Fun times with Filipino Funatics

Boracay Starfish emerged victorious. —PHOTOS BY PEPE FERNANDEZ

Since 2013, Funko Funatics—Funko collectors who are members of the group Funko Funatic Philippines (FFP)—have been coming together at the end of each year for a memorable Christmas party.

What started as a gathering of just 20 people that first year has grown to become an annual event that welcomes hundreds of attendees.

One of the many games played at the event

But Nikko Lim, founder of the group, thought this year’s party would be their last. “Weeks going into the party, I was thinking this might be the last one we are doing since some Funko collectors are now moving to another hobby and some have slowed down in collecting.”

But the 600 members who trooped to Metrotent Convention Center in Pasig on Dec. 7 didn’t know that. For some, the celebration started extra early. They headed to the venue the day before the party, like they would for a special Funko release.

First in line

First in line was Raizen Mendoza, who joined FFP six years ago and attended his first Funatic Christmas party in 2018.

While they do give exclusive merchandise to the first few people in line, Lim said, “Some people go super early to hang out and get to know fellow Funatics.”

There are attendees who traveled from far away to make it to the event—Davao, Cebu, Cotabato, Macau, Malaysia, New York, and California.

This year’s party theme was “Funtropiko,” “a beach/island theme to promote some of the different islands and tourist destinations in the Philippines,” and a nod to the hit Bini song “Pantropiko.”

Since 2018, they’ve been dividing attendees into four teams. This year, to match the theme, the teams were named Bohol Whale Sharks, Siargao Crocodiles, Palawan Sea Turtles, and Boracay Starfish.

Funko Funatics Philippines founder Nikko Lim

“It’s a good way to develop camaraderie in smaller groups, teamwork, and also create a friendly competitive spirit,” Lim said.

Teamwork starts long before the party, with the groups making their own preparations, rehearsing for performances, and coming up with surprises for fellow attendees.

Outside the venue, hours before the party, the teams usually set up tents and booths. “They give out food and merchandise, have live band performances, and play games,” said Lim.

Inside Metrotent, the teams, wearing their special team shirts or their tropical best, were also seated together in sections around the cross-shaped stage.

Jollibee surprised attendees with this limited-edition glow-in-the-dark Funko Pop

The Itchyworms

The Itchyworms brought a lot of energy to that stage as they performed their hits. Lim revealed that they had been inviting the band to play for three years now—and finally, their schedules aligned.

There was, of course, a particular Itchyworms song that the audience was very excited about. In fact, when frontman Jugs Jugueta asked, “Anong favorite niyong… (What’s your favorite…),” before he could even finish the sentence, the crowd yelled “Beer!”, referring to their mega hit.

But Jugueta was actually asking his bandmates to tell him what their favorite Funko Pops are. (Jazz Nicolas likes Marty McFly; Kelvin Yu’s fave is The Police; for Jugueta, it’s Freddie Mercury; while new band member Weckl Mercado picked Jollibee.)

When The Itchyworms started playing the first chords of “Beer,” a surprising segue from covering “Christmas In Our Hearts” by Jose Mari Chan (who has his own Funko Pop figure, by the way), the crowd cheered and started singing along.

Someone handed Jugueta a can of beer and he made his way down the ramp, singing, signing autographs, and getting gifts from fans.

The Itchyworms closed the set with another big hit—“Akin Ka Na Lang.”

After their performance, they were presented with Funko Pop versions of themselves customized by artist Markdwin Cheng.

Janno Gibbs, also a Funko collector, also performed at the event, including his song “Fallin’” that’s a favorite of Lim’s.

Boodle fight

Fun came in many forms at “Funtropiko,” including video messages from other Funatics and friends of FFP, most memorably Funko founder Mike Becker.

The four teams competed in different categories—they danced (plenty of Bini-inspired moments, as to be expected), strutted and, in the case of one gentleman, surfed down the runway in their beachy costumes. There were games, including an intense boodle fight. And prizes just kept raining.

Bag-laden people—dubbed as The Prize Patrol—emerged onstage again and again, making their way to the many tables where they handed attendees sacks of Funko figures and collectibles.

Prize Patrol ready to hand out more goodies

Funko mascot Freddy Funko was at the party, as was Jollibee, a long-time friend of FFP. (Lim was instrumental in making the Jollibee Funko Pops happen.)

Jollibee surprised everyone with limited-edition glow-in-the-dark Jollibee Funko Pops. “It’s exclusive to Funko Funatic Philippines. This celebrates our partnership with Jollibee since 2018,” said Lim.

Boracay Starfish team leader Franz Adrian Sy’s limited-edition gold Freddy Funko given to the “Funtropiko” champions —FRANZ ADRIAN SY

Another event-exclusive Pop handed out to attendees was a limited-edition Freddy Funko wearing a red shirt with a sun and stars, a tribute to the Philippine Flag.

Members of team Boracay Starfish were declared champions and they got to bring home medals plus a limited-edition gold Freddy Funko Pop wearing a Funtropiko shirt. “It was the first time we had a special figure for the winning team,” Lim said.

Giving back

The annual FFP awards were also handed out: Benjo Roxas Saing was awarded Rookie of the Year, Christopher Uy was given the Jun Go-Funatic Service Award, Bully Collectibles was awarded Retailer of the Year, and Arnold Katiang from Cotabato was voted Collector of the Year.

“No need to have the largest collection but he should be someone who is also a role model and active in the Funko Funatic community,” said Lim.

The Funko Funatic community is an active one, with over 55,000 members on Facebook. And they make sure to give back. “All the events we do, the exclusives that we release, all proceeds go to our Funatics Give Back charity events. We go to less fortunate kids and share the fun with them by distributing Funko toys, meals, school supplies, and playing games with them.”

Limited-edition Freddy Funko that’s a Funk Funatics Philippines exclusive

Last month, they went to Villamor Air Base Elementary School with “Blues Clues” host Josh Dela Cruz and Arnel Pineda where they gave Funko Pops, school supplies, and Jollibee meals to 500 kids.

At one point during “Funtropiko,” in the whirlwind of laughter and cheers, Lim realized it couldn’t be their last party. “I saw how happy everyone was, everyone having fun—it was a great feeling. I remembered why we started doing this. It’s more than just the toys, it’s more the people, the community we built. Whether we have 1,000, 100 or just 10 people, we hope to continue this yearly tradition of getting together and just having fun.”

So they’re doing it again next year. In fact, they already have a date for it—Dec. 6—and a theme. Lim said, “It would be our most ambitious concept so far.”

Whatever it is, we’re sure it will be fun.