There are few things that I cannot understand about today's generation. Nope, Im not a septuagenarian. Im just on my late 20s. Despite the age, Im still transparent to all manners of change in music, movies, fashion, etc. But what I will never get used to -- when ordinary things get overglamorized.
Take for instance, Pinoy's fixation to expensive flip flops. Afew years back, it just goes by the name "tsinelas." Now, people call it "flip flops" obviously for the sosi undertone. Yes, the very tsinelas that we are accustomed in wearing just at home has now been glamorized.
Much like Starbucks is to coffee, the distributors of these high priced Brazilian sandals are indeed smart knowing that they have a big market in our third world country.They know that people here whatever the social status is will shed out 1000-2000 bucks for a mere tsinelas as long as it is branded with the names Havaianas, Ipanema or Crocs.
I remember back in the days growing up during the 90s, flip-flops is just equivalent to the P30/pair of Spartan. Pinakamahal na nun yung Islander at P100. These brands can withstand years of torture of smashing cockroaches, spanking little rascals, or playing street baskeball. Tsinelas is basically worn at home and wouldnt extend beyond the vicinity of one's subdivision.
Nowadays, there is so much glamor put into the tsinelas. The once simple footwear is now a fashion statement.
The fad of overglamorizing ordinary things started with the coffee. Gone are the days when we used to enjoy drinking it from the old Nescafe glass laden with diamond designs. Now, mahirap, middle class o mayaman, it has to be Starbucks.
For the tsinelas, gone are the days when people wear them in public just because of a sugat sa paa. Now, people wear tsinelas at the malls or at schools, not for the sake of comfort, but because it has the Havaianas brand embosed on them.
