20 Years Of Play: ToyCon PH Continues To Innovate And Provide Family-Friendly Fun

ToyCon Philippines is celebrating 20 years of bringing together pop culture fandoms, communities, collectors, and families from different generations in one event. The annual three-day event is once again heading back to SMX Convention Center in Pasay City since the pandemic began in 2020.

'Bakit di tayo gumawa ng event for toys lang talaga?'

Anime and cosplay were the popular themes for events and conventions that flourished during mid to the late 90's. There were some 'pocket' events held back then that caters to other fandoms like trading cards and pop culture related stuff like Star Wars.

Star Wars is still very much popular here in the Philippines. There was a small group of Star Wars toy collectors that had an idea of putting up an event about toys and action figures back in the mid 90's. Vic Yap, founder of ToyCon Philippines, was part of that group.

"ToyCon started from Star Wars toys. Kasi collection ko, the first seven figures, dun nag start yun," Yap said. "First vintage seven figures na binili ko pa sa Greenhills noong 1995, yun ang starting point ko. So from there, 1995 hanggang umabot in 2002, that was the time na nagkaroon ng opportunity na, bakit di tayo gumawa ng event for toys lang talaga?"

Yap was invited to a trading card event and also had TV interviews at the time. During one of those interviews, he was then asked about why there were no events for toy collectors.

"Kasi in between 1995 and 2002 may mga pocket events – event ng trading cards – then we're invited by yung Star Wars [community] to be guests, guests ng mga ganon. Tapos na-tiyempo na may mga tv interviews ako noon," disclosed the ToyCon PH founder. "And finally, someone asked, 'why don't we have that?' I think it's the time that we should have our own event."

From a 300 square meter space to the SMX Convention Center

ToyCon's first ever event was held at SM Megamall's 300 square meter Megatrade Conference Room in the early 2000's. It was held there for two years and the patrons started complaining due to the small space.

"First at second year nasa conference room lang kami ng SM Megatrade, yun yung sinasabi kong maliit lang siya na 300 square meters," Yap said. "And after that, people started complaining. Sinabihan nga ako ng isang matanda na, 'Iho, masyado na kayong masikip. Dapat lakihan nyo na venue nyo.'
So the third ToyCon, nagstart na kaming lumaki."

With the event's first couple of years a huge success, ToyCon has since been held at SM Megamall's Megatrade Halls and SMX Convention Center.

"So, we first got yung isang hall sa [SM Megamall] Megatrade. Then next year, two halls. Succeeding year, three halls, and so on and so fort, hanggang umabot na kami ng SMX [Conventions Center], the whole ground floor of SMX [Convention Center]. So yun siya. That was the story." explained Yap. "Every year kasi nagdadagdag ng nagdadagdag kami ng elements sa ToyCon. It used to be sa selling lang. Then over the years, nag evolve siya ng nag evolve hangga't napasok na lahat ng klaseng mga pop culture related na mga agenda. So yun yon. Now, ganito na siya ka laki."

ToyCon during the pandemic era

The pandemic took a toll on most, if not, all of events and conventions. Albeit the predicament, ToyCon PH still managed to stick around by hosting online events for two years.  

"Actually ang ToyCon, i-consider mo na 22 years na dapat ngayon eh. But because of the pandemic, we lied low. So for two years, walang event but we still existed. We still managed to stay in contact with our friends through online," shared Yap. "So nagkaroon kami ng ToyCon TV collection, ginawa rin namin pero online lahat. Simple lang but it still served as bridge with our friends. Nako-contact parin namin sila through online media. So, that's how we survived the pandemic.

Competition with foreign-backed pop pulture events in the Philippines

ToyCon PH was hailed as the biggest and longest running pop culture event in Asia. The event's success through the years also came with competitions from other pop culture related conventions ran and funded by foreign based organizers. ToyCon still prevailed despite being a locally funded annual event.  

"Admittedly, we had APCC or Asia Pop [Comic] Convention and History Con, all from different countries. Lalo na Asia Pop [Comic Convention], it was funded by a well-oiled group from Dubai," Yap said. "So, ano yung Filipino [organizers], how do you call this, yung funding namin na local lang talaga versus itong malaking-malaking giant talaga?"

"I don't know how to explain this but I think the key there is, ToyCon kasi is a local based event and it is being ran by purely na alam yung in[s] and out[s] of the industry. So, yun ang pinaka sikreto don – which other events, they look at it in another way. Kami personal talaga," he added.

For Vic Yap however, it was simply about passion and love for the hobby to this day.

"In fact, when ToyCon started we never thought about earning anything. It was our passion na i-sama namin lahat ng mga kagaya naming collectors. It was for the love and it's still for the love of the hobby," he said. "It's now a one big family, one big community, yun ang sikreto niya. And sabi ko nga, parati kaming nagbibiruan eh, ToyCon has a heart by itself [sic] talaga."

A family-friendly event like no other

In it's 20 years existence, ToyCon has been one of the go-to events not only for collectors and cosplayers but also families as well. Yap is always delighted to see families of different generations attend the yearly event.

"I think I like the sort na, yung mga dating cosplayers na sila mga bata noon, ngayon sila na mga parents. So, yung dating mga collectors ngayon, mga anak na lang nag take over. So mas lalong lumaki siya," expressed the ToyCon PH founder. "Kasi naka focus kami always na yung event namin for the family. Kasi ito lang ang event na makikita mo from lolo down to the baby on a stroller. Yun ang makikita mo sa ToyCon. So, it's really for the whole family ang ToyCon."

Plan it well and make sure people will enjoy the event

Organizing an event or convention is definitely no joke. With a couple decades of experience in the industry under his belt, Vic Yap has some advice to those who want to put up such an event for the first time.

"Ang masasabi ko lang is just when you do an event, plan it well. Then see to it na people will enjoy tapos huwag mong iisipin muna yung kikita ka o hindi. Don't do that," he stressed. "Ang priority mo always is you put up one good event and i-price mo siya based don sa what [sic] yung contents mo. Yun ang masasabi ko. Pag nag-organize kayo ng event wag nyo gawing bara-bara. So, plan it out well na kailangan lahat talaga ma-sasatisfy sa event mo. Yun ang maadvice ko don."

'We go along with the tide'

With ToyCon just a few days away, Yap says people can expect a lot of new stuff at the event. Thus it will continue to evolve and innovate for many years to come.

"Marami, because I think ToyCon over the years has evolved. Kailangan continuous innovation. We picked up new elements. Now, we're on the digital age," he said. "So, we go along with the tide on what's in and what was in the past. Magsama-sama sila."

ToyCon 2023 is happening on July 7 - 9 at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City.