Category: Features

Aside from profiling personalities, keepsakes. features places that people need to see and feel.

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Preparations for Anime Idol Convention 2024 Underway

It’s just a few days before the return of the Anime Idol Convention (Also known as AICon)! This year, the event will be held at the Elements at Centris in Quezon City. (Landmark: Walking distance from Quezon Avenue MRT-3 Station).

keepsakes. checked in with the organizers Sei and Pao, and asked how are they preparing for the return of the event that brought the local anime idol fandom together.

Preparations for AICon 2024

Welcome back! How are the preparations for AICon 2024?

Sei: It’s been a while since the last time we had AICON. We’re actually very excited about this comeback. These past few months are busy for us organizers since we’ve been juggling real life stuff with our hobby – events organizing.

Since it’s a comeback, we actually blueprinted a lot of traditions from previous AICONs. Not only we retained most of the iconic parts but we added more twists!

In order to live up to these expectations, there are new things that we implemented here that was already active from our previous events such as the Shikishi cards, more mini games within the event and so much more! We’re already on set. Please look forward to our comeback.

Pao: AICon is back, yay! All is going well indeed and that already makes us excited to take the stage once again. It’s been years since the last AICon and we hope this will yet again be as memorable as it has always been for fellow anime idol fans. As we continue to move up, I hope everyone will keep their eyes peeled on what’s in store for you. 



Upcoming Activities

We notice there are more performers competing this time. What kind of performances should we look forward to?

Pao: That’s right! There’s a variety of performances coming from different anime idol franchises. AICon aims to give everyone a dream-like concert experience and with this year’s line-up, having the classics and the latest dol series today, we are sure that this will be yet again another AIConic one (laughs)

Our performers are doing their best to prepare for and it would be great if everyone could pay close attention to what they will show us.

https://www.facebook.com/AiConPH/posts/pfbid02MBNUF2npza9BhsMdF6CqPniWUD9cNhkNfgDL8nhF3MmCQM3RC18w9HSDbzv9UKKtl?cft[0]=AZXif8XAeO0gIWOMZaGLS2ear1cVFsaymfmZXiRGdDXUVW_EHV2YGn-qkEEROlu6qgxJWJD956qO3LkKigWby8JxMSUXVgqypXzfOWXUn_YE4sTXIuNUO-YVa4rFl3iT4ICEAvOeTctNc72YJHVeWplqotcJ9J-w6LyAeKikmT5BgwooLgQkjmh0OYnBhgpNflTHjiLLH79k6Lc4L5yd1tojl9GLe8phRQ6NrWDNp2NJXg&tn=%2CO%2CP-R

Sei: As posted in our social media channels, there’s a variety of contestants to join this time. We’re happy that a lot of performers want to join this festival. Our hearts flutter every time we were tagged in our performers’ practice posts. They really prepared well for this event so please look forward to their performance! 

https://www.facebook.com/AiConPH/posts/pfbid02uA5xQwTKVf1ppBrECZ8Keh4DyygB5VU3DNYBXJQPadERxLw5JKHkBKibo3wcuAXtl?cft[0]=AZVVN36t2rUw81RC9rvqcso_QhX9WOYYnZ4YP6u5dEzubAXO-2jscguQ1z36ZkxGhFdjYtT0rTVykB_IS8gzZ9hmdGlw9us0iDVFh769OO5Ut4jLCo6MMEgDYUi5Nk9tD1Lf1xEBuCOhFm9RRZE6y9eLqDn08L2psMnQhkdFGr1m-jMu_oLAc1PhDVI3GrJRUCY9Dwk7i12rMaOmNUYNQyCZ8_Bw18k_6BAxgraryCA2Fg&tn=%2CO%2CP-R

What Makes AICon Special?

What drives you to continue organizing AICon?

Pao: before anything, most of the Producers behind Pygmalia are also idol fans. AICon was mainly created to celebrate this love with fellow anime idol fans and enthusiasts. Since our debut, we were touched to see how AICon was loved and anticipated by the anime idol community.

We didn’t expect that this event would create an impact for them to remember as much. This drove us to bring back AICon again to show our appreciation not only to our beloved anime idols, but also for the community. Gusto namin na nakikita kayo na masaya lagi :> (We want to see you happy always).

Sei: Passion and love for idols. As mentioned by Pao, AICON producers are firstly idol fans. We just want more people to join and celebrate with us. AICON 2019 was supposedly a one time event (we were graduating students back then).

But when we saw how magical AICON became not only for us but also to those who attend, we decided to keep the passion and love ongoing. AICON is Pygmalia’s first child before there was even Pygmalia. 

Any message to our readers?

Sei: Thank you so much for supporting AICON. Your support keeps us going. We’re happy to have you with us in our third installation and we hope to have your continued love. Keep the passion burning. See you in AICON!

Pao: Honestly, I already want to thank everyone who is looking forward to it. Anime Idol Convention wouldn’t be possible without your continued support.

Now that the event’s nearing its most awaited comeback, watch out for what AICon has in stock for you from the performances down to the booths and other activities. I hope everyone will feel warmly welcomed to be themselves and say, “I’m home~”. Let’s all have fun together!

Anime Idol Convention 2024 will be held at the Elements at Centris in Quezon City this Saturday, January 27. Tickets are available on-site for Php600. Visit the AICon Facebook page for more details. You can also check out AICon on Twitter/X for the list of art booths and merchants who will be present there.

keepsakes. is a media partner for AICon 2024. | Banner art: Illustration by Anri

Anime Idol Convention Returns January 2024

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Your Favorite VTuber Dances to Budots

Tiktok is an incubator for banger beats such as “You Know I’ll Go Get” which is based on Enrique Iglesias’ “Finally Found You,” or Jason Derulo’s “Savage Love.” We all know it as the home to wacky stuff. Here’s the thing: Does anyone know what they’re really dancing to?

For example, Kizuna Ai danced to budots.

@kizunaai0630

やだあああ！！！！私も踊るうううう！！！！ #tiktokph #foryoupage

♬ bunyi asal – Sis_Phindik – Sis_Phindik

“Kiat Jud Dai” is a track by DJ Red Core posted in 2018. I just wonder why the heck it was not available on Spotify Philippines.

“Sayaw Mga Choy” is another hit budots track. This one’s mixed by DJ Danz.

Budots started in Camus, an area in Davao City. There’s even a Wikipedia entry for this. Below is the video that started this madness:

Just like any other music video made in Hollywood, this one has that sexualized tone, but I can’t help but laugh. I can even just put the music in the background on loop. To them, this is how things started.

The exact track has been used on broadcast TV and even in a political ad (hate to admit, it led to that candidate returning to the Senate just by using the track). Did I forgot to mention the President danced to it too?

I remembered watching a short documentary about it from August 2019. (Here’s the trailer for the docu. Now here’s a feature on that docu.)

Now that you know Budots, it’s time to find any VTuber on Tiktok dancing to the tune. This is a live-blog, and it will stay up.

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Online Shopping Experiences: From Groceries to Non-Food Items Delivery

Long time no post! Prior to the release of Podcast #98 this Friday (I’m sure I’m going to post the show notes here late), I’ve done my online shopping as well, getting my groceries and some non-food items in one sitting.

In fact, due to the virus scare (running for 2 years now), I rarely go out. When I go out of the building, I just make sure I don’t go beyond the 3-kilometer radius. That said, I do my grocery shopping online.

On this post, allow me to share my experiences with different shopping platforms, and I hope these can help you decide which platform suits you best. For the record, I’m a ride away from the middle of EDSA.

The SM Store / SM Markets

SM has a LOT of platforms to choose from, and it can be quite confusing for first-timers. Thankfully, you can still count these services by hand. I’ve experienced ShopSM, Call-to-Deliver (via Viber) and SM Markets.

ShopSM.com

Online Shopping - ShopSM

Of all the SM online shopping services I’ve experienced, ShopSM.com is the one I’m frustrated with. It’s like Lazada dressed as your local department store, and I will never recommend you to use this service if you are in a hurry for something, since the item you need will be routed from ShopSM’s main HQ to the branch nearest you within 2 to 3 days. I will instead recommend you to…

Call-to-Deliver

Online Shopping - SM Store

In a desperate move to secure an item for a get-together last year, I joined the Call-to-Deliver group on Viber, connected with them, and they patched me up with a personal shopper who called me after a while. The item – a coffee maker – was secured in half a day, and that includes them testing the item for you via video call.

What about payments? As with The SM Store, Call-to-Deliver has PayMaya and GCash as payment options. As for deliveries, they will get you a GrabExpress rider to send in your item at your cost. I asked for a gift wrap and they happily included it without a cent.

SM Markets

Grocery Shopping - SM Markets

I mentioned earlier that I’ve just processed my grocery shopping for the week, and I tried SM Markets this time. You can shop as usual, and they will deliver to your place (with a fee) as long as you are within their 5km radius.

I have yet to receive my groceries so I’ll have to update this post soon. The problem is, I forgot the eggs.

Metromart

Grocery Shopping - Metromart

Metromart is good if you need a variety. They are tied to a lot of stores, but I chose to shop at a Robinsons Supermarket near me. No problems on my end so far, it’s just that I need to do my grocery shopping in advance.

PureGo

Grocery Shopping - PureGo

PureGo is a partnership between Puregold and GCash. This is convenient, because (1) I can pay with GCash and (2) they’re included in the GCash app’s GLife section. The best part is, I was able to secure my groceries within the same day, which is important for me as I want to cook Japanese curry.

Here’s the detail: I ordered groceries during lunch, and I got a call during the afternoon confirming my order. They delivered it in a big box hours after, just in time for my dinner curry fix.

Foodpanda and Foodpanda Shops

Food Delivery - Foodpanda

Despite valid criticism, Foodpanda is still a great food delivery option for people who are in a rush. Aside from cooked food, they are also tied to some shops so you can also do grocery shopping there.

The thing is, Foodpanda Shops are different from Foodpanda, which should be fine for all of us, except that I do want to have a single transaction sometimes. To be fair, Foodpanda DOES allow multiple transactions.

GrabExpress and GrabFood

Food Delivery - GrabFood

GrabFood is another great option for food delivery, which works best if you have the super app installed on your phone. They do have a website counterpart, which also serves its purpose. The downside with the website is you have only two options for paying: GrabPay and Cash on Delivery.

Cashless payment is my policy whenever applicable, so I have to transfer cash from my GCash to my GrabPay (and thank goodness I can bookmark my payment details through GCash so I am a few taps away).

If you also compare GrabFood with Foodpanda, most restaurants stick to GrabFood because of its better relations with them. GrabFood retains its user base as they have restaurants exclusive to GrabFood. That’s where I got my sushi, and the wait was worth it. I have yet to try GrabMart though, maybe soon.

I remember one time when I secured a box of Immunpro from a nearby Mercury Drug, I asked the assistance of GrabExpress to bring it to my place since I couldn’t get out of the building at that time. All’s fine and good – and I shouldered the delivery fee, as per standards.

Angkas Pabili

During HoyoFest last year, I ordered a meal set to celebrate the debut of KoMETA Virtual Live‘s talents. Moon Rabbit Cafe, the Philippine host for HoyoFest, recommends that I get someone to deliver the food as this is a custom order. I was thinking, “if I did order via GrabFood, I may not be able to get the HoyoFest freebies because it can be treated as an order from someone who is not a fan.”

Angkas Pabili popped out as an option to me. I already have Angkas on the phone, so I filled in the details. Like GrabExpress, Angkas Pabili will pay first your items then you will pay them back. Make sure you have your cash ready (though I’m not sure if the riders will allow GCash too, since Angkas riders have that app as well; you got to ask them).

Shopee and Lazada

I’ve frequented Shopee and Lazada for God knows how long. Their monthly singles sales (11.11 and so on) get everyone to shop. They started this “retail therapy” madness after all.

Both platforms are good, both have their online Malls, and both of them require you to be wiser in your online shopping by looking at product reviews. Putting your items on sale at Lazada and Shopee are of a different story, but I believe Shopee made it easier for merchants to sell on the platform compared to Lazada.

Lazada has partners with brands such as ToyCon PH (ToyConnection) and Big Bad Wolf Book Sale (a big plus for the book sale itself, which learned lessons from their logistics brouhaha), which I consider as a plus for them.

IKEA

Ikea Website

I’ve visited IKEA just before I entered Cosplay Mini Matsuri last year, and I am so ecstatic to see what a maze it was. You’d rather shop at IKEA physically because they don’t deliver food items. At all.

They only have non-food items there. You also need to order in advance, definitely. The upside is that you can pay via GCash. Well, another good thing about IKEA is that it stands on its own.

Thank you for reading all the way through the end of this post. I hope my experiences set proper expectations for you as you go along your life with limited mobility due to the pandemic. I have been reminded through and through to disinfect goods as much as possible, and I would like to relay that reminder as well to you, my readers, along with the minimum health standards we have to follow. Stay safe, everyone!

Banner Photo by Pickawood on Unsplash, Logos from their respective owners

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NIJISANJI is a Global Trademark

Just before I cap off the day, I’d like to share with everyone that NIJISANJI is recorded in the World Intellectual Property Organization’s Global Brand Database as a worldwide trademark.

Image from the WIPO IP Portal – Click the image to visit the result.

If we look closely, there are classifications under this trademark (called “The International Classification of Goods and Services for the Purposes of the Registration of Marks” or the Nice Classification), which means that anything indicated below that has the NIJISANJI name on it is protected by copyright laws worldwide.

To make this quick, let me cite some examples in which this applies. Code first, then some of the items classified under each code:

  • 09 – animated cartoons; downloadable electronic publications
  • 14 – pocket watches
  • 15 – guitars
  • 16 – stationery, posters, printed matter
  • 18 – backpacks, business card cases, umbrellas, vanity cases sold empty
  • 21 – glasses [receptacles]
  • 24 – towels of textile, pillowcases, bath towels, curtains, bed coverings
  • 25 – clothing, sleep masks, sneakers, t-shirts, traditional Japanese clothing
  • 28 – board games, slot machines, action figures, arcade game machines
  • 30 – tea beverages, coffee beverages, cocoa, bread, sandwiches, chewing gum, rice, instant noodles, chips [cereal products]
  • 35 – (in full) Advertising and publicity services; dissemination of advertising via on-line communications networks; arranging and conducting of fairs and exhibitions for the promotion of goods; providing information concerning commercial sales via on-line communications networks; mediation or conclusion of agreement regarding the sale of character goods; business planning; employment booking services for performing artists; business management consulting; association services, namely, promoting the commercial and business interests of performing artists; marketing research or analysis; talent agency services in the nature of business management of performing artists.
  • 38 – (also in full) Chat room services for social networking; telecommunication services; broadcasting services; news agency services; leasing of communication apparatus and instruments; transmission and distribution of data or audiovisual images via a global computer network or the Internet; transmission, broadcasting and reception of audio, video, still and moving images, text and data.
  • 41 – (in full; bear with me) Language interpreter services; language translation; reference libraries of literature and documentary records; arranging and conducting of movies, shows, plays or musical performances; providing online videos, not downloadable; game services provided online from a computer network; information relating to game services provided online from a computer network; presentation of live show performances; direction of plays; presentation of plays; presentation of musical performances; arranging, conducting and organization of seminars; publishing services; editing of electronic publications; multimedia publishing of electronic publications; providing online electronic publications, not downloadable; cinema presentations; production and distribution of cinema films; production of radio or television programs; production of videotape film in the field of education, culture, entertainment or sports [not for movies or television programs and not for advertising or publicity]; directing of radio and television programs; operation of video and audio equipment for the production of radio and television programs; educational services; providing information about entertainment; entertainment services.
  • 42 – (in full – still breathing, don’t worry) Graphic arts design; providing weather information; design and development of computer hardware; research in the field of computer hardware and software; hosting of digital content on the Internet; design, programming and maintenance of computer software; software as a service [SaaS]; design, creation and maintenance of web sites; technological advice relating to computers, automobiles and industrial machines; providing temporary use of web-based application software.
  • 43 – hotel accommodation services; cafeteria services; providing bar services; providing restaurant services;
  • 45 – licensing of intellectual property; legal administration of licences.

I went full speed with copying the details for Nice classifications 35, 48, 41 and 42 because I believe it’s most appropriate, given NIJISANJI’s offerings as a company engaging in the business of VTubers.

NIJISANJI also has a separate trademark in the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore.

You might be asking, does hololive have an international trademark too? Well, it’s complicated.

First, there’s already a Hololive trademarked in the US, which is for a software used in building/construction. This makes it complicated to COVER Corporation to put forward a global trademark. As far as I see, there’s already trademarks for HoloMyth and its members although it’s in select countries only, such as Canada, Singapore

Meanwhile, in the Philippines, hololive myth and hololive English are registered trademarks.

By the way, this is not the first time I talked about trademarks. I wrote a related piece in 2013.

Banner Photo from NIJISANJI on Twitter / ©︎ANYCOLOR, Inc.

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How to Secure your Discord Account

Over 150 million people use Discord, based on a Quartz report from July (unfortunately, the report’s paywalled). Imagine tapping into that 150 million people, stealing their data and using it for malicious purposes.

Just today, VTuber Kitsui Akira had her Discord account stolen without her noticing. Taking into account that she doesn’t click on anything malicious and all, her account’s still stolen.

In just a matter of mere minutes, you can get logged out of Discord and then have your account stolen. This IS dangerous.

Just how do we secure our Discord accounts?

According to Discord’s Safety page, there are Four Steps to a Super Safe Account:

  1. Secure your account by choosing a secure password and enabling two-factor authentication (I’ll add some extra tips to this at the end of this post).
  2. Set your privacy & safety settings so that Discord an automatically scan and delete every direct message you receive that contain explicit media content.
  3. Follow safe account practices by continuing to not click on suspicious links without knowing it’s safe; by reporting any accounts who claim to be Discord staff to its Trust & Safety Team, and by never giving any account information that can identify you and your account which makes you much prone to socially-engineered theft.
  4. Block other users when needed, especially at the first sight of their phishing DMs.

Nuclear Option: Just don’t let anyone send you anything

Nuclear Option: Just don't let anyone send you anything

As an added bonus for fellow paranoids like me, I am adjusting my privacy settings so that I won’t receive any message from any server ever. I’ve received unsolicited DMs from bots I don’t know, with malicious links on it, which leads me to choose the nuclear option.

I’m also setting my Discord account’s privacy settings to only allow me to add friends. By this, I mean your friends can’t send you friend requests. This will make you more accountable on the Discord friends you add on your list.

Scroll over these privacy settings on your Discord, and if you want to take one step further, just disable all options there.

I suggest keeping these settings for now, especially in these times where rampant coordinated socially-engineered phishing cybercrimes committed by computer crackers are the talk of the town.

Discord can’t do this on their own: It takes two to tango, and as users we are accountable to do our reps ourselves.

Now, if you’re that paranoid and these options don’t work, tell your trusted friends that you will no longer use Discord. I don’t kid you, you’ll probably need another messaging app, as Discord is meant to be IRC on steroids (as described by a Redittor).