| 03.31.2019 – Weekend in the Philippines is packed and there’s always a “con” happening now that summer has dropped. It must be the busiest season for those who are going to spend their hard earned cash at these events. Usually, these types of events only happen a few short months, but this weekend has been quite that crazy.
RetroCon in its debut year was something unexpected and this is the second weekend apart from the last one to be something of a mix of good vibes, nostalgia, and just a place to pass by for weekend finds. Most people into collecting stamps, coins, and other things from yesteryears are sure to be found in these parts… |
Last month there was a Retro Videogame Con and now here’s to RetroCon, an indoor mall event hosted at one of the grand daddy shopping centres of the country named after that iconic American boxer that gave you “Thrilla in Manila.” Surely, Filipinos are the most passionate when it also comes to nostalgia they seemed to not let go of the good stuff from the past like the way the Jeepneys still pry the urban scene.
It has been months that RetroCon has been a ‘word of mouth’ that it would be held at the Ali Mall as part of the “Ali X Experience” to rejuvenate the old Shopping Centre’s image that has been a fixture of Araneta Centre for the last four decades. This year they brought defining what it is RetroCon and it’s not only about antiques this also puts a spotlight on what is popular for this event such as toys, videogames, and getting to see the local talent from the art scene of Filipino Komiks.
A Window to the Past
This was the “Second Wave” of RetroCon that happened the previous weekend that you may find something that no other event must have. Like collectible antiques that you thought have phased out. There’s an exhibitor who was peddling different kinds of old currency from different countries as well as collectible coins that may be older than your grandfather.
There are also old bottles from Coca-Cola and other long time brands and you’d be surprised to see old Filipino published magazines in their most pristine edition. But if you’re not into those type of antiques check out the other tables that have old videogames from previous game consoles. Surely, you’ll grt a kick out digging up for the games that you still want to play in your old Super Nintendo Entertainment System or that grey Playstation that still have the millage of an old muscle car.
But if you’re more of a traditional kind of bloke you may find some of those rubbery tiny figurines in someone’s table in a tub full of other creatures that you can only find when you used to buy cheap junk food that had them for free or that paper mask that you mum had bought you from the market that had Randy Savage’s face for you to play along and wrestle your neighbourhood friends.
RetroCon may probably not have everything that you hoped for but it is indeed a place of nostalgia for those who just want to look and appreciate their youth. It is indeed a busy area that the side of the mall isle is like being stuck in EDSA over the weekend because there’s this one seller that have some interesting stuff on their display that you would stop at every stall for it.
When Local Komiks is Alive
For those who keep saying “Filipino Komiks” is dead well its far from the truth. The old publishers have closed down but the remaining artists and those aspiring ones that are making a name internationally are still here. You can also find the ones who do the daily comic strips that are still published in local newspapers like Pol Medina Jr’s famous “Pugad Baboy” or Lyndon Gregorio’s “Beerkada,” where both these artists’ works are published on the Philippine Star.
There are also caricature artists in these parts where they can do a sketch of you into a cartoon or a portrait of your kids into superheroes. These find talented men and some women are also at RetroCon you’ll spot them when you see someone being a subject of their caricature.
For those who haven’t heard of other Filipino artists making a name for themselves in the international comicbook scene there’s Harvey Tolibao with his family just a few of the artists who discretely is present selling their artwork to the Ali Mall crowd. Harvey’s going to be there later in the Sunday afternoon and if you see the bearded wonder with the Manny Pacquiao English accent that’s the guy.
If you’re not keeping track of who’s who just get to know the artists in each table you’ll find their work interesting like the guy who made robots and action figures from rubber sandals because that guy is there too.
Weekend of Community Events
Although RetroCon is an informal weekend gathering it still a community related event that you’ll also find PinoyLUG, a LEGO User Group of AFOL’s (Adult Fans of LEGO) that had their display in acrylic with those flashing colorful lights and old Technic sets that sort of aged like fine wine.
RetroCon 2019 is until today (Sunday) in case you’ve got nothing to do just drop buy Ali Mall and the event is held at the basement level of this Shopping Centre and its FREE ENTRY for everyone drop buy and surely make the visit!
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