And so it came to pass...
The 9th Philippine Toys, Hobbies, & Collectibles Convention officially opened its doors to the public on the day of June 19, 2010! Buyers, Toy Collectors, Cosplayers, Photographers, and even first timers who haven't been to a toy or hobby convention before all gathered around and converged in the entrance of SM Megatrade Hall 2 to witness, explore, and be part of the exciting mega bazaar that only happens one weekend per year... and I was back with my bro Ted to check it all out again! To date, I've attended every iteration of the ToyCon since it first began in 2002, but this one seemed so different from the past one, and not because of the DC Comics 75Th Anniversary theme. Why then? Read on...
Ted and I arrived at the scene after lunchtime, and surprisingly, there was a long line still stretching down from the entrance of the con to almost the other side of Megamall! Naturally, we bought tickets, but we had to worry about lining up and waiting just to enter what was already looking to be a full house event. Fortunately, a friend of mine was there to help us out get in right away, so all was good and we proceeded to look around to check out all the goodies in the con.
That's where the real challenge began.
As each and every ToyCon gets bigger, so does the number of people attending and participating in the event as well. It wasn't much of a problem before, but this year seemed so different compared to the rest. Elbow room wasn't exactly a luxury this time around, and I literally had to squeeze in some areas just to pass and check through the sections I only just previewed bare and empty yesterday!
Yes, it was that crowded, and it was also because of the cosplay competition going on in the other side. Regardless of that, the stuff I checked out this year, from comics to toys, were practically things I saw every now and then at the shops I frequent most of the time at the malls. There was nothing really that caught my eye this year, save for a few gashapons and discounted figures, none of which I purchased at all.
After the go around with the toys and collectibles, I decided to take a break and accompany my friends Billy, Vince, and Lance for a breather outside. We ended up in Figaro coffee shop, where we had some downtime talking, sipping coffee, and playing MGS Peace Walker. Even our other friend Nicole joined us to chill for a bit, but after a few hours, I had to leave the guys to meet up with my folks for an early dinner. After that was done, I went back to the con alone to check on some things before everything closed for the first day.
Arriving back at the scene, things were much better than the early afternoon, thanks to the fact that the cosplay competition ended and most of the attendees already left the premises. I met up with my good friend Francis, and after chatting for a bit, we made the rounds one more time, grabbing a few small figures on the way.
Afterwards, we checked on the activities at the adjacent Function Hall, where many of the toy collectors and toy groups participating set up shop and displays for the public to see and take juicy photos of. I met up with fellow collectors and hobbyists there like Miko and Mark, and I got to see their collections up front. Heck, I even saw a display set up for gaming consoles I've played and owned in the past, so there were lots of novelty items to see and find! As usual, I took plenty of pictures, so that tells the entire story of what happened right there.
As ToyCon Day One came to a close, I literally felt like dropping on the floor and getting some shuteye right there and then. The whole exhausted me, and it wasn't because of the shopping either. Two halls were jampacked and full of people, and all that navigating can really take things out of you! Still, that's not to say I didn't have fun at all. I did, and even if I attended the first day only, I was glad to be part of another year of ToyCon goodness.
