From basketball to skating, and shoe forth and shoe on

MANILA, Philippines - Mall-goers enjoyed an all-day Converse block party. The party, inspired by the Fourth of July block parties in the US, told the story of the iconic Converse shoe brand. The activities included street games, basketball-skateboard-and-dance exhibitions, graffiti art, spray-painting, musical performances, and a raffle for fun and fabulous prizes.

“The Converse block party is a global activity. In fact, Singapore and Vietnam and Australia have already finished their block parties,” says Kit Santos, Converse Philippines marketing manager.

Converse is the very first shoe brand to be synonymous with basketball. Beginning in the 1930s, Converse was the first basketball shoe to land on the basketball court and become the standard issue basketball shoes for professional, college, and high school teams.

Santos notes, “The Converse brand has evolved through the years. From basketball, it became a favorite of skaters. Then, when young people adopted street fashion, Converse became a lifestyle brand. That’s why we are known for offering a variety of styles in many vibrant colors and hip designs. Converse comes out with more than 200 new designs every season.”

Chairman of the (skate)board: A skater has a great time flashing his moves at the open skate session during the Converse event.

Members of various college basketball teams arrived to give exhibition games. These included De LaSalle, San Sebastian, and EAC. There was also a celebrity basketball game featuring Carlos Agassi and other stars. 

Beatbox Philippines, the country’s premier beatbox group, showed off their amazing skills onstage. It was amazing to hear drumbeats, “scratch” sounds, and other electronic, synthesized music produced by their mouths and throats.

Then the Philippine All-Stars electrified the crowd with their cool dance moves that brought hip-hop and street dance to a whole new level. They even gave a hip-hop dance clinic to party participants.

More, visual artists created some cool graffiti and chalk art. There was also a 3D video viewing room, where partygoers watched a 3D presentation of Converse being used by famous skaters.

Popular bands Gloc 9 with Pointblanc and Callalily played later in the evening, a perfect way to cap the event that was shoe much fun.

Converse convert: DJ Sanya Smith gets everyone moving to the beat.