It was a grand homecoming of the country’s biggest and longest-running pop culture convention for collectibles, toys, anime, comics, cosplay, and gaming as TOYCON made its live return. TOYCON 2022 had fans and collectors from everywhere flock to the Megatrade Halls of SM Megamall last July 8-10, 2022, celebrating its 19th year of serving pop culture enjoyment to its fans both local and international.
It was a gathering to celebrate the common love for all things creative, innovative and collectible of TOYCON’s loyal community of pop culture fans and collectors have come together since the pandemic struck.
Toys have always been the soul of the event, and with many dazzling exhibits and the biggest collectibles retail floor of more than 250 booths, fans had their fill and then some.
As any long-time TOYCON fan would know, Voltes V holds a special place in this convention’s heart. And on their 19th year of putting on an onsite convention, Voltes V took center stage again as part of a promise made by their event partner, Quiccs, back in 2019 to launch his trademark TEQ-63 in unmistakable Voltes V style only at TOYCON! And this year, in partnership with TOEI Co. Ltd. Telesuccess, they got to finally launch it.
As the country’s biggest and longest-running pop culture convention for collectibles, toys, anime, comics, cosplay, TOYCON started out as a gathering of people of like minds, and this year as it has been every year, it is a collaboration and an alliance. This year it went back to its roots, putting on an event which feels familiar but still was the cutting-edge show it has been.
This year’s highlights included Funko Funatics Philippines release of exclusives and celebrity signings; Top toy studios and designers from the region on exhibit; TOYCON Creator’s Alley, co-organized by the Bulletpunk Network where the top Filipino toy creators meet the up and coming young upstart creators; Artist Alley – co-organized by Komiket with some of the Philippines top comic book artist/s assembled for signing and sketching; The TOYCON Collectors Gallery c/o the Philippine Toy Groups Association.
There was also the Toy Art and Toy Customizing competition; ToyClick and Cosclick Photography contest; The TOYCON Cosplay Competition and the World Cosplay Summit; Collectors and Customizers Panel discussions; The Pinoy Pop Culture Icon Awards; Online selling seminars, live auctions and livestreams by Lazada; VIP access, NFT workshops and Bulletpunk BitWars art by Smart Signature; as well as celebrity appearances and special performances by groups and bands.
And of course, TOYCON the biggest collectibles retail floor of more than 250 booths, where collectors and hobbyists had their fill of toys, art, merch, collectibles, clothing, and almost everything else in between and then some, plus some remarkable finds.
It has been announced that TOYCON will be back in SMX Convention Center Next Year on June 9-11, 2023, and we already look forward to the fantastic things that could be in store for all their loyal community of fans, hobbyists and collectors.
Many thanks to our Photographers Keileen, Mat, Marvin, Kaloy and Jake for covering the event, as well as to our Cosplay Model Rica.
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