My so-called Macross diorama...

Sidenote: The weather outside was kinda crappy for a good number of minutes... heavy downpour of rain with loud thunderstorms filled the air, and it didn't help much to quell the humidity that we've been experiencing for the last couple of days, obviously these are the effects of global warming and God forbid we are not getting punished for our sins to mother nature... happy thoughts ladies and gentlemen, happy thoughts.

Anyways, a couple of days ago I decided to unbox the Macross Valkyrie figures I've finally got to purchase and these consists of three Revoltechs (VF-1A, VF-1J and VF-1S) and one from Yamato (YF-21.) I would have wanted to take them out for an outdoor shoot but like what I've mentioned earlier, the weather is quite unpredictable and you'll never know whether you'll be basking under the sweltering heat or confined inside your homes due to the rains, but unfortunately the latter spoiled all the fun . This is an impromptu diorama photo shoot I did with my Macross figures and since I was limited to the space that was available for my makeshift diorama, I wasn't able to get good shots of it and this one you're seeing would probably fit the bill of an "okay" photo. I'll be working more on setting-up this diorama to make it "presentable" and hopefully get more better shots in the long run.

Adopting an unwanted and damaged Bearbrick figure

Nowadays most toy shops in and around the metro are now selling loose items or pre-owned toy items as well. And for a bargain toy hunter like me, this is indeed quite favorable on my part since most of the items from my collection consists of toys that I got as loose items. I'm not that particular when it comes to these loose toy items since for one I am just a random toy collector and for as long as I get my money's worth on the item that I'm buying, then everything's cool with me. It was during one of those rare visits to these chain of toy shops when I accidentally discovered this Bearbrick figure lying in a pile of other toys being sold at relatively affordable prices. It was priced at Php 99 (roughly around $2.00 something) but when I examined it closely, it looks like that the Bearbrick figure was a factory reject, or I even thought that it might have been accidentally damaged so the previous owner decided to sell it off since nobody wanted to put on display a damaged toy figurine, right? I guess there were two or three more damaged Bearbrick figures in that pile and since I have already made previous toy purchases that day, I decided to get this one first and hopefully come back for the rest when I return.

The slightly damaged Bearbrick toy figure

It took me around almost three weeks before I went back there to buy the remaining Bearbrick figs, and sadly my hunches were right all along and as I looked into the plastic container where I found them, they were not there anymore... though I was thinking that at least somebody might have bought them and now they have a new home where the new owners can enjoy the Bearbricks as part of their toy collection. The overall condition of this Bearbrick is quite good except for the chipped paint details on the right ear and face. A mint condition/brand new Bearbrick figure same to this is selling at shops for less than Php 300 (less than $7.00), but in any case I'm glad that I was able to get this one since I never had a Bearbrick figure in my collection and honestly I would never spend an insanely huge amount of money just to buy the vinyl or diecast versions of the Bearbrick and though this may be a bootleg/replica of the real deal... as I always say, "Who cares? As long as I get my money's worth on the item, we're cool."

Toys and Memories...

For the longest time have I contemplated over and over again on whether or not to take it out from its carded packaging this Shazam! figure from Mattel's DC Universe Crisis toy line, and obviously I never attempted to do so. I guess this action figure had too much sentimental value for me to just rip it open, so to speak. Toys or any stuff for that matter given to me by my family or friends isn't much of an issue though I do take care of them very well, but for something like this mini Shazam! action figure... I just wanted it to stay as it is and preserve the memories that came along with it.


This was given to me from someone very special and it was somehow like a "spontaneous gift" or a "spur-of-the-moment thought" if you may call it. I remember that day when she texted me around afternoon and told me that she'll be coming over to my place after work and hand me something. Later that evening my cellphone rang and I knew she was waiting for me outside with her car parked in front of our house. I told her if she wanted to come in but she told me that she wasn't going to stay for long and immediately handed to me the Shazam! toy figure, she told me that Toys "R" Us was having a bazaar sale in one of the open lots inside their office compound and she thought of getting me that action figure since it was selling for only Php 100 (around $2.00 ++), though she may not be that well-versed with comic book characters or superheroes but the mere thought of getting me one for no particular reason gave it more meaning and value, that is why up to this very day I still keep this toy inside a Ziploc bag to protect it from dust and dirt.


Eventually this Shazam! figure would turn out to be the very last toy item I'll be receiving from her as a gift... and sadly after being together for nearly a decade, we recently decided to go our own separate ways... and all that remains from this very special item are the fond memories from that day and somehow, that lingering thought inside me of what we used to be. Too bad for Billy Batson's alter ego and he won't be able to experience life outside the carded packaging... it's too early to say but I'm still not over it, maybe even if I have moved on it will always stay that way... memories are too precious to let go, even for something as trivial or cheesy like keeping a toy figure sealed and untouched, possibly forever.