REX Interactive Journal Comic Strip Contest



To all young, creative students out there, here's the contest for you…
Students must design and create a value-centered comic strip based on any topic from the 4 issues of the following titles: Math-nificent (Math); Building Blocks (Science); - ExPONent (Math); and C.E.L.L.S. (Science). They are allowed to use multiple topics per comic strip.

Visit http://www.rexinteractive.com/global/module.php?LM=articles.profile&cid=1306379377507&pid=1320906267264 for more details.

7th TOYCON Preparations 3



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We were able to reproduce our komiks in time for TOYCON. I found another photocopy shop but I had to commute from work. But it was worth it because the quality of the photocopy was good. Another good thing was we were able to release our komiks this time with colored covers. The issues look better than the ones we released last M3 Con but a little more expensive. We’re just gonna sell our fifth issue and our entry to the comic creation contest. We hope sales will be better in the event.

Ryan and my sister Jenny were able to finish my nephew’s costume for the cosplay. My nephew will cosplay SPD Red on SWAT mode. My sister was able to finished my mask to complete my costume. I’ll be cosplaying as The Question (the Vic Sage/male version) from DC Comics.

Don will be entering a modified Gundam Gerbera Tetra for the customized mecha contest.


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Ryan will be entering the customized action figure contest. He modified a toy (a female action figure) that my sister was able to find in a previously-owned toy store.


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We're all ready for the TOYCON today. Hope to see you all there later.

How To Enjoy the TOYCON Better
Ryan, Don, and I have been going to the TOYCON for years now. So far we’ve always have fun while we are at the convention. If it is your first time to go to a TOYCON, here are a few tips that we would like to share to you to make your TOYCON experience something to remember by.


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Come early. – There are more freebies at the first day for the early ones. As the saying goes, the early bird gets the worm.
Patience is a virtue. – One has to be extra patient. One will have to line up (it’s a very long line if you are early) to buy a ticket then line up again to enter the venue.
Bring cash, lot’s of cash. – We’re not saying that you bring your whole life savings. Just bring some extra cash with you. One can never know what cool things can get your fancy while you’re at the TOYCON. Though some toy sellers these past few conventions accept major credit cards, most of them still only accept cash. This will save you the time of going out of the place and go looking for an ATM machine (the nearest ones are at the ground level).
Join some of the games during the TOYCON. – If you’re waiting for the announcement of winners for the contest (which we usually do), the best way to make time pass by quickly is to join the games. You might even win a prize so you will have a memento of the event.
Go with friends or family members. – One can always go to these conventions alone but it’s much more enjoyable if you have someone to converse or share the moment. One can feel out of place especially if it’s you’re first time at conventions. Besides, you couldn’t get a picture of yourself beside your favorite cosplayer or celebrity if you don’t have a companion (unless you give your camera to a total stranger or you just want close-up shots).
Bring a camera. – If you’re a photo buff, there are a lot of interesting subject matters at the con like cosplayers (which are accomodating most of the time) and toy displays.
Wear comfortable clothes and shoes. – The venue can get packed with lots of people so it can get hot inside. There are just a few seats inside so expect you’ll be standing up most of the time (so don’t wear those stiletto shoes).
Watch the featured presentations on stage. – If you're tired of going around, stay near the stage area (or get a seat if you're lucky). They sometimes show fan films or anticipated movie trailers so you'll be entertained.
Be cordial. – As I said earlier, it can get crowded inside the venue. You can get bumped around anytime so always have a smile in your face and say “Excuse me.” or “Sorry.”
Eat before coming in the venue. – One can get hungry roaming around. Food and drinks are a bit expensive inside. But if you followed our tip about the cash, it's alright.
Don’t bring many valuables or gadgets. – Though security in these conventions are strict, some criminal elements can get inside. So always make sure your wallets or purses are secure. Flaunting your high tech gadgets can make you targets for these devious people.
Don’t bring big bags. – It’s harder to navigate through crowds if your bag is bulky.
There are more bargains at the last hours of the last day. – Many sellers drop prices before the convention closes. Many of them are eager to dispose more items so they won’t have to bring them back.
We hope the things we shared to you help make your TOYCON experience more memorable and enjoyable. See you at the TOYCON!



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The 7th Philippine Toys, Hobbies, and Collectibles Convention 2008
June 14-15, 2008
Megatrade Hall 2-3, SM Megamall
Mandaluyong City, Philippines
www.toyconph.com

7th TOYCON Preparations 2
We have a problem in reproducing our komiks. The photocopy shop where we always avail services doesn’t accept back-to-back photocopies anymore. They said their machines keeps on experiencing paper jams so they were sorry that they can’t accept our komiks anymore. We chose the shop because it is just near our workplace and the quality of photocopy is better and cheaper than others. Now we had to look for another photocopy shop.
Ryan has started helping my sister with the modifications on my nephew’s sentai suit. They hope they finish it days before TOYCON. It’s a blessing in disguise that my sister Jenny is not working this school year (she’s a high school teacher; she was illegally dismissed by the Chinese school where she taught). She’s also helping me with my mask for my costume.
I’ll be picking up later the picture that will be my brother-in-law’s entry to the Cosplay Clicks. He got to work out of town for the weekend.
Don forgot to bring to the office his entry to the customized mecha. He said he’ll try to bring it on Monday.
I’m already excited about this year’s TOYCON. It’s a good thing that day is a payday. You’ll never know when something gets your fancy.

STICKFAS, A Customizer’s Dream Toy


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I first saw STICKFAS at last year’s TOYCON (I think it was those pre-assembled ones I saw). I was impressed at its poseability but I didn’t like them because they were so plain looking with just one color. I told Ryan to take a glimpse at it and I told him my opinion of it. He told that one could customize it if someone wants to. I agreed with him and we looked at other toys.
Then I noticed that there will be a STICKFAS Customized Figure Contest this coming TOYCON. It made me curious so I look the toy up in the Internet.
STIKFAS are 3.25 inch (8 cm) model assembly figures/toys. Once built they can be customized with stickers (packaged as Stikers) and different pieces (I thought at first they can’t be taken apart). The design principle behind a STIKFAS is that all of the joints are ball/socket, and offer exceptional poseability, interchangeability, and articulation. They are sold as "kits" that include accessories, and Stikers, and additional models (dragon, dog, cat, bike, etc.) to accentuate the "theme" of each kit.
The debut of STIKFAS was through a successful co-branding in 2001 with the computer game publisher, Electronic Arts. This collaboration provided a proof of concept and STIKFAS Pte., Ltd. (based in Singapore) was incorporated in August. Work began on the first mass production model of the STIKFAS Action Figure Kit, which was made available to public through online sales at www.stikfas.com in December 2001.
From 2002 to 2004, STIKFAS was licensed to international toy giant Hasbro Inc and this move saw a significant increase in its product range, distribution network as well as market recognition. During this period, STIKFAS was awarded the title of "Best Original Concept" in "Best of the Best 2002" by Wizard's Toyfare magazine, the industry's leading publication. That year, STIKFAS came in second for "Most Fun and Innovative Toy" in a consumer's poll by Toyshop Magazine, a revolutionary achievement for a simple plastic toy to earn its place in a category dominated by high tech electronic toy items.
STIKFAS debut in Japan in the fall of 2003 under the distribution of Tomy Direct Co., Ltd. In February 2005, the first comprehensive fan book about STIKFAS, its products and the people in the company, was published by Hobby Japan, the nation's leading hobby magazine since 1969. This publication reinforced the cult status that STIKFAS has in Japan.


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The first STIKFAS style is called the Classic Alpha Male. This is a male-style figure, standing 3 1/4" tall. The Omega Male is slightly taller, and has a wider girth. A Beta Female has a feminine shape, is shorter than the Alpha male, and has a different style waist.
Delta Boy is shorter still. It resembles a boy-sized Alpha male, but smaller. I don’t know why they didn’t release a Delta Girl (maybe there was no demand or one can just customize a Delta Boy to look like a girl). In 2004, STIKFAS introduced the Generation Two (or G2) Alpha Male. It has additional points of articulation in the knees and elbows.
In December 2005 a new G2 was released. The Gamma G2 Male is larger than the 'Omega', and has the same extraposable knee and elbow joints as the G2 Alpha. The Gamma also has a wider and thicker chest than the Omega. The chest consists of two separate halves that snap together.
In 2006 yet another new body style was introduced, the G2 Sigma Male, which is a tall slender-looking figure that has an elongated upper torso as well as the addition of separate knee and elbow joints, making it the tallest STIKFAS body yet.
STIKFAS is distributed here by Wimax Philippines, Inc.
The STIKFAS Custom contest at this year TOYCON is not the first. There was one (called Stikfas Stikfun Stikfan Competition) already held last May 10, 2008 at the Hobbes and Landes Universe, Bonifacio High Street, Fort Global City, Taguig.
There is even a group here in the Philippines devoted to STIKFAS called STIKFAS PH. Below are the links to their Multiply account and Google group.
http://www.stikfasph.multiply.com
http://groups.google.com/group/stikfasphils
In a toy cutomizer’s hands, STIKFAS can be made to almost anything. The limit is just one’s imagination. So this toy is something people like Ryan and Don would like to have.
(Source: Wikipedia)


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The 7th Philippine Toys, Hobbies and Collectibles Convention 2008
June 14-15, 2008
Megatrade Hall 2-3, SM Megamall
Mandaluyong City, Philippines
www.toyconph.com

7th TOYCON Preparations 1
Ryan and I are now preparing to reproduce our entry to the comic creation contest. We’ve made arrangements with DAmeat so we could sell it at the event. We also plan to sell our fifth issue that we released at M3 Con.
Ryan is is still thinking what contest to join. He already finished retouching his possible entry to the customized mecha figure but he is also thinking if he will only join the customized action figure. He doesn’t want to eleaborate more because he wanted to surprise Don and I. Don already finished his entry to the customized mecha figure. He’ll try to bring it at work to show it to us. Their department head, Vio Rodriguez, is thinking of joining the customized action figure. Even a coworker from the Maintenance Dept. is thinking of joining a contest in the event. He collects mechas so he’ll probably join the customized mecha category. The news about TOYCON spread fast here at work.
My sister already bought materials for my nephew’s costume for the Live Action Figure Costume and COSPLAY Contest. With the help of Ryan, they will modify the sentai suit that my nephew wore last M3 Con. She is also helping me with my costume.
I’ll also try to develop the film of the pictures that will be our entry to the Cosplay Click - Cosplay Photography Contest. The pictures were taken by my nephew’s father. He also preoccupied with photography besides his work as a sound technician for a band.
So many things to do before 7th TOYCON. I hope we pull it off.

LEGO Memories
I remember my first LEGO set. I was 8 years old and I won it in a raffle promo of a fastfood chain. It was a big box of assorted LEGO bricks. I couldn’t believe it because I’ve always asked my parents to buy me one. They always told me it was too expensive and “kalat lang yan” (which came true because there was always a piece or two at every corner of the house since then). I was ecstatic and wanted to go home to check it out.
My siblings and I had a fun time with that LEGO set. We made a lot of toys with it like A-Team vans, our versions of Blue Thunder and Airwolf (popular helicopters of that time), KITT or Knight Rider cars (“Turbo Boost, KITT!”), and giant robots (Mekanda Robot versus Mazinger Z fight specials). Plus there are the toy houses and appliances when we play with our kid sister. I also came up with a lot of stories playing with it.
Many years later, our parents decided to give the LEGO set (the box was only half filled because we’ve lost so many pieces) to our younger cousins. I didn’t want it to give it away at first. But when I saw that my cousins were very happy to have it, I didn’t object.
I had another LEGO encounter when my brother came home from a managers’ convention with a small LEGO set. He said they we’re made to express theirselves with it. Wow, the toy has gone a long way, I said to myself. It’s now a corporate tool to bring out creativity and imagination (which it did when I was young). That LEGO set is now in the hands of my nephews in the province.
At the coming 7th TOYCON, there will be a LEGO Build and Create Contest. If you want to join, it’s time to raid your old toy closets, borrow from your pamangkin or apo’s LEGO sets, or buy new ones, because you’ll need many pieces to build your masterpiece. Just click here to read the rules and get the form.

The 7th Philippine Toys, Hobbies, and Collectibles Convention 2008
June 14-15, 2008
Megatrade Hall 2-3, SM Megamall
Mandaluyong City, Philippines
www.toyconph.com