Philippines

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National Museum in Manila: Imelda Marcos’ Shoes Don’t Shine

museums Galleries Imelda Marcos shoes

Imelda Marcos became known worldwide for her massive shoe collection. She was often used as a symbol of excess in the Philippines, where many residents were forced to walk barefoot due to the extreme level of poverty in nation. The flamboyant first lady’s infamous footwear collection is housed in the National Museum in Manila. The once beautiful and expensive designer shoes have now been ravaged by termites, storm damage, and just overall neglect.

The enormous shoe collection was among the belongings left behind when the former Philippines’ first lady and her dictator spouse were driven from the country by a revolt in 1986.

http://www.inquisitr.com/341699/imelda-marcos-former-philippines-first-ladys-show-collection-ruined-by-neglect/

Photo Source:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2207353/Imelda-Marcos-legendary-3-000-plus-shoe-collection-destroyed-termites-floods-neglect.html

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Weathering the Walk: After a Typhoon

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It is difficult to walk knee deep in debris

Arriving after a super storm, imagining what was, seeing what is left

The littered land, no – the obliterated land

Leveled, uneven, colorless, open-wounded earth

Toppled trees like thousands of arrows released from the sky

Bodies line what might be roads, no one walking

Bodies float as water takes a new course, no one wading

The forecast for Haiyan was serious, the outcome worse

A knock-out punch to the Philippines

In a chapel, bodies wrapped in blankets – feet exposed

A black cross was silent testament to the catastrophe

Survivors screaming to set foot in a makeshift hospital

A child was born in the rubble, new hope

The un-severed umbilical cord of family abroad, a life blood

Thank God for mercy flights

 

Key words rearranged from articles:

http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/gallery/2013/dec/03/typhoon-haiyan-bullit-marquez-in-pictures

http://www.theguardian.com/world/photography-blog/2013/dec/03/bullit-marquez-typhoon-haiyan-philippines

 Photo Source:

https://www.google.com/images?hl=en&q=typhoon+haiyan+bullit+marquez+AP&gbv=2&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ei=WmJcU8SOBM7YyAHj0oHgCA&ved=0CBsQsAQ

 

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“NOTHING Says IT Better Than Shoes”

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Cold Warrior Nikita Khrushchev best captured the pugnacious power of footwear when he slapped his shoe in rage on the table at the United Nations’ New York headquarters during the politically frigid fall of 1960.

It occurred during a debate of a Russian resolution decrying colonialism. A Philippines’ representative charged the Soviets with employing a double standard, pointing to their colonial domination of Eastern Europe. In response, Khrushchev took off one of his shoes and began to furiously pound the table.

The chaotic scene finally ended when General Assembly President Frederick Boland (Ireland) broke his gavel calling the meeting to order. The image of Khrushchev as a hotheaded buffoon was indelibly etched into America’s collective memory.

Khrushchev has been imitated by boardroom bullies ever since.

 

Quoting sources:

http://www.thestar.com/news/2008/12/20/the_greatest_insult_of_all.html

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/nikita-khrushchev-throws-a-tantrum-at-the-united-nations

 

For additional versions of this story, check out:

http://russiapedia.rt.com/on-this-day/october-12/

 

Photo source:

https://www.google.ca/search?q=shoe+tantrum+Khrushchev+United+Nations+images&es_sm=93&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=n6NNU6P0IMWu8AGygoDgDA&ved=0CCgQsAQ&biw=1366&bih=600