As the 15th Philippine Toys, Hobbies and Collectibles Convention upgrades itself from the cramped SM Megamall Megatrade Halls to the relatively wider SMX Convention Center – Manila’s Main Halls, event attendees should brace themselves for a ticket hike as well.
The event organizers, Asian Toys, Comic and Hobbies Collective (ATCHC), Inc., has announced that the official ticket price for this year’s installment of the country’s biggest pop culture event is now pegged at PHP500/day (about US$11.00).
This represents a 30 percent increase from their 2015 ticket price, which is 150 pesos, and ten times more than their ticket price of PHP50 in 2006.
Two-day passes, meanwhile, will cost PHP800 (about U$17.45) or a PHP200 peso discount, while entry passes for the entire three-day affair is discounted at PHP1,000 (about US$22.00), or a discount of PHP500. Kids below six years old will pay a discounted ticket price of PHP250 per day, while toddlers three feet below and infants will be given entry free of charge.
ACTHC Inc. has also announced two premium ticketing tiers, namely the VIP Pass and the “Legendary” Pass. The VIP Pass includes admission for all three days of the event, plus access to the “special Friday preview” at 11:00 am, Limited editions of ToyCon exclusives Funko Pop Stan Lee and Kobe Bryant figures, Two meet and greet signatures, exclusive VIP entrance and LithoFolio print.
The “Legendary” Pass, on the other hand, contains some of the freebies and amenities of the VIP Pass plus a Limited Edition Voltes V XXL figure, and Two celebrity autographs and photo opportunities, plus exclusive seating at the ToyCon main stage area.
Both the VIP Pass and “Legendary” passes are available in limited quantities only. Ticket upgrades to the VIP or Legendary passes are also available as well, provided that the upgrade will be done at the same SM Tickets outlets branches. For Online purchases, SM Stores and Eastwood Mall-bought tickets, customers may upgrade at the store where they purchased their tickets (for card purchases) or at the SM Mall of Asia Arena Box Office (for cash sales). Alternatively, customers can also call (+632) 470-2222 for more details.
The organizers also announced specialty passes, the “Funko Funtastic Fridays Party Pass” and the “Rushers Pass”, which are available only on site on the days of their respective side events.
The Funko Funtastic Fridays Party Pass cost PHP1500, which is equivalent to three Funko POP! figures, and will be available only on the gates of SMX Convention Center Function Room 5 on June 10 only. The “Funko Funtastic Fridays pass” entails the customer entry to the Funko exclusive party to be held at Function Room 5.
In addition, a surprise box, which includes two limited edition Funko POP! Asia Exclusives and one Funko POP! limited edition figure will be given as well.
The “Rushers pass”, which costs PHP500, enables the ticketholder to the exclusive meet and greet and concert featuring Kendall Schmidt of the hit Nickelodeon series “Big Time Rush”, and his band “Heffron Drive” on Saturday, June 11 at Function Room 5. Aside from that, the event goers will receive an exclusive LithoFolio print of the band.
Similar with the “Funko Funtastic Fridays Party Pass”, the passes for the side-event will only be available at the door of Function Room 5 at the day of the event itself and will be available starting at 12:00 noon.
The regular entry are now available in all SM Tickets outlets nationwide, and also will be available on site during the event days.
The 15th Philippine Toys, Hobbies and Collectibles Convention is happening from June 10 to 12 at the Main Halls of the SMX Convention Center – Manila. For more information regarding the event, you can visit their website at www.toyconph.com. You can also check their official Facebook page at facebook.com/toyconph and their official twitter account at twitter.com/phtoycon.
US$1 = PHP 45.85 as of June 8, 2016
