Kapamilya stars grace Toycon

MANILA, Philippines - Zaijian Jaranilla and Martin del Rosario, ambassadors of the Larunungan: Kalinga Kapamilya Toy Drive, and Lauren Young recently graced the unveiling of this year’s Toycon, Asia’s biggest annual toy event, which was held at the Megatrade Halls 1, 2 and 3 of SM Megamall.

It was Zaijian’s second year of participating in the Toycon while Lauren and Martin were had their first.

Toy drive ambassadors Martin and Zaijian encouraged children to show their love and support for other children by donating toys for the Larunungan: Kalinga Kapamilya Toy Drive, which collects toys for about 1.9 million kindergarten students who are enrolled in the 38,000 schools and day-care centers nationwide. The toys donated by Toycon attendees were gathered by DC cosplayers and turned over to the toy drive’s donation box at the Hero TV booth. 

Lauren, on the other hand, is all-out in supporting the project. 

The three were also thrilled with the Kapamilya toy booths of ABS-CBN, Hero TV, Studio 23 and ABS-CBN Multimedia. Kapamilya-inspired toys were sold in the ABS-CBN Licensing booth while an Amped gaming booth was set up by ABS-CBN Multimedia.

On its 10th year, Toycon also featured an exhibit of the year’s biggest movie, Green Lantern by DC Comics and Warner Brothers Pictures. Green Lantern-inspired activities such as cosplay contest, toy exhibit, custom art and figures, face-painting and scavenger hunt, took place. 

Another big movie highlight was the last installment of the Harry Potter movie series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2.  Original costumes and movie props from previous Harry Potter movies were on display at the Toycon, courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures. Other movies which highlighted the convention were Transformers: Dark of the Moon and Captain America care of Solar-UIP Films and Paramount Pictures. 

Panel discussions featuring various creators and artists who have made it big in the international scene with their work in comics and toy designing were also held. Guest artists include superstars in the DC and Marvel comics, Leinil Yu, Gerry Alanguilan, Harvey Tolibao, Jay Anacleto, Stephen Segovia and Carlos Pagulayan. There was also an exhibit from Secret Fresh which featured renowned toy art designs from Amanda Visell and Carlos East of the Beast Brothers, with local toy artists Nemo Aguila and JP Cuison.

Meanwhile, the Larunungan: Kalinga Kapamilya Toy Drive continues. Donation boxes are located at the ABS-CBN Eugenio Lopez Communication Center Tower Entrance and in ABS-CBN regional stations nationwide. Among the toys which can be donated are puzzles, multicolored spindle, fit-in geometric shapes, wooden beads, graded cylinders or any shapes with graduated sizes, number, shapes and color sorter, number play cubes, colored cubes, table blocks, floor blocks, domino type toys, matching card games, game boards, learning charts, activity books, shape sorting games, dolls, lego, dress up frames, carpenter tools, garden play tools, play dough materials, doll bed with doll accessories, number play cubes, peg board with 100 pegs, inch cubes and assessment box.