But first, a Sidenote: I am yet to return from blogging like I used to do, given that I am more focused on VTuber NewsDrop and fixing my life altogether.
I swear to myself one day that alongside the transition of keepsakes. to its new permanent domain, I will re-haul this website to make it relevant for me and for you, readers.
Until I learn how to write for the Googlebot and AI-infested search engines, I will resist succumbing to SEO. That said, please allow me to write this post with a local (and very playful) touch.
So, 21 years na ang Philippine TOYCON. Yung mga nasa Coscomm ng Matatanda (I love you three times a day), for sure nadaanan na ang TOYCON.
Dati rati kilala ang TOYCON as a toy market, pero ngayon it’s more than that: I have never imagined a time where art toys would be a potential hit, so when that idea hit TOYCON (thanks to the collectors who made toys their cherished investment for their financial and emotional well-being), iyon ang isa sa naging focus points ng event.
Don’t get me wrong, may mga collectors pa rin na gusto magdagdag sa kanilang collection and they scramble at TOYCON to hopefully find another piece to add to their toy shrine.
Sina Totoy at Ineng na nahilig sa Lego, figures/figurines, and other pop culture merch, they can start collecting by getting stuff and inspiration mula sa mga Totoy at Ineng of decades past sa TOYCON.
In short, the TOYCON we have today is more than just a toy bargain market or a weekend Greenhills-out-of-Greenhills toy bilihan. Hindi pa nga nabubuo ang Secret Fresh gallery, may TOYCON na. This to me is why TOYCON is still a major force to be reckoned with, 2 decades after.
As the Philippine TOYCON grows, so is its ambitions, so they made their statement: This is “Where Asia comes to Play,” inviting not just toy collectors from the whole Philippines or ASEAN region, but also their neighboring Asian countries. (Meron nga rin na TOYCON sa UK pero iba naman ang organizer doon. We shall focus on the Philippine TOYCON.)
Saan at Kailan ang TOYCON 2024?
- Date/s: June 14 to 16, 2024 (Friday to Sunday, kasabay ng Father’s Day weekend)
- Location: Main Event – Ground Floor, SMX Convention Center Manila, Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City
- Extended Activities at TOYCON Playgrounds to be held at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall
- Schedule of Activities to be released soon via the Philippine TOYCON Facebook page
Bakit ka pupunta ng TOYCON?
- Toy Collector ka at gusto mo magdagdag ng bago sa collection mo (or gusto mo makakita ng bago at up-to-date na laruan)
- Gusto mo in ka sa latest and exclusive toy releases na makikita mo lang sa TOYCON
- Wish mo makita yung lodi mo na toy artist na sa TOYCON lang nag-aappear
- Hilig mo maglaro ng Tabletop RPGs at naghahanap ka ng new ideas para sa campaigns mo
- Solid Kapuso ka at nabalitaan mo na may mga darating na artista
- Voltes V fan ka at na-miss mo yung malaking Voltes V setup at TOYCON years ago
- Fan ka ng Fildub (ako din hehe, ang ganda ng Fildub especially these days)
- Japanese Idol fan ka at nagkaroon ka ng FOMO kasi ang daming nainvite na performers straight from Japan last year
- Cosplayer ka at may ka-eyeball ka sa TOYCON (only Coscomm ng Matatanda knows) or ikaw yung tipo ng cosplayer na nanghihina kapag hindi nakakapag-cosplay every month
So ano ba meron sa TOYCON this year?
- May bagong ilalabas si MindSTYLE (now MNDSTYL kasi di ko alam kung bakit tinanggal nila ang vowels) at yung gumagawa ng Funko Pops (shoutout sa mga Funko Funatics, sila ang mostly mga tito at tita nabudol ng kapwa magcollect ng figures, peace po ✌️)
- Si Quiccs may bagong pakulo kasama si Jollibee (at hindi na ako magugulat kung magiging matinik sa brand licensing si Jollibee in the future, daming ganap ng bubuyog eh)
- Exclusive toys from Solid Toys, RLux Custom, Armored Komodo, Devil Toys, Omo Collectibles, and 50 other designer toy artists (‘di ba yung Armored Komodo may sariling toy paint brand yun na patok?)
- New toy releases from Hot Toys, Jada, Bandai, Funko, Toy City and more
- Artist appearances from GMA Network in line with the station’s 74th anniversary, as well as a 20-foot reveal of Telesuccess Productions’ Voltes V Legacy display
- Freddy Funko’s Sari Sari Store from Funko Funatics Philippines
- International artist appearances and performances:
- (From Ambox Events) BUGVEL, Chicken Blow the Idol, Kuroguro, idol and voice actress Ai Negishi (D4DJ’s Merm4id!!!)
- (From MNDSTYL FanX) Jpop singer-songwriter krage (feeling ko this is read as ku-ra-ge) and Kpop boy group n.SSign (ensign?)
- Local performances: Davao’s very own Pastel Mix, Day Night Explorers, girl groups G22 and Female Alphas, (from Calico Toys) I Belong to the Zoo
- Upcoming movies: Alien vs Predator: Romulus, A Quote Place: Day One, Deadpool and Wolverine (!), Friendly Fire, Horizon: An American Saga, Inside Out 2, Transformers One
- Cosplay Competition: TOYCON’s Cosplay KO Competition
- (Also from CaliCo Toys) Meet and greet with local voice actors Nica Rojo (!), Elle Genovata, Alain Alfred and Blair Arellano (!)
- Toy Gallery na may 100 toy collector displays na pwedeng picturan (no touch, wala kang choice, naka-kordon at glass display yan)
- Kawayan Light Saber from Saber Source
- Interactive Workshops and Panel Discussions with toy industry experts, designers, marketers, etc.
Juskolord pag wala ka pa sa TOYCON after all of this, di ko na alam kung ano gagawin ko sayo 🙂 The Philippine TOYCON is the place to be for toys, collectibles, and pop culture in the country. So ano, G na?
How to Buy TOYCON 2024 Tickets
Tickets are available at SM Tickets online, onsite at select SM Stores or SM Cinema outlets, or at the event gates for 540 pesos a day (exclusive of ticket fees).
Praktikal tips lang mula sa taong matagal na nagto-TOYCON and also as a team helper:
- Bibili ka sa SM Tickets in advance para less time sa pila at may pang-print ka ng sarili mong ticket or kaya mo pumunta sa SM Tickets outlets, kasi since the past few TOYCONs may separate express lane for SM Tickets holders where they scan the ticket’s QR code.
- Pero kung gusto mo makatipid, pwede rin bumili ka on the event days para walang tanong-tanong (ang ticketing counter ay cash basis only, wag n’yo po sila paghanapin ng GCash or barya).
- KIDS PASS: Php200 only. Parents, please get this on-site. Kung ayaw nyo malito as a family going to TOYCON, I suggest you to buy all of your tickets on-site at the event days.
- Senior Citizen and PWD Discount also offered, please prepare your IDs and keep it with you at all times.
- Toddlers 3ft below can enter for free (syempre kelangan kasama ng guardian, hindi po totoo si Boss Baby na pwede pumasok mag-isa)
Ang daming sumusuportang sponsors sa Philippine TOYCON, including (teka i-copy-paste ko mula sa press release) Jollibee, Great Toys Online, Talent High, Urdu, XURE, College of St. Benilde, Solid Toys, PUBG Mobile, Filbars, Devil Toys, CO The Collectible Store, CaliCo Toys, Bullyboys, Hubbyte, Grimalkin, JADA, RLux Customs, OMO Toys, Courtside, Toki, Funtastick, Clay Miniatures, Armored Komodo, The GMA Store, Imageworld, Tiktok Shop, Legendary Beast Studios, Oishi, Telesuccess, Paramount Pictures, Walt Disney Studios, Parallax/Saga Studios and Black Cap Pictures.
Wait ka lang di pa tapos yan, may mga partners rin sila like Baguio Country Club, Mana Underground, Ambox National, Telesuccess Productions, United Neon, Devant, Quiccs, The Jakarta Toys and Comics Fair, IPMS, Exlink Events, Anime Alliance, the Philippine Toy Group Association, (official residence partner) SEDA Manila, (media partners) Inquirer.net, POP!, Scout, Cebu Daily News, Esports INQ, and Be An Inquirer.
“Jay, ginawa mo namang mga tito at tita ang mga pumupunta sa TOYCON.”
“Aba eh, bakit, tito rin naman ako, may pamangkin din ako, huy.“
“Tapos yung sa ticketing, pano mo nasabe yan?”
“Eh kitakits na lang sa TOYCON, ganun.”
(Photos from Philippine TOYCON)