The first day of TAGCOM — the Toys, Anime, Gaming, Cosplay, and Movies Convention, was held yesterday, the 28th of February at the Main Atrium of the Robinsons Midtown Mall, Malate, Manila from 10:00 AM onwards. The second and last day is today, March 1st, and will feature the finals for the Individual and Group Cosplay competitions.

The convention is a free event, which assures the organizers of a good mix of real collectors and random passersby. While this is a good thing for the hobby shops and specialty stores opening booths at the event, it’s not a lot of fun for people who dropped by with the sole intention of purchasing items. The walkways were literally strewn with oglers and the occasional cosplayer, which made choosing and buying stuff a tad difficult.

This did not, however, detract from the great buys at the con. Loose action figure can go for as low as PhP 100, while assorted gashapon trading figures were selling for three for PhP 100. Boxed and sealed sets are also at 20% to 40% less of store prices, making them very attractive to hardcore collectors with deep pockets. Some of the best deals we found were a rare (last item!) HATSUNE MIKU FIGMA from Wasabi Toys, and KOTOBUKIYA PLAYARTS FINAL FANTASY X TIDUS and YUNA pair from Great Toys.

Things will only get more more hectic when the Cosplay Competitions are held later today. With an expected draw of upwards of fifty cosplayers (and many more assistants and photogs), the crowds are going to be crazy. If you intend to drop by and pick up a STAR WARS or MARVEL collectible or two, it would be best to arrive early and get your shopping done before the throng reaches its peak.

It’s a great — if bewildering start to another event. Our congratulations to HOBBIWORX for the success of TAGCOM, and we’re looking forward to your next event, the 2nd Philippine Cosplay Convention.