A Rundown of 2019

2019 surely became a roller coaster year for me when it comes to collecting. My constant struggle with storage and display had me change my rules from time to time. I actually tried narrowing down my lines which resulted in letting go of some but some <insert cute> things are just hard to resist that I ended up having more. Maybe I should change mah set of friends. 🤣🤣🤣

To end this year, I’ll be showing you guys 10 items that will somehow describe me in general. Some I bought and some were given to me as gifts. Now I didn’t exactly have the time to take Instagram-worthy photos (one is actually still sealed as of writing) but I will surely go back to them once time permits. 😉

The Cat-Lover

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If I’m going to get a pet, I will definitely choose a cat. Whenever my friends post cat photos on their socials, I get too excited and liking them was already a default. Some actually send them directly to my Inbox 😁😁😁. This Toy Story-inspired cat was released last July at the Summer Soul 2019 event in Hong Kong. I’ve been eyeing some of SHON SIDE‘s super cute cat figures but they are always sold-out during events. Luckily, this was brought locally by Wantoys and so we got easy access. This comes in a set of 3 with the three-eyed alien and a lotso-shark which I got to split with friends. 😘

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The Picky-Eater

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Whenever I’m required to say something interesting about myself (usually when I’m new at work), I always say “I don’t eat pizza, pasta, & burger.” 😂 I just don’t like how they taste. As weird as it sounds, I eat fresh tomatoes but I don’t like the paste on spaghetti. I like the paste though when mixed with viands like Mechado and Afritada. I don’t like white sauce too. I’ll eat the burger patty without any dressing but gravy so that goes with my rice. I eat cheese but the dry parmesan powder kind that is used for chicken wings. I sooo love chicken but put Teriyaki sauce and I will never touch it. Don’t get me wrong. My parents attempted to train me but naah, my taste buds are just not wired that way. 😉

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I got this Elfie Cafe set and Baby Greenie separate. I first got the Baby Greenie Burger Waitress version from R&G Enterprises and it was first released at Thailand Toy Expo 2019. Then I got the Elfie Cafe set from Hobbiestock Collectibles and this was originally released at the LCX Pop-Up Store last November 30. The set comes with a super mini burger Elfie but since I don’t eat burger and I don’t collect anything that’s against my rules, I had to split and that bit went to a friend. Thanks friends. 😒🤣

The Sleepy-head

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A sleepy-head. A somnophile. A sleepaholic. A hypersomniac. Lazybones. Clinomaniac. So many “inaccurate” words to describe it but yeah, I love to sleep. Bow. 🤣

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I wished for this to happen. I wished for a Patrick Star version of Greenie the moment I saw that Spongebob version of her. I almost got that actually but I just don’t like Spongebob enough. It has to be Patrick and the gods heard my plea. 😍 I had to do a split on this set as well as it comes with a Spongebob version of Elfie. This was originally released last September but I just got it from the recent Christmas ToyCon.

The Colorway

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My choice of colorway is evident on my logo and socials and searching for pieces that go with it is definitely a challenge. I had the chance to request for a custom with an uber awesome artist before (shout-out to Queen Jessica) and that was one of my highlights this year. Last Christmas ToyCon, I went to a friend’s booth and I saw this figure card displayed (the one on the backside of the photo) with the figure still sealed inside this foil wrapper and I said “Now what is this new character right here? I don’t think this is Pop Mart.” Then she said “Yeah It’s different.” I immediately took out my phone and did some research. The figure is made by 52Toys and was first released late July of this year. This Kimmy and Miki Animal Series has 12 designs and come in blind boxes in which 2 are secret variants. When I checked for images, my heart skipped a beat as it looked like the actual figure has a different colorway. MY COLORWAY! So I decided to buy it and voila! A Geralt of Rivia moment!!! #destiny 🤣

The Unpolished

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I started this website March of this year and this is my 43rd article but it still feels like I’m still an amateur to all this. No proper training in writing and graphic design. Yes, I like taking photos. Yes, I like talking about them and how I love collecting in general but skills-wise, it’s a meh. I know that I need to manage my time better to learn a few more tricks to up my game and that’s something that I’m looking forward to next year. I truly believe in what “That Guy” told me when I interviewed him and said “I don’t have to adhere to any form of story-telling or training. I can just go out there and do it if I’m willing to put in the work of building an audience and investing in myself.” I can definitely do a self-study with all the tutorials online. Queen Jessica told me on an interview that “I think in some ways, when you love what you do, learning doesn’t actually seem like odious.” and I totally agree! Gawd I love these people.

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A friend got me this from this year’s Taipei Toy Festival and it’s totally a dream come true. The figure was wrapped in a gift-wrapping tissue and enclosed inside a frosted plastic box. Very minimalist and I love it! I don’t care if it doesn’t have any branding. What’s inside is the one important. Total perfection!

The IDGAF

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One of my favorites in my collection. Colorway – check! Unicorn – check! Eyes closed – check! Bonus: Middle Finger! This figure totally embodies me. Very me. It’s that When-you-want-to-make-a-statement-but-remain-cute-at-the-same-time kind of moment. 🤣🤣🤣🦄

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Another friend who went to Taipei Toy Festival this year got me this perfection. This is actually the 2nd color variant as the White version was released last year at the same event. Failed to take a photo of the packaging but was able to save the carton. Everything’s just inside a foil zip-lock and the carton was just stapled on top for branding.

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I already shared both of these photos on my Facebook Page and Instagram account before but posting them again to show how the LED light works. The based is connected to a USB cable that is connected to my powerbank. You have to remove the bottom part of the figure (waist down) to install the clear round plastic which will act as a bridge between the torso and the diecast metal car. The car has some magnetic chip inside that’s activated once set on the magnetic base. Perfect bed side mini lamp. ❤

The Temperemental

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Varrian is moody. Period. 🤣

“..forever aware of how emotions can cause one’s powers to spiral out of control.”

Marvel

Storm is officially my first superhero, thanks to ABS-CBN for showing that 90s cartoon. And with that, she’s also the reason why I’m drawn to love African-American icons in the television/film, sports and modelling industry. Lucky that I got this figure at SRP from Toy Kingdom but it took me 2 months after it was released locally as scalpers are everywhere! 😒 I still haven’t got the time to take proper photos but hopefully, I’ll be able to unwrap this next year. 😉

The “Diva“

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Some friends tell me I’m hard to please. I have to agree. Well not all the time as there are simple things that make me happy. ☺ I think I can apply this more when it comes to producing creative output. If it isn’t perfect, it has to be close given the circumstances. In any situation, tardiness kills me inside. It’s one of my pet-peeves and I say it to everyone. And if I’m the one late, I want the earth to just swallow me as it feels worse ugh!

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This Light Pink-Turquoise version of the Thai Princess was released last Thailand Toy Expo and was a special variant of the one from the Unicorno Series 7. It’s wrapped in a clamshell inside a small box with full-on glam art inside and out. Totally worth keeping!

The Geek

Oh yes! Errm I am! Not exactly the one who’s into programming or high-technical stuff. I just belong to the ones that are into video games and comic books. Fine, I sometimes like techy shizz, zeros and ones, breadboards, etc. 😝

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Now this is one pleasant surprise. I never thought that Unbox Industries would make some blind box series with just one character in it. Wego is one of my favorite characters from Unbox and Friends Wave 1 just because he’s a robot and not just a robot, a cute robot. 😍 Unfortunately, Mr. Kazushi Kobayashi is the only artist that I haven’t talked to yet but I believe that in time, we’ll cross paths 🤣. From the 12 designs available (7 regulars and 5 chases), I can only relate to these 3. Apart from my colorway, I love these colors too! 😋

The Most Pure

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Beautiful as Aphrodite, wise as Athena, swifter than Hermes, and stronger than Hercules, Princess Diana of Themyscira fights for peace in Man’s World.

DC Comics

So eto na nga. Ang masasabi ko lang kung bakit siya ang pang-finale ko eh akong-ako naman talaga si Wonder Woman. My blog. My write-up. My delusion 🤣🤣🤣. ‘Wag na kayong kumontra. Hulma pa lang eh akong-ako na. O dba, may pa-heart effect pa ung Lasso of Truth. At dahil no research done before getting this, nagulat pa ko nung pinatay ko yung ilaw sa kwarto kasi Glow-In-The-Dark pala yung rope ni momshie. Spreading love to everyone she touches 😂. Power. Grace. Wisdom. Wonder. Purity. Chastity. Tightness har! Very me talaga. Green lang ‘tong Art Toy version kasi nga, ‘yan ang signature style ni Tara McPherson. Ilang beses ko na ding nabanggit na isa si Wonder Woman sa bumubuo ng aking Quad. Sa collection ko, nakahanay siya kasama sila Maleficent, Storm, at Loki. Muntik ko na ngang bilhin ‘tong dyosang ‘to last June (ToyCon) pero buti na lang at nagpigil ako dahil may nahanap yung friend ko na mas mura ng slight sa US. Kahit may shipping, mas mura pa din so keri na. Landi rin nung box ha. Pag-angat mo nung black outer box, may kinang na taglay ung logo sa loob pati mga stars and everything, Perfect din yung color combination na ginamit. Mahusay. Mahusay!

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So there you have it! Ending this year with pure fun, lightheartedness, and love. I thank all of you who’ve been supporting me all these years on every attempt I make in achieving something and a special shout-out to my uber awesome digital artist / graphic designer friend Khat for making the cover photo of this write-up. Virtual hugs!!! It’s been a great year and I’m looking forward to all the tides and hurdles that the Year of the Metal Rat will bring me. ‘Til my next toy review. 😘🦄