Jose has spent 17 years designing and manufacturing sandals and slippers.
He grew up in the province, tucked away from the big city. It was a place that planted a surreal life in the mind of Jose. Where the mangosteen tree was the favorite hangout after school, where long summers were spent collecting sap from the balete to make rubber balls, where slippers were worn only to walk home after playing barefoot on the soft grass.
Jose played, fished, swam and explored on horseback... soaking in visions of clear skies, open fields, crystal springs and beautiful sunsets. This began his passion for life in the outdoors.
Learning the skills of the outdoorsman in school through the university club in the Philippines, Jose immersed himself in a life surrounded by nature, falling in love with the beaches and mountains south of Manila. With this constant exposure to the roughness of terrain came a desire to be in comfort, if only to enjoy nature a little better.
And the thing that needed the most comfort were tired feet.
So it came to be that Jose turned to designing comfortable slippers, sandals and footwear, all built to withstand the tests of nature. The first few pairs were for friends, that they too could see ease into comfort and enjoy the view.
The products were initially for resting at the campsite, short river treks, walking over sharp reef and protecting soft water logged feet from scratches and bruises.
The designs carried the label MOJO. MOJO stood for flow, vibe, love and passion when it first came out in 1991. In 3 years of business, it attained the generic name for outdoor sandals. Today, it is now a brand of footwear not just for the outdoorsman, but for every individual who seeks comfort for their sole.
Tired feet walking the mall and concrete jungle, stressed foot arches from athletic exploits, or endless hours of playing tag barefoot... at the end of the day we all have to give our feet a break, and head home comfortable slippers.
The inspiration though will always be there; cool crisp mountain air, an open ocean, rolling waves, good view. And the invitation is constant, not just to see it, but to be a part of it... resting on a good pair of MOJO sandals.