YEXEL'S TOY MUSEUM: For kids and kids-at-heart

NOTE: THIS IS MY SUGGESTION FOR THIS CHRISTMAS SEASON.
Photos By Michael Varcas

Want to relive the child in you this Christmas season? A weekend “houseum” south of Manila will open its doors every day during the much-awaited Christmas break, waiting for toy lovers, both young and the young-at-heart.

Yexel’s Toy Museum is a house-turned-toy museum that showcases an impressive collection of thousands of action figures, around a hundred of them as big or even larger than life; props replicas; and the world’s largest Optimus Prime head bust.

According to toy collector and museum owner Yexel Sebastian, the primary purpose of creating the museum and opening it to the public was to share with people the blessings given to him by God.

HOLIDAY TOY HUB. Open every day from December 20, 2012 to January 6, 2013, Yexel's Toy Museum is located at 52 Sampaguita Road, Pilar Village, Las Piñas City. Entrance fee is P300 per person.

HE’S INCREDIBLE! Toy collector and museum owner Yexel Sebastian strikes a pose together with his life-size toys at the "The Incredibles" section of his museum.

Life-size Sagat, Ken, Ryu, Guile, Akuma and Zangief at the "Street Fighter"-themed room.

SPORTS WORLD. A head bust of Kobe Bryant (left), Toronto Raptor-days Vince Carter dunks past Los Angeles Lakers-days Shaquille O'Neal (center) and boxing legend Muhammad Ali action figure (right) interplay one another.

“Dragon Ball Z”-themed action figures are displayed on a separate cabinet in one section of the toy museum.

CHRISTMAS WON’T BE LATE. Life-size Alvin and the Chipmunks welcome guests of the toy museum.

MANY VS. ONE. Small action figures of 101 Dalmatians together with main antagonist Cruella de Vil looks to kidnap again the puppies.

DISNEY DECK. Disney action figures (from left) Pinocchio; Captain Hook and Tinkerbell from “Peter Pan”; Princess Ariel of “Little Mermaid”; and Jessica Rabbit, Belle and Prince Adam (Beast) of “Beauty and the Beast” mix action, fantasy, and romance.

FANTASY FOREVER. Action figures from Final Fantasy VII, VIII and X stand tall and proud.

THE MAN OF STEEL IS ON GUARD. Life-size Superman stand beside other cartoons’ and movie characters’ headbusts.

We (Me and Bryan), are about to see a glimpse of the angry Might Hulk head bust.

THE FORCE BE WITH ME. I'm able to enter the “Star Wars”-themed room. On top of the glass partition are Stormtrooper head gears, and at the bottom are some alien characters from the movie.

Me, amazed by the group of life-size toys at a room in Yexel's Toy Museum (from left): “Lupin the III”’s Fujiko, Naruto, Astro Boy and “One Piece”’s Nami.

Once again, we are stunned by the Movies-themed room filled with life-size toys, head busts and props replicas.

Armed and prepared to defend the Earth are (from left) “Justice League”'s The Flash, Batman, Martian Manhunter, Superman, Green Lantern and Wonder Woman, with the help of “The Avengers”’s Thor “X-Men”’s Nightcrawler.

PREPARING FOR BATTLE. Little Tony Stark wears his suit, ready to combat. 

READY TO RUN. A life-size Lightning McQueen Car designed with colorful lights is parked a solo room, seemingly ready to transport visitors to toylands of their childhood.

Life-size Woody and Buzz Lightyear of “Toy Story” trilogy and Mike Wazowski of “Monsters, Inc” in their wacky shot.

`Houseum:' Home Of Toys For Kids And `The Big Boys'

TOY MUSEUM -- Yexel Sebastian (center) poses with 'The Incredibles,' some of the famous life-size cartoon and anime characters on display at Yexel's Toy Museum in Pilar Village, Las Pinas City. (Photo by Michael Varcas)

Cartoons and animé characters are an integral part of practically every popular cul ture around the world ­ influencing kids and “kids-at-heart“ alike. Many toys are ­ and continue to be ­ inspired by famous cartoon and animé characters, making childhood more enjoyable every day.

Toy collector Yexel Sebastian’s childhood is no exception.

“I’ve been collecting [toys] since I was an eight-year-old kid. I started with the kiddie meals, action figures, tamiyas, pogs, [and] texts,” Sebastian said as he opened the door of Yexel’s Toy Museum in Pilar Village, Las Piñas City to MB Research for an exclusive weekday tour.

Just like other kids, 28-year-old Sebastian also played other childhood games before he proceeded to collecting toys.

Aquino Backs Productive Youth Plan

(POSTED ONLINE: November 24, 2012, 7:17pm)

MANILA, Philippines --- President Benigno S. Aquino III expressed support to the Millennium Development Goals Achievement Fund (MDG-F) 1942 Joint Programme on Youth, Employment and Migration (JP YEM) at a youth gathering in Makati City Friday.

“It is wonderful to see international organizations and government agencies collaborate, together, we share the vision of equitable problem for all nations,” Aquino said in his keynote speech, which was delivered by Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldo, who spoke in behalf of the President.

A Point of View: That Every Thing Matters

Two years ago, I am not the type of person who wants to write.  It's not that I dislike it, it's just that, I am not into writing that much.

Back then, if I would be writing about such thing under the sun, I may say it would be more about scripts and concepts for our TV and Radio (production/non-production) class and 'tag lines' for my Advertising subjects as well.

Until irony hits me and came to a time that I suddenly became part of the field that I am not interested about--writing; I never thought of myself embracing this line of work as my first job after college.

Recalling our News and Feature Writing subject (a.k.a 'Course'), I may say, "I am not taking things about it seriously." Particularly, whenever we are tasked to look for a specific news genre by our Professor.

I'm just like talking to myself, saying: "this is not what I've dreamed of nor my soon-to-be job." Especially when it comes to looking for and identifying a 'special report' story—back then, I really knew nothing about it. REALLY!

Well... I was WRONG.

Who would've thought that I'd be placed into writing?

Frankly speaking, I lack self-esteem and trust towards myself, nor complacent that I could really learn how to write--formally or the so-called 'journalistic form of writing'.

But now, I've been given the opportunity to explore and discuss various and different types of stories (such as news and/or feature; specifically, those 'Special Reports' which I didn't gave importance, chance, and focus for me to comprehend.

I've come to finally realize that, every thing in this world should be given enough time to be understood, discovered, realized and learned--Every one deserves it, and every things as well.

That is one primary reason for us, people, to gain and appreciate such matter in this world, whether they breath or not, tangible or not. Every single thing is important. That is why the word "thing" is also called "matter", because it matters.

On our daily existence, whoever/whatever/whichever comes our way, still: let us all move forward towards meeting new people, strive hard to gain new knowledge, and be well prepared for a new exciting experience.

People might say, 'not all things that we encounter in our lives will be useful.' But I'm pretty sure, at one point in our lives, it will be, someday.


P.S.
Magaling ang propesor ko sa News and Feature Writing noon, wala siyang pagku-kulang. Siguro, talagang hindi ko lang inakala na ito ang magiging trabaho ko ngayon.

My Verse---LRT Rap

Photo by Razu Ryza on Flickr.com

I walk as the sun strikes straight at me

It would've been better if I sailed the sea

This feeling I can't tolerate

At least life is not at stake

*insert beatbox*

Different faces, different voices

Different stations, different destinations

Thousands of people riding

Many of them sweating

Seconds of ticket claiming

Minutes of train waiting

Hours of travelling

Days of people working

Whatever they say might not be true

Whatever the portray can't be seen through

I look at the sky, then I see blue

With thoughts on my mind there might be you

*fade-out beatbox*

I did everything just to be at the LRT.

JDV's New Initiatives

Former House Speaker Jose De Venecia, Jr. announced his agendas in collaboration with organizations around the world at a luncheon with the press in Makati City the other day.

“A few weeks ago, we had a meeting with United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. I submitted to him number of proposals. I [also] led together with Korean Ambassador Chung Eui-yong, the 18 man standing committee of International Conference of Asian Political Parties  (ICAPP) and we met with him at the UN in New York,” said De Venecia.

He noted that the extent of ICAPP is composed of purely political parties, ruling parties and opposition parties from Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, Central Asia, West Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and Pacific small islands.

Don't worry, he won't know...

For sure, everyone in this world has something to think and say about everything that exists and surrounds them---But not everything can be heard by others nor shared to others.

Sometimes, our thoughts and perceptions cannot be voiced-out. And I am wondering, why is it so?

Where do confidentiality and privacy came from? Was it Adam and Eve's fault why such existed?

Well, I just formulated those questions on my mind. But I am not sure why have I thought of that. I guess, I simply don't know the  reason. Nevertheless, on my mind,  I have questions and conclusions.

Ang Alamat ng 'Lost and Found'

Photo from Google.com

Nagtataka lang ako bakit may mga ‘Lost And Found’?

May logical explanation ba dun? Di ko alam...

Marahil kaya 'Lost And Found' ang tawag sa 'lost and found' ay dahil napag ha-hanapan siya at mapagkukuhanan din ng gamit. Pero, para sa’kin, mali talaga eh! Ewan ko lang ha, ang labo talaga eh…

Parang kasing ganito… Nawala ang gamit mo pero nahanap din nila agad? Sa parehong lugar at oras pa?

Tingin ko, dapat Lost But Found, eh. Nawala ang gamit mo pero nahanap nila, ‘di ba?