Manila Pop Culture Convention 2023 is coming to Ayala Malls Manila Bay from November 17 to 19 to celebrate all things fun and geeky! Here’s what to expect.

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One Piece star Mackenyu made headlines recently when he was announced as the headliner for ManiPopCon, or the Manila Pop Culture Convention 2023, an upcoming gathering and convention of geeks, gamers, and pop culture enthusiasts in Manila. At the convention, Mackenyu will have a solo panel, meet and greet, and special photo op and autograph sessions the weekend of November 17 to 19. Other special guests are also slated to attend the event, like actresses Diana Lee Inosanto and Mela Lee.

Tickets for Mackenyu’s special events are being sold here, but even if you don’t manage to score one, don’t worry—you can still catch a glimpse of him at the convention!

ManiPopCon promises all sorts of geeky fun. And the best part? Entrance is FREE! But there will be a ticketing system, so stay tuned to their website and social media accounts to secure your tickets. Special events and VIP experiences like Mackenyu’s meet and greet have separate ticket prices, which are a little pricey, but hopefully it’s worth it. If you’re wondering what else is in store for the convention, read on ahead.

THE RISE OF CONVENTIONS

As with any other events that involve social gatherings like concerts or even movies, conventions have reached new peaks after the worst of the pandemic ended. From Comic-Cons to Sticker Cons, people are gathering to shop, sell, play games, cosplay, bond, and just have fun with their fellow enthusiasts.

Of course, there’s much to learn with conventions’ growing popularity and the changing times. Tech and gaming convention CONQuest 2023 back in June “turned into a nightmare” after failed logistics, incredibly long lines and waiting times, and scams, among other issues. Social media was on fire after attendees and vendors alike voiced out their concerns with the event. After, the organizers apologized and refunded the tickets of those unable to enter the venue.

Moreover, there was a Manila Pop Culture Convention back in 2019, which unfortunately faced some criticism related to poor planning and logistics.

So, clearly it’s not enough to just want to bring people, games, media, vendors, and merchandise together under one roof to explore passions and niches. There’s a lot of expectations to be met, work to be done, and issues to be addressed. ManiPopCon seems to want to deliver a well-executed event, so here’s hoping this year’s convention will turn out better to allow all the artists, gamers, cosplayers, and geeks abound to have a grand time celebrating all things pop culture.

ALL THE GEEKY GOODNESS

ManiPopCon is said to be “a safe space to cosplay, meet other geeks, gather collectibles, play with opponents, and meet special celebrities within the geek community.” They promise Filipino movie classics, nostalgia and thrills, toys and collectibles, streaming stars, anime, comics, games and tournaments, and so much more.

There’s also sure to be booths that offer a wide array of merchandise, fanart, collectibles, and knick-knacks attendees can stock up on to show their love for their specific niches of geekhood. ManiPopCon recently opened up a call for exhibitors, which means people can promote their art or brand to a wide audience of convention-goers. There are three tiers of varying benefits and prices. Plus, there’s a lot more for them to announce, but the hype is real.

SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE

Besides vendors and merch and special guests, what else is happening? Well, let us tell you. There will be a music festival, After Dark Music Fest, on November 18 and 19, headlined by artists like Silent Sanctuary, Tanya Markova, One Click Straight, and more! Get tickets here.

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Not just that—ManiPopCon will also have something for the film buffs. They’re partnering with ABS-CBN’s Sagip Pelikula to screen restored Filipino film classics like LVN’s Ibong Adarna (1941) and Captain Barbell (1973).

Register for Manila Pop Culture Convention 2023 here and stay updated on their Facebook page, where they’re hosting some trivia games for the chance to score tickets for some of the movies they’ll be showing at the event!

Bookmark this page for more updates!

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It’s not every day that we get to discover how a new gadget can make our lives easier. Thankfully, I was able to experience that with the ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED

As a creative professional who has been writing for two years now, I’m almost never seen without a laptop, even on the occasional weekend or family trip. Having a laptop that can cater to both work and play is crucial for me, especially when I know I have quite a few things on my plate, whether that’s a deadline I have to meet or the release of a new show I’ve been waiting for—and that’s exactly what happened just last week.

I was recently given the opportunity to get my hands on the ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED (UX3402), which is equipped with the latest 12th Gen Intel Core i7 processor that’s optimized for multi-tasking, and it unexpectedly took me by surprise as it ticked a lot of what I consider to be non-negotiables when it comes to a gadget investment.

In with the times

Right off the bat, I found the overall look of the ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED appealing with its minimalist and modern design. The Aqua Celadon design is clean, sleek, and can totally match any aesthetic we’re going for, which holds even just a sliver of importance nowadays. Meanwhile, the Ponder Blue even features an anti-fingerprint coating, a huge plus for everyone who’s more meticulous about the cleanliness of their gadgets.

Being lightweight also makes it so easy to carry around. Weighing only 1.39kg, and with a side profile of less than 16.9mm, it’s a perfect on-the-go partner whenever I feel like working elsewhere apart from home.

A different kind of flatlay

Another feature that I was obsessed with was its ability to lay completely flat, even the screen! Thanks to the 180° lay-flat ErgoLift hinge, I could sit however I wanted to on my bed when I was binge-watching Amazon Prime’s The Summer I Turned Pretty. To say I was completely comfortable is an understatement since I could confidently adjust the screen every time I wanted to switch positions.

Personal movie screen

I also realized as I was watching even just the first episode of the show was that the display screen provided much better colors than my usual laptop. It gives it a lot more life with its exceptionally detailed and realistic visuals, thanks to the ultra-wide color gamut of 100% DCI-P3. This ASUS laptop is also PANTONE Validated, which simply means precise color accuracy is expected.

ASUS OLED laptops also emit 70% less harmful blue light by calibrating the spectrum. Unlike traditional blue-light filters, shifting the spectrum means color accuracy is uncompromised. Meanwhile, the displays have about a 60% higher color volume, offering better color performance at any brightness level. As someone with pretty bad eyesight, using a laptop that can provide great color without having to put the brightness on max is a huge sigh of relief.

Unstoppable action

Apart from writing and watching for days on end, I also had a few meetings here and there. The laptop’s glorious 75-hour watt battery handled everything with ease. The ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED provided more than enough battery life that covered everything I had to do for days since it’s co-engineered with Intel. This makes it meet the requirements of an Intel Evo™ platform that guarantees a certain set of hardware specifications and key experiences, including instant wake, long battery life, and fast charge. It also provides great connectivity, as well as image and sound quality on a multi-person video call, which made it perfect for all my online meetings.

A modern touch

Perhaps one of the things that surprised me with this laptop was that a built-in numpad was already part of its smooth and easy-to-use touchpad. The NumberPad 2.0, an LED-illuminated numeric keypad, has a single-touch sensor at the upper right of the touchpad to turn it on and off, while the icon on the upper left presents two different brightness levels. Given that many laptops now don’t carry the numpad like before, it was refreshing to see it in a more modern way.

Overall, with its distinct and effortless features, the ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED gave me a taste of how easy and comfortable my daily routine could actually be.

To figure out how the ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED can work with your own lifestyle, visit their website for more information. They even offer complimentary Adobe Creative Cloud membership to those who need it. Get your own hands on this unique laptop by visiting your nearest ASUS Concept Store.