nengkoy’s super comfy nike
It’s been more than a year that I have been searching and researching for an appropriate geriatric shoes that would be most appropriate for Nengkoy, comfort wise and fashion wise. But the search has been very unsuccessful. It is because there are very limited sources and style that the senior populace can choose from.
But last week, this intention has finally been concluded. Not because I found the right geriatric shoes for Nengkoy but because I purchased her the trendiest, most expensive and most comfortable shoes Nengkoy has ever had.
To test its ease, comfort and snugness we let Nengkoy wore the shoes right away upon purchase. The result? It was indeed comfortable since she never complained and was able to tour by walking the whole SM Mall of Asia (one of the biggest malls in Asia).
Talking about SM Mall of Asia, while I was paying for the shoes, it dawned in me that Nengkoy can actually be considered one of the key elements and components in the initial success of taipan Henry Sy, the owner of the SM malls.
sm logo (has the same font of shoeworld)
This is through the initial store of Mr. Sy located along Carriedo and Rizal Avenue called ShoeWorld. Wikipedia does not acknowledge nor name the first shoe store of Sy in Carriedo/Rizal Avenue. I suppose ShoeWorld was the store. The only basis I know and clearly remember is that it’s located in Carriedo and the ShoeWorld’s logo font or lettering is the same as that of the present SM formerly known as ShoeMart. Imagine ShoeMart logo in which the M in inverted as W and the letterings are in the same navy blue shade with white strip in the middle.
I can still clearly remember the classy shoe store especially the red carpet of the stairs that leads the customers to its second and third floor. I can also still remember the hole on the ceiling in which ordered shoes based on size, model and colour as desired by prospective buyers would plunge down as dropped by people mysteriously inside the ceiling.
shoeworld circa early 80’s (left building) before the advent of lrt trains. the only photo of shoeworld available on the net
As I recall, Nengkoy was some sort of like an accredited sales agent for ShoeWorld. Before the advent of gift certificates, credit cards and even the now popular Sodexho certificates, Nengkoy in the early 70’s here in the Philippines was already into this type of system.
She would be issued by the store manager with bundles of ShoeWorld business cards. These are the same cards that Nengkoy would sign at the back and issues to her client. The business card would serve as a voucher that buyers (sent by Nengkoy) can present in the store to purchase their desired shoes. Buyers with the business cards with my mother’s signature at the back need not pay anything when they get to ShoeWorld. Instead, would have to surrender the card to the cashier as their initial form of payment. These clients would then pay Nengkoy the corresponding amount in trickles or instalment basis. Nengkoy in return will have to remit her collections and would in turn get some sales commission.
This simple yet ingenious system, I believe, in some way led to the success of Mr. Sy’s business. Thus, if indeed ShoeWorld was the first SM store, therefore, if I were Henry Sy I would definitely buy Nengkoy the most comfortable shoes ever created!
Though I am no taipan like Henry Sy, I would of course not settle for my mother to feel those foot aches and leg twinges. Thus, I bought her the most comfortable shoes I could find.
Bongga di ba?
Nengkoy 
Nice to know that someone is still familiar with “shoeworld”. The store was owned and operated by my Godmothers family (nope not the Sy’s) Spent many years dining and shopping in that store. Always been amused when my Ninang would tell me to go get what you want. Miss those days.
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Hi! Did Mr. Francisco Chong’s family own ShoeWorld? I read that he put up the first 2 Shoe Marts with Mr Henry Sy the and that they went separate ways when Sy wanted to put up ShoeMart – Makati in 1963. Mr. Sy got the Carriedo branch and the rights to the name ShoeMart, while Mr Chong got the original Shoe Mart store on Rizal Avenue that he renamed ShoeWorld.
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I am not privy to who owned what store. What I remember was Shoe World was the first in Avenida. Then there was Shoe Universe just across Shoe World. The third was Shoe Mart. I think both Shoe Universe and Shoe Mart copied the logo of Shoe World. My Papa used to take us to Avenida and treat us to a movie during the 60s. Used to pass by Avenida during college as well to go to GoodEarth Emporium. And that is why I’m familiar with the logos.
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I was a salesman in the 70’s. My top customers on Rizal Avenue was Shoe World & Shoe Universe both owned by the same family who previously owned a store Tiger Dept Store together with the late Henry Sy of the present SM. In response to an earlier comment yes Mr. Francisco Chong’s family owned ShoeWorld & Shoe Universe. Yes he put up the first 2 Shoe Marts with Mr Henry Sy the and that they went separate ways when Sy wanted to put up ShoeMart – Makati in 1963. Mr. Sy got the Carriedo branch and the rights to the name ShoeMart, while Mr Chong got the original Shoe Mart store on Rizal Avenue that he renamed ShoeWorld. What is not mentioned is that Ayalas first offered Chong to open in Makati. Chong recommended that Ayala ask the late Henry Sy to open in Makati. The rest is history. If anyone wants to know more please feel free to email me gidwanin2003@yahoo.com
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I never knew that Shoe World owner partnered before with Mr. Sy. Although I am very much aware that in the 70s ShoeMart and ShoeWorld are run and owned separately by 2 different individuals.
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(1) Just recently we had some sort of debate in Twitter. There was a post about SM and I recounted my experience in San Juan where I asked a tricycle driver to bring me to ShoeMart (LRT Station). He doesn’t know where ShoeMart is but when I repeated my requested saying SM he immediately recognized the place. I mentioned that how come people are not aware that SM means ShoeMart? Then a netizen replied “because SM means Sy-Mendiola and not ShoeMart as I claimed.
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(2) I was quite surprised with the revelation so I searched and found out that Senen Mendiola became a partner of Sy before. So to satisfy my curiosity I sent message to SM thru it’s FB account to inquire if SM was used in the late 40s and if it referred to the surname initials of Sy and Mendiola. Surprisingly I got immediate response and learned that indeed SM stands for ShoeMart eversince.
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