Toycon Philippines 2015: Witness the Evolution of the Biggest Pop Culture

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The only reason why I go to McDonald's was because of the toys that come with every Happy Meal. I believe the fast-food is better off becoming a toy store so there will be a lot more happy people than obese.

Do you want to know why similar fast-foods became popular with the kids? It is because they designed their marketing strategies with the kids in mind. Those colorful mascots and equally vibrant interiors were specifically made to attract a child's imagination.

Take away all of those "kids  stuff" and their burgers won't sell.

Young or old, the fascination (or obsession and addiction) with toys as a pleasing eye-candy, a collectible, as a bragging rights trophy, or any other nerdy or geeky reason, will remain in everyone's heart.

What I really don't like (but always tempted to see) is to couple this fascination with lust for the opposite sex. The raging libido of young boys and men, who are the majority audience of toys, is a weakness that every creative outfit targets may it be online content, games, comics, magazines, film, or radio.

Admittedly, sex sells. This is why it will also remain as another motivating factor when selling the more adult-oriented toys. But it also seems the line is quickly thinning.

But at a toy convention or expo, I believe it is improper and inappropriate to put the two elements together especially when you allow all ages to attend.

I would hate jading the thoughts of my young kids and exposing them to the "toys for the big boys" at a very early age.

They don't need the images of those babes with big boobs and kinky body-fitting outfits yet. They are too young to understand those sacred complexities that most youth are now giving less concern due to some liberal minds that couldn't control their thirst for obscenity.

Arguing what obscenity is - that's another topic that should be discussed separately. Just as how cosplay is "favoritely" dominated by young ladies with costumes already baring some skin and body contours.

Don't get me wrong, I love cosplayers like Alodia Gosiengfiao and Myrtle Sarrosa, but their beauties should be reserved for the older youth when they portray characters full of sexuality.

Die-hard fans will never understand me until they see their kids doing the naughty stuff.

Just as everything else, the world of toys has evolved into something different. Did it just adapt to what society clamored, or is it unique on its own?

If the parents really want to understand, go check out the latest Toycon happening soon. You'll be seeing many of what I just stated here, and I will let you judge on your own. My only advice is not to bring your kids to these kind of conventions until they reach the age of n-teen.

Program of Activities

Day 1 - June 19, 2015, FRIDAY

10:00am - Gate opens
10:30am - Toycon stage screenings
11:30am - Bruder Toys
12:00nn - IFLIX
12:30pm - World of DC Comics trivia game
1:00pm - Toycon stage screenings
1:30pm - Project Materia band performance
2:00pm - Gaming Library live boardgame - Daybreak
2:30pm - Dreamsicle band performance
3:00pm- Toycon featurette
3:30pm - Famous Superheroes Battle Trivia Game with Flipgeeks
4:00pm - Midnight Channel
4:30pm - Coke Collectors Club Philippines panel talk
4:40pm - Coke Induction Ceremony
5:00pm - Toycon Pop Quiz Night Round 1
6:30pm - Vanishing Blue band performance
7:00pm - IFLIX
7:30pm - Jojo Bizarres toy group panel talk
8:00pm - Toycon Pop Quiz Night Round 2
10:00pm - Day 1 end


Day 2 - June 20, 2015, SATURDAY

10:00am - Gate opens
11:00am - Ribbon cutting ceremony
11:20am - Star Wars group and Philippne 501st
11:45am - Meet Elrick Jundis, Star Wars episode 2 Jedi actor
12:00nn - Toycon screenings
12:15pm - Panel talk with Malaysian toy designer Luk Chee Chew
12:30pm - Sphero product feature
12:45pm - Enchanted PH cosplay meet and greet
12:45pm - IFLIX
1:00pm - Panel talk: Toy collecting 101 with toy groups
1:30pm - Panel talk: The new Golden Age of Comics with Komikon, Flipgeeks and Whats a geek
1:45pm - Disney XD - Guardians of the Galaxy animated series
2:00pm - Timelight Panorama band performance
2:15pm - Doraemon and friends
2:30pm - Panel talk: Jun Sabayton and cast of Tanods web series
3:00pm - Panel talk: Gaming segment with Reimaru Files
3:15pm - Minions live!
3:30pm - Midnight Meetings band performance
3:45pm - Authority Hoodie fashion show
4:00pm - Alodia Gosiengfiao meet and greet
4:00pm - Toycon Cosplay Universe solo category
5:00pm - Valley of Chrome band performance
5:15pm - IFLIX
5:30pm - Panel talk: Marvel Comics and cinematic world
5:45pm - Feature: Antman and Guardians of the Galaxy animated
6:00pm - Minions Live!
6:30pm - Verbacoma band performance
7:00pm - Announcement of all contest winners for day 2
8:00pm - Video game challenge
9:00pm - The Grand Raffle / prize: Man of steel statue from Maxicollector
10:00pm - Last minute shopping

Day 3 - June 21, 2015, SUNDAY

10:00am - Gate opens
11:00am - Toycon screenings
11:30am - Toycon fan films
12:00pm - Famous Superheroes Battle Trivia
12:30pm - Shinkan band performance
12:45pm - Gaming Library - Word on the Street
1:15pm - Borealis dance group
1:45pm - Panel talk: Star wars The Fans Awaken
2:00pm - Panel Talk: Marvel Comics by Whats a Geek and Flipgeeks
2:15pm - Guardians of the Galaaxy Animated series
2:30pm - World of DC panel talk
2:45pm - V Project dance group
3:00pm - Authority Hoodie Fashion show
3:30pm - Doraemon and Friends
3:45pm - Midnight Channel  band performance
4:00pm - Toycon Cosplay Universe Group category
5:00pm - Surface Intensions band performance
5:30pm - Autoletic band performance
6:00pm - IFLIX
6:30pm - Jeepney Joyride band performance
7:00pm - Asterysk band performance
7:30pm - Philippine Wrestling Revolution
7:45pm - Announcement of all contest winners
8:00pm - Video game battle
9:00pm - Grand Raffle
10:00pm - Toycon ends, see you all in Toycon 2016


Below is their official press release:


Toycon Philippines 2015: The Country’s biggest pop-culture event celebrates its 14th Year with Battlefields of Play
Those of us who grew up in... the pre-social media era or even the pre-electronic gaming age remember a time when “Play” was associated with the outdoors. We fondly remember halcyon days of setting up toy soldiers in the hilly terrain of our own backyard or lining up our Star Wars action figures to go into battle with our He-Man toys in the wonderland of our childhood bedroom.

 Those were the days, when our imagination knew no limits and the fantasy characters of comics, cartoons and movies were our genuine playmates; ready to defend and protect us, by the Power of Greyskull or by the all-encompassing Force, forging into battle with the evil hordes of Cobra, the Legion of Doom or armies of Decepticons.

We never knew it, but our childhood was fraught with glory in our Battlefields of Play. And this is what we celebrate once again, as a clarion call sounds to dust off our toys and wage war once again with glee and joy in our hearts.

The Philippine TOYCON, Asia’s biggest and longest running convention for toys, anime, comics, cosplay, gaming and anything and everything related to hobbies and collections is now on its 14th year of thrilling fans and aficionados alike. It is, simply put, the biggest pop culture event in the country.

This year’s TOYCON highlights the World of DC Comics with its colorful characters upholding justice with a grand exhibit from Pacific Licensing. Also get a chance to own cool licensed DC Hoodies from the Authority Hoodie.

Southeast Asia’s leading Internet TV service launches in the Philippines, as IFLIX explodes into the pop-culture landscape of the country during the Philippine ToyCon, with unlimited access to its line-up of the most awesome and iconic movies and TV series. With trial memberships now open, everyone is free to explore and enjoy the vast range of content on www.iflix.com

Walt Disney Pictures brings in the wonder of Star Wars with its new line of merchandise from the original film saga and the new Star Wars Rebels series. And also, get into the world of the smallest superhero with Marvel’s Antman interactive exhibit.
Also catch future and fantasy fever as Universal Pictures’ Terminator: Genisys and Jurassic World launches in ToyCon with an eye-popping display of the movie’s cinematic artwork and line of collectors’ toys.

Other movie highlights are the upcoming live-action Attack on Titan from Pioneer Films and Doraemon: Stand By Me the Movie in 3D. Catch Doraemon and friends live at the ToyCon stage!
The TOYCON also gives you its biggest battlefield of toys with exhibits from the local toy clubs:
Pinoy Lego users Group exhibit, Planet Krypton, Funko Funatic Philippines, the Coca-Cola Collectibles exhibit, One Sixth Republic and Pinoy Sixth Scale collectors exhibit and the awesome Toycon Gallery exhibit area which showcases the best of the local toy group community.

The TOYCON also features the biggest in Cosplay with the TOYCON’s own Cosplay Universe unleashing a barrage of individual and group cosplayers led by Asia’s Cosplay queen, Alodia Gosiengfiao. Also catch the Star Wars 501st Philippine Outpost parade its new troopers and droids from a galaxy far, far away.

Revel in opening night festivities with a series of ToyCon Pop Quiz competitions and get your fill of local and foreign comic book artists in the Artist Alley set up by Flipgeeks and Komikon.
And off course, TOYCON would not be complete without the biggest dealer floor of all pop culture merchandise in terms of apparel, collectibles and memorabilia, graphic novels and comics, cosplay paraphernalia, and toys, toys, TOYS!

So let loose the child in you once again by getting ready for war in new battlefields of play!

The Philippine TOYCON 2015 will then be held on June 19-21, 2015 at the SM Megatrade Halls 1, 2 and 3, SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City.

This is co-presented by the Asian Comics, Toys and Hobbies- Collective, Inc., IFLIX, and World of DC. It’s sponsored by MaxiCollector, Authority Hoodie, Pacific Licensing, Toy Empire, Walt Disney Studios, Toy Kingdom, Warner Brother Pictures, Warner TV and Toonami.

Also supported by Great Toys Online, Bruder Toys, the Gaming Library, OISHI, PLDT Home DSL and PLDT Home Telpad, Sphero, Big Boys Toy store, Transfer It, Lynelle House of Fashion, Kramer Toy Warden.com, Universal Pictures and Pioneer Films.

With Media Partners, ABS-CBN, HERO, 99.5 Play FM, 103.5 K-Lite, Malaya Business Insight, MTV Pinoy and FHM.

Event partners are Anime Alliance, FlipGeeks, Komikon, Resorts World Manila and Medium 3.

Tickets are now on sale at SM Tickets (www.smtickets.com) til June 18. Tickets are also available at the event gate on June 19-21.

For more information on schedule of activities and event details please visit:
www.toyconph.com
www.facebook.com/toyconph
email: toyconph@gmail.com

14th Philippine Toycon
June 19-21, 2015
Megatrade Halls 1-2-3, SM Megamall
ticket price: PHP150

Press Release and photo credits: Toycon Philippines FB page