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.