Maricel Laxa Pangilinan

Project Runway mentor Tweetie de Leon-Gonzalez

Model Tola Orendain posing beside the big Laro Havaianas flip-flop

Model Dimitri Tolenaars trying out some of the games in the game booth

It Boy LA Aguinaldo eating delicious ube sorbetes! Yummy!

Singer Kai Honasan has such a lovely voice

Havaianas co-owner Jon Syjuco, The Moment Group founder Abba Napa , lifestyle columnist Tessa Prieto-Valdes & The Moment Group Brand Director Tara Yuchengco Santos

Model Dimitri Tolenaars, fashion editor Donna Cuna-Pita, former model Maribel Steinmann with her son, Sacheen, enjoying some irresistible classic Pinoy snacks and drinks

Me with the ever-so-fashionable Editorial Director Myrza Sison and Fashion Editor Donna Cuna-Pita

Ha ha! I guess I'm having too much fun deciding on what activity to do first to notice the camera aiming at us!

I'm not the only one who loves this authentic light blue VW Combi. Editor Chelo Banal, Alessandra Lanot, Maribel Steinmann, Keren Pascual and Tweetie de Leon-Gonzalez all hopped in with me!

So many Havaianas Fillipinas flip-flops! I hope to get more of these designs soon!