Tag: Announcements

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Desk Diary: September 10, 2024

blue and red galaxy artwork

For the past few years, this website (as well as its social media handles) has been a witness to various events in the Philippines’ pop culture circuit. Most of you have seen me advocate for several events like the World Cosplay Summit or the local idol culture.

I have now reached a point where my energy and resources can no longer compensate for going to several places in a single day. I’ve spent my life in the events industry so much that I built and broke bridges.

My birthday is almost approaching, and I figured to myself what’s my purpose now that I have practically left the events industry, the same field I wish I could have served (and sometimes fought for) longer than just 7 or 8 years being employed.

To be clear with you, I have been gathering myself as I live my life outside Manila, outside the dreaded traffic, and the stresses of not being able to enjoy the life I used to do so for as long as I have been employed.

I am no longer enjoying sharing about my thoughts on the internet, the same way I used to a decade ago. I stopped blogging, I started tweeting (and retweeting) too much, I hurriedly distance myself from anyone with a bad reputation, I was not enjoying my life and my satisfaction felt nowhere.

I’m not sure what to do with keepsakes. nowadays because you’ll either see me do stuff for VTuber NewsDrop or just upload photos on a Facebook album.

I talked to myself if I should really let go of the things I used to love, but in order for change to happen, I should be more firm with my resolve. I’ll still be here or on NewsDrop, but for real, I am setting up to retire the keepsakes. brand in the future.

That said, here’s an announcement:

ANNOUNCEMENT

Thank you for your continued trust and support of keepsakes.

Preparations are being put in place to reorganize keepsakes., including but not limited to:

  1. Suspension of video production. There are several videos lined up to be posted early this year but are already overdue, due to internal factors. Once these videos are posted, video production will be suspended indefinitely.

  2. Reorganization of social media assets. All social media assets under the name of keepsakes. will be rebranded under the name “Jay Agonoy” effective this week. keepsakes.‘ Facebook page has became a repository of photos from past events, and will remain as such.

  3. Sunsetting of the jayagonoy.xyz domain. After 8 fruitful years, the domain jayagonoy.xyz will no longer be renewed after October 28, 2024. Efforts were done to redirect the website to its current domain, jayagonoy.com.

All inquiries regarding this announcement should be directed to the email address hello [at] jayagonoy [dot] com.

We thank you for your kind support and understanding of our future endeavors.

09 September 2024

Jay Agonoy

I did expect to write a black-text-on-a-white-background letter, but I don’t want to be so dramatic to cut off everything out of sight. What an announcement, however. If you find this update confusing, don’t worry, I’m not ok and I hope to be ok soon.

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Cosmic Con 2019 Cosplay Panel on October 19

I have been interested in going to Cosmic Con at Alabang, but this time I have to get there for real.

Cosmic Con 2019 will be held on the weekend of October 19-20, 2019 at Ayala Malls South Park in Muntinlupa City. Alongside a lot of activities that are going to be held in it is this Cosplay Panel that I am invited to moderate.

https://www.facebook.com/cosmicconph/photos/a.1453419571554022/2533303040232331/

Cosmic Con 2019 Panel Discussion: Cosplay and its Effects

The topic I am about to moderate is quite complex – “Cosplay and its Effects.” Ok, let me read the description first:

What is the contribution of cosplay to the individual? Is cosplay really a good hobby? Join our guests as they tackle more about the personal effects of Cosplay.

Ok, I take my words back, this is quite a discussion worth talking about.

Unlike my past panel at POF 2019 where my gust panelists are locals, the panel I will be having is quite international.

  • Prior to cosplaying, Sheow Bai is in the US military for 24 years. One look at his Facebook and all I can see are photos of him as various Star Trek characters.
  • Coming from Vietnam, Hanabi will be in the country for the first time. She’s currently into Azur Lane cosplays at the moment.
  • Representing the Philippines is arkadymac’s Jane Yu, whom I’ve met alongside Sir Mack. She’s also a model for clothing brands T-Tees and Perry in Disguise. She’s also invited as a judge for events like Otaku Expo Reload 2019, and Misaki Con.

The panel discussion is set on Saturday, October 19, 2019 from 6:20 pm to 7:00 pm. That’s 40 minutes of cosplay talk.

I will also be taking photos and do my best to document the whole panel as the event’s media partner, which is set to be posted on YouTube and Facebook.

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Welcome to keepsakes. 2.0!

It’s a dawn of a new era.

keepsakes. has been running for years on its old platform because I felt that I’m not looking forward to scaling up. This solo project has been an archive to many events in and out of the country.

I’ve made friends all over the place, if I say so myself.

My decision to move to a new platform (actually, this is the platform that I’ve gotten used to before) is because I felt Medium is not being developed well. Aside from wanting to jump to mobile-first platforms such as AMP and Instant Articles, I do want to participate in their partner program.

The thing is they use Stripe for payments – and Stripe is not available yet in the country. I gave it a long thought, and decided that I’ll be the one to adjust.

After building the framework, alongside many nights migrating the posts under my repository, keepsakes 2.0 is launched on a Saturday night of September 21. I never thought I’ll be able to import the posts successfully into the new platform, but here we are.

Like any other birth, it has its pains. keepsakes 2.0 still has a lot to sort out, but we’ll get there eventually. For now, I’ll commit myself to sharing more stuff as we make this space sustainable in the long run.

I’d like to give my deepest appreciation to Pat (DV1YDT) for the assistance in building keepsakes 2.0 despite his busy schedule. Also, thank you for taking your time reading this post. Salamat po!

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The year 2019 is just starting, and yet…

I got a lot of content being churned out on YouTube and Anchor. Here’s some of it:

I’ve just had a podcast with JM Melegrito of Anime Pilipinas last week, and now we proceed to Cebu’s Gary Montejo. Next week will be Serena from The Lily Cat — and following that is a feature on the country’s first Anime Idol Convention held last January 13.

A lot has been going on, and I just got used to churning on podcasts sporadically, so you’d better subscribe to the podcast: http://anchor.fm/keepsakes.

https://www.facebook.com/keepsakesbyjay/videos/2239906029624485/

Speaking of Anime Idol Convention, you can watch the highlights first on Facebook.

If you noticed, I just bought an external mic so I don’t look like I’m shouting at ya guys on video. If not for my mom who always tell me that I’m loud, I’d not buy this.

The thing is, I’ve got the opportunity to buy this just in time for AICon, so yeah, great news for me. Even Tanchikon congratulated me for having an external mic.

I will be releasing a video featuring the Gala Night of PPOP Generation: Boom Ganda!, which was held at its home turf Teatrino Greenhills San Juan last January 08.

I’ll just need more time to edit this because I’m really sure that how they answered it may have triggered my fancy. Just you wait, guys — I’m going to tell you why this group is a challenge to MNL48 without me saying a word.

That’s all it for now, guys. Cheers!

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I’m off to yet another busy weekend

Photo of yours truly at Taal Vista Hotel, taken April 21, 2018. Y me so serious? Ang init eh.

…as you read this post, expect me doing more stuff that I can handle. Or sleeping because these activities are exhausting.

Here in this space, I try to write as much as I can. Before I proceed to give you my preparations for the upcoming weekend at #NICE2018 in Davao, I have to let this off my chest first.

Rotary’s public image

I’ve just got home from yet another Rotary-related activity, the District Training Assembly (Distas), in which I am expected to put more work to the Rotary than ever, especially in terms of Public Image.

To most people, the Rotary is an organization of rich guys lavishing through social events. By the next Rotary Year (annually starts on July 1), our District is expecting less on those selfies from social events and more action photos from each club’s projects. This is part of the implementation of the “People of Action” campaign of Rotary International.

An aside: I try to be calm as I share stories, but I’d like to give exception: What these people see when the name “Rotary” is mentioned speaks true to me, and this has to stop or else I will leave.

This message was amplified during the breakout session and ending talk at the Distas, where our seniors and trainers are basically saying this:

We need to share our Rotary stories to everyone so that they can get interested in joining the Rotary — a century-old civic organization — and participate in worthy projects.

There’s more to this, but I have to get a hold of myself. Really.

Initially, I was not interested in the Rotary anymore and am just a few moments away from leaving it so I can focus on doing what makes me happy the most, but I think I shall let this Rotary year pass through. I got optimistic. Maybe this year will work.

For the unfamiliar, I’m a Rotarian from District 3800 which is covering the cities of Pasig, Marikina, San Juan, Mandaluyong, Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela, the town of Pateros and the Province of Rizal.

The notes that I addressed above, by the standard of communication, shouldn’t be the ones I’d be saying, but I did do in order to give you a peek on what’s inside the organization.

On the other hand, I was supposed to be finishing backlogs now but then again I’ll have no time to write this post. It has come to my mind that of all three things that I do, I may have to sacrifice one thing or another, which is a difficult decision for me.

Taking from the lessons of the past, I cannot bit what I cannot chew. If this streak of business continues, soon enough, you’ll be speaking to me normally and I’d be like “Ok, ok, noted. Kindly wait a moment, I’ll just rush something. May I ask what are we talking about again?”

There will be a time when I should say NO, but I shall leave that for another story.

Preparation for #keepsakesDVO2018

By the time you read this post, I’ll be busy once more as I will manage activity after activity. This Thursday, I shall be managing some of the technicalities for a press launch in Manila. The next day, I’ll be somewhere in Makati again to do the same thing but this time for our in-house workshop.

You know I’ve posted less and less and less here, and I am expected to post less and less and less (maybe once or twice a month unless there is an important event that I need to excitedly share to you — like #NICE2018 and the World Cosplay Summit Philippines National Finals).

The things you do for work.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BheDkYmAQkV

Broadcast

Now for the preparations — I promise to be live on Facebook on Saturday, April 28 at 11:00am to kick off this weekend’s coverage. I’ve been tinkering with the OBS to deliver the basics, and do expect that you will hear clicks as I go through this will be a one-man production.

https://www.facebook.com/keepsakesbyjay/videos/786905458186269/?t=0

Luggage

I’m also thinking twice — thrice, or even four times — what to bring in my luggage for the whole three-day ordeal. This will include the clothes that I will be donning during the Cosplay Ball which was rescheduled to Sunday April 29.

I only have an initial 7kg baggage allowance, and judging from my experience bringing my luggage earlier to Tagaytay, I will probably exceed that limit. I guess I need to extend my baggage allowance to 15kg just to make sure.

Unless I actually weigh my luggage bag to really see how heavy it is.

Itinerary

Aside from the 11am schedule, I shall be roaming around the area to take videos for the live broadcasts and YouTube as well as record audio for the podcast segments, the typical content creator stuff.

In addition, I am confirming if there will be a Fate/ photoshoot so I can meet my online friend who also dons Jack the Ripper (hoeeeee) and mingle with Davao’s cosplay community.

Again, this Tagala wants to know how things go in the DVO. I’m pretty much aware that the italicized term can be something else, but after visiting Cebu and Davao once, I’m happy to be in these two places again — especially Davao, I missed it (especially the pigeons of Rizal Park).

My itinerary goes something like this:

  • Check in at the airport.
  • Arrive to destination.
  • Do ya thing.
  • Go to the inn where I reserved my stay.
  • Wake up.
  • Go to church.
  • Do ya thing again.
  • Finish other things and meet other friends.
  • Go to the airport back to Manila.
  • Make the post-event video for YouTube.

That’s what’s up for me this week, and I’ve been saying this again ang again — I hope to see you at #NICE2018. (keepsakes. is a media partner)