Prepare to be in full geek mode if you plan to catch all the awesome offerings of the biggest pop culture event in the Philippines! Here are ten ways to do so:
1. Get to know the Celebrity Guests
Headlining this three-day affair is a stellar lineup of stars from some of your favorite movies and television series: Nicholas Hoult (X-Men and Mad Max: Fury Road), Claire Holt (The Vampire Diaries and The Originals), Joe Dempsie (Game of Thrones and Skins), and Millie Bobby Brown (Stranger Things – A Netflix Original Series).
All these Hollywood celebrity guests will be dropping by to sign autographs and pose with you for that once-in-a-lifetime photo op! There will also be meet-and-greet and panel sessions with them. Check out the rates and schedule on APCC Manila Facebook. Don’t miss this chance to be with your favorite stars.
2. Enter the Toys, Collectibles, Comicave Adventure
APCC Manila 2016 is bringing in artist Simone Legno, co-founder of the worldwide sensation Tokidoki: and Devilrobots, the Japanese art group famous for the iconic To-Fu Oyako character cast. These world-famous toy designers will bring some wild color and imagination to the event – with a lot of awesome, exclusive merch in tow!
For more show exclusives and new products, you may also check out the booths of Comicave Studios, Great Toys Online, IDstar, Gaming Library, Filbar’s. Cross, Big Boys Store, and Ban Kee, among many others.
Deserving a special mention is Comicave Studios’ APCC Manila pre-order: A 1/2 scale handcrafted bronze replica of the 75th Anniversary Tribute Statue of Captain America in Brooklyn, New York! Comicave Studios celebrates 75 years of Captain America, with his Tribute Statue to Marvel’s First Avenger in an iconic pose with his shield held high. Each replica is accompanied by a metal plate certifying authenticity, with engraved serial number, as well as an authenticity card with basic care instructions. It is packaged in a premium pine wood box with sliding cover.
Cast in bronze, it is a timeless beauty fit for an iconic comic hero’s history. Now, who wouldn’t want that?
3. Comics Invasion
Comic veterans Mike Zeck, Ken Lashley, and Billy Tan are here to talk comics and autograph your beloved comic book collections almost all day. Even better, they’ll be joined by the Filipino comic legend himself, Whilce Portacio. Get that Bishop character collection ready.
Returning to APCC Manila is C.B. Cebulski, Marvel’s Senior VP of Creative and Creator Development. He will once again scout around for new comic artists for Marvel, so be sure to get your portfolios ready!
4. JAM with the Music
APCC Manila 2016 promises you a rockin’ good time as it brings in none other than J-Rock anison legend Hiroshi Kitadani of JAM Project, performers of hair-raising tunes such as the opening theme of cult favorite One-Punch Man! Kitadani also recorded the first opening theme to epic series One Piece back when he was performing solo. So watch out for that too!
5. Art Attack
Be amazed with Jason Palmer’s remarkably expressive works. He has done art for Star Wars, Firefly, Once Upon a Time, The Walking Dead, Castle, Doctor Who, and many more. Here’s hoping he brings a few of his awesome shirts to sell at the event!
6. Stay Beautiful
Beauty vlogger Say Tioco and the famous Enciso sisters (bloggers’ Vern and Verniece) will be there too, to give their signature talks on makeup, beauty, and life. Drop by, say hello, and relish the fact that there is geekery in beauty, too!
7. Be Cosplay Ready
Filipino cosplay darlings Alodia Gosiengfiao and Myrtle Sarrosa will be joined by international cosplayers Riddle, Ani-Mia, Lindze Merritt, and Yugana Seshi Uon for the Manila leg of the CAGE cosplay competition. Witness the best of the country and the world in the realm of cosplay, and see your favorite characters come to life!
8. Game On
Bring out your best strategies as we feature board and video game demos and merchandise, plus tournaments in eSports standards League of Legends, Overwatch, DotA 2, Street Fighter V, and NBA 2K16!
9. Get in the Super-Secret Club
Remember C.B. Cebulski, Marvel’s Senior VP of Creative and Creator Development? Remember the exclusive footage of Captain America: Civil War we showed at APCC Manila 2015? Well, C.B. is back to introduce Hall M, a showcase of Marvel content in the fields of gaming, television, and movies.
Fans will be treated to never-before-seen footage outside of San Diego Comic Con of Marvel’s upcoming Doctor Strange film at APCC Manila’s Hall M, including content from Marvel’s television and web series. Hall M is limited to 1,000 attendees.
10, Find Out for Yourself!
Of course, we haven’t even begun to scratch the surface of what amazing experiences await at APCC Manila 2016.
Our best advice: Get out there yourself, walk around, and go catch all that this amazing event has to offer.
APCC Manila 2016 would like to thank the ff:
Sponsors: Smart, Australian College of Hair Design+Beauty, Kit Kat, The Palace, Devant, and Backyard Kitchen Brew
Official Partners: Marvel, Netflix, SMX Convention Center, and SM Tickets
Official Video On Demand Partner: HOOQ
Hotel Partner: Conrad Manila
Supported by: TPB Philippines and Department of Tourism
Official Anime Channel: Hero Channel
CAGE Cosplay Partner: Cosplay Ph
Charity Partner: Make A Wish Philippines
Wresting Partner: Philippine Wresting Revolution
Major Media Partners: AXN, Animax, Sony Channel, ABS-CBN 2, Easy Rock 96.3fm, GIST, Hero Channel, K-Zone Magazine, Manila Bulletin, Pep.ph, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Rappler, Status, The Philippine Star, TV 5, Wave 89.1fm, When In Manila
Online Media Partners: Anime PH Project, Arkadymac, Click The City, FlipGeeks, InqPOP!, My Life On Board, NCPH, Otaku Asia, Otakultura, Otakuzine Anime Magazine, Pinoy Exchange, Philippine Concerts, Red Cloud Interactive, Reimaru Files, Scout, The Fanboyoseo, UnGeek Ph, YuneOh, 8 List Ph
For APCC Manila 2016 tickets: It is available via SM Tickets with ticket prices PhP550 (one-day pass), PhP850 (two-day pass), and PhP1,050 (three-day pass). All these will give the ticketholder access to stage activities, performances, and the main show floor. The event is free for children aged five years and below for all days, but valid identification is required for verification purposes before entering the show floor.
For the fans of Nicholas Hoult, Joe Dempsie, and Claire Holt: APCC Manila is offering Autograph, Photograph, and meet-and-greet session tickets, which are available for purchase on SM Tickets website, https://smtickets.com/, or at all SM Tickets outlets. Autograph and Photograph tickets will also be available for purchase on event days.
For the fans of Millie Bobby Brown: Check out the official Facebook pages of APCC Manila and Netflix Philippines to find out how you can win free passes to the the Autograph, Photograph, and meet-and-greet sessions with everyone’s favorite telekinetic from Netflix’s latest hit series Stranger Things.
For more information and event updates: please visit: asiapopcomicon.com/manila and official Facebook Page facebook.com/apccmanila.
