The Merrell Proterra Sport offers itself as a 'minimalist hiking shoe' and what I immediately noticed was that it was very light, and very comfortable -- to a point that you would feel that it is a bit big for the size. It doesn't require any break-in, and you can really use straight off the box.
In terms of sturdiness in rocky surfaces, it performs well enough but I am not sure how it will stand up to a lengthy trail full of rocks such as that of Mt. Tapulao. I have a feeling that the fact that it is not Vibram will start to be felt if you're planning to use it for major climbs. But if you are just going for a regular hike, I think this is an excellent choice. As for traction, I didn't have problems with the Proterra.
Lightweight shoes do away with waterproofing to make the shoes lighter, and for low-cut shoes, you're gonna get wet anyway after a while since the water will seep in. For the Philippines, a non-waterproof shoe is okay since it allows you to cross rivers without worrying that you're shoes will get wet - provided that the shoe dries quickly. The only drawback for the Proterra is that the mesh easily gets wet and it feels wet when it's wet and slushy - unlike the Waterpro series of Merrell,the materials of which do not absorb water.
But overall it is a nice shoe and I will use it again for the dayhikes that I'm beginning to miss. I think the move towards minimalist footwear is a welcome development and I look forward to more Proterras in the future.