ARCHcon 2019, the annual Anime, Role-playing, Comics and Hobbies Convention held last November 16-17 at J Centre Mall Convention Hall gathered thousands of anime, cosplay, role-playing fans and hobbyists for a weekend of activities. On this feature, we will be running down the highlights of this year’s event which has the future-looking theme of “ARCHLight.” Thousands of visitors In line with this year’s theme, ARCHcon took on a different route in handling their entry process, focusing on lessening the use of paper tickets. They have partnered with Symph to implement a ticketing system that uses facial recognition. ...

Drop downs welcome you to the show floor [Photo Handout] Capping off the busy weekend going from place to place, I went to Axon inside Green Sun Makati last November 10 to witness perhaps another first in my life. The Melody Road 2019 Chamber Orchestra Concert Series gathered anime fans young and old for a night of anime nostalgia, playing pieces from the classics such as Howl’s Moving Castle, Digimon, and even Kimi no Na wa. ...

Just last February this year, I went to Cebu for Otakufest 2019. That is my second time to do so - and I learned a lot. This November, I’m about to get back to Cebu - this time to witness ARCHcon 2019 (Anime, Role-Playing Games, Comics and Hobbies Convention). I know I’ve written about the 15th ARCHcon last year, so let me quote what I mentioned before: “What started as an open-to-the-public school activity of the then Sacred Heart School — Jesuit ‘Alternate Hobbies Club’ has grown to cater hobbyists from Cebu and the Visayas region.” ...

Melody Road 2019 is fast approaching. Before we witness their anime feature concert on Sunday (November 10) at Green Sun Makati, I asked this year’s Radical Dreemers ensemble a few questions about their love of music and perhaps their future. (Now, this piece is intended for you readers outside the Philippines - maybe someone, anyone from the west or the northeast parts of the world may be reading this - so I took the liberty to translate some answers.) ...

Seikimatsu Blue, the upcoming movie adaptation of the manga of the same name, is among the headliners of Coslandia 2019. The cast and staff of the film adaptation including MNL48’s Abby, Coleen, Brei, and Kay are present during the said event. This feature covers two press conferences: First is at the media room last Friday, November 01, and the main press conference at the Main stage last Saturday, November 02. ...

The month of November is also a month to explore Japanese culture as Japan Fiesta 2019 will be held on the said month in Taguig City. Japan Fiesta 2019 is a showcase of Japanese culture. This event is recommended to those who plan to visit Japan, eat delicious Japanese food and celebrate the unique Japanese culture. Organized by the Japan Fiesta Council (composed of the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines, Japan National Tourism Organization Manila Office, the Japan Foundation, Manila, the Japanese Association, Manila, Inc. and Primer Media, Inc.), the event is set to be held at SMX Convention Center Aura inside SM Aura Premier on the weekend of November 09-10, 2019. ...

October 20, 2019. It was a sunny Sunday, as hot as the previous Sundays I have outlived with my trusty foldable umbrella. I happen to arrive at the terminal too early. My itinerary says that I need to be there by 4:00 pm for the rayshift. I have three hours to do something as I wait, so I went off to the “nearby duty-free” to get some snacks. Last night was mad as hell. I was in a club that has too many blinking lights and liquor on the side. Dizzying, if I say so myself. I didn’t drink any liquor, just a can of Red Bull that I kept refilling with water afterward. ...

Photo by Brian Durano My first blog post was dated 2007. I remember I was in Grade 6. At that time, Webs.com existed as FreeWebs, and our class section has this online space complete with a chatroom too. If I remember it correctly, the site was seen by the school admin and was advised to be taken down, but I might be wrong on the latter part. At that time, there were no privacy issues. ...

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: ...

I am introduced by my good friend Mykol to the people behind anime and video game concert Melody Road 2019, which will be holding its second run this year at Green Sun Makati this November and December. There are lots of events happening this quarter already, but this one right here is quite different from what we usually experience. Here’s the initial info about the concert and why you should never ever miss this: ...