CAITLIN’S STORY
A Shrine of Her Own
Caitlin’s collection began with one person: the one and only Iron Man. After collecting for more than five years, her love for the character translated into what she calls a “shrine” filled with Iron Man merchandise. Her all-time favorite is a gift she got herself after graduation: the Iron Man MK50 Robot that connects via Bluetooth.
Aside from action hero figures, she also enjoys the thrill of blind boxes, especially the urge to complete a set just by seeing the list on the side of the box. Her picking tactics are either a game of eeny, meeny, miny, moe or having her younger cousins pick for her.
In terms of aesthetics, she leans more towards cutesy items such as DIMOO and HACIPUPU, known for their baby-like features and cute colors. However, she also collects figurines from One Piece and Harry Potter.
Despite the wide array of items, Caitlin sees herself as a casual collector who stays up-to-date on new releases through Facebook Communities. When dealing with duplicates, her mindset goes: “I’ve already spent this much; why not try again?”
Nonetheless, she recognizes the importance of budgeting. So, she spends two thousand pesos a month and has a piggy bank where she drops only twenty-peso coins, which she also uses on her collectible purchases. She calls herself a spender and a saver.
In the end, the advice Caitlin would give to new collectors is: “Start with what you love. If you have a love for Disney? You can start with Disney.” Another: “You don’t have to buy things to start a collection.” Beyond her blind boxes and figurine memorabilia, Caitlin collects seashells from the beaches she’s visited. It truly shows that collecting can begin with something small and simple.
ELJHAY’S STORY
She’s Gotta Catch ‘Em All
Eljhay’s collector mindset goes, “Deserve ko to! Bibilhin ko to!”
With the array of Star Wars Funko Pops filling the walls of her room, it is clear that she’s been an enthusiast for the past six to seven years—a hobby sparked by her dad. Her collection then expanded to One Piece figurines, manga, and now Pokémon cards, her current fascination.
Now, one of her favorite cards is the First Edition Giovanni’s Meowth from a Gym Challenge in 2000, given by her dad. Another favorite is a Snorlax card from the Sword and Shield Last Origin because she pulled it herself.
Due to her fascination, she recalled spending a lot of time browsing at a DLSU bazaar, where she became friends with the seller and didn’t realize her friend had left her side. At that time, Eljhay ended up buying a bulk of cards just to complete a set.
Speaking of completing a set, Eljhay also proudly shared about finishing “The Other One” and “Shelter” Hirono series. She remembered buying the entire set and trading with other collectors just to finish the series. When not hunting blind boxes, she likes to purchase rare and worth-buying items.
Still, she does know the importance of restraint. Eljhay limits her spending to one item a month. She shares that when shopping online, if an item stays in her cart for a long time and is forgotten, she immediately thinks it isn’t meant to be.
“Tip for starting: it is a commitment. Try to collect 1-3 pieces first. If kaya mo mahalin na nandiyan sila o kontento ka na dun, sige lang, that’s a collection already. You don’t have to have so many items.”
She further explained that if one wishes to expand their collection,
“Try to expose yourself to people who collect. But don’t try to expose yourself too much that you get influenced to buy and buy again that you don’t even need.”
Finally, the most important advice she could give is to just have fun and go at your own pace.
MARICAR’S STORY
The Casual Collector
Maricar has been collecting since she was seven years old, when she got into LEGO; her first item was a LEGO City Plane. Now, her collection has expanded to POP MART items like LABUBUs. One of her most treasured items is a large Star Wars Razor Crest LEGO set. She got it as a birthday gift from her parents when she turned sixteen during the peak of the pandemic, when celebrations were forced to be at home. This made it not only a special day, but a memorable one.
While she is a master at building, her luck is tested with blind boxes. With back-to-back unsuccessful attempts, she prefers someone else to pick for her, and it has proven an effective tactic. Unlike other collectors who love the rush of chasing new releases, Maricar takes a more casual approach, aware that it’s an expensive hobby. She only buys collectibles during special occasions like her birthday and Christmas. Other times, it’s a reward when she gets good grades, or it’s simply an excuse to splurge.
Some advice she’d give to new collectors is “Start buying from mainline stores; don’t go to the small stores yet. You might not know how to buy certain things. Going to the mainline has the benefit of knowing it’s a true item.”
Lastly, “Start small, start with what you love. It can be one character, it can be a whole movie, it can be a whole fandom, or it can be completely niche. Do it for the love of the game.”
AUBREY’S STORY
Shared Joys
Every collector has their own unique origin story, and Aubrey’s began with a bit of friendly influence.
Aubrey Arguelles is a 19-year-old college student at Ateneo De Manila University, studying Health Sciences. Though very practical everywhere, it seems as though she wasn’t able to escape the persuasion of her friends and the charm of little collectibles called Nyota.
Collecting, though seemingly a solitary hobby, thrives on the shared experiences of others. It’s one thing that these Nyotas are cute and doe-eyed, but the enthusiasm of peers became an additional catalyst.
“One of the reasons I got into collecting these items is because of my friends. Seeing them send pictures of newly released items and their own collectibles makes me want to purchase one of my own as well,” says Aubrey.
Her friends being collectors isn’t the only reason behind why she also collects. She also collects Nyotas because she enjoys the thrill of never knowing what you’ll get. It’s in the limitless possibilities that increases the joy in collecting.
Of course, the thrill of the unknown only works if the prize inside is worth the wait. Aubrey notes that she likes collecting POPMART’s Nyota because of their whimsical concept and style. The dreamy figurines’ artistry is what makes her stay interested in what’s inside.
Collecting isn’t solely getting something and putting them on a shelf. It’s also an experience for you and for others.
NICOLE’S STORY
The Value of “Useless” Joy
Many people think that collecting is a waste of money and space, but for others, it’s also an act of reclaiming their childhood.
Meet Nicole Urbano. She’s a 20-year-old college student in Far Eastern University studying Internal Auditing. She mainly collects Nyotas and Smiskis, two very different series in terms of vibes. Still, they unite in bringing her joy.
She grew up with practicality ingrained in her. “‘Di ako yung lumaki na pag gusto ko ng laruan bibilhan ako, dapat special events lang or something na worth it lang din,” Nicole reflects. But now, with the freedom of adulthood, the rules have changed.
riam.
Nicole now embraces the joy of buying these collectibles for herself, even if it seems purely decorative and pointless for others. “Ngayon binibili ko gusto ko kahit walang kwenta,” she laughs.
Her main interests are Nyotas and Smiskis. Nyotas because as much as the designs are wonderful, the story behind the collectible fascinates her. It’s dreamy and rich with imagination, which offers her an escape from the realities of adulthood.
Smiskis, however, cater more to humor than cuteness. With their simple and emotionless faces, these figurines emote through the funny poses that each series has. While Nyotas focus on a dreamy life, Smiskis are rooted in the humor of reality.