This new Pokémon event will travel around the PH until October. Here's what to expect
It’s a great time to be a Pokémon fan in the Philippines as there’s going to be a months-long celebration of the beloved video game franchise in different parts of the country, starting in Quezon City.
Dubbed "Pokémon Fun Day," the event kicked off at The Block Atrium in SM North Edsa on Jan. 31 and will last until Feb. 13.
PhilSTAR L!fe had a chance to explore and enjoy the various programs, activities, and displays of the convention, which is touted to be the “most exciting gathering of Pokémon trainers in the country.”
Of course, no Pokémon-themed event will be complete without the star of the franchise itself: Pikachu. The electric mouse mascot will surely grab your attention as it has been turned into a massive 6-meter-tall inflatable.
The eye-catching display makes for a perfect highlight in your pictures to commemorate the event, but if that’s not enough to satisfy your inner Pokémon trainer, you’d be pleased to know that the event also has a meet-and-greet session with Pikachu.
For those of you who are looking to bring home some Pokémon goodies, the convention also has a space where you can shop for some exclusive merchandise and collectibles. You don’t have to worry about whether they’re authentic as the organizers have only gathered licensed sellers.
You can find goodies such as trading card bundles, adorable plushies of all shapes and sizes, stylish keychains, Pokémon-themed shirts, Funko Pop figures, and other irresistible items to add to your collection.
While Pokémon is mostly known for its video game aspect, that’s not the only thing enjoyable about the franchise as there’s also a growing fanbase for its Trading Card Game.
If you’ve only ever played the video games but are eager to learn about how to be the very best in the card games, then here’s your chance to master it as the event has learn-to-play tutorial sessions where you can know about the ins and outs of the game.
Here, you'll get to engage with certified players and experts in the field every weekend. It won’t be long now until you formulate your own planned strategies and brilliant tricks to be the next Pokémon Trading Card Game champion.
But if you want to stick to the video game route, there's also a section where you can play a demo version of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, which are the latest installment in the mainline series.
Pokémon Fun Day is also notable for launching the very first Pokémon Run, which will take place at the SM Mall of Asia on Feb. 9. Organized by RUNRIO, the running event has race distances of 10K, 5K, 3K, and 1K.
While the marathon is already sold out, Runrio Inc. president and CEO coach Rio Dela Cruz underscored how this run is special compared to the ones they organized in the past.
"We made history. We've been organizing races since 2007 and this is the first time that it has happened to us, that our 10,000 slots were sold out in just 15 minutes," Dela Cruz said.
If you weren't able to make the cut but would still want to witness the event, the gunstarts for each category are as follows: 5:00 a.m. for 10K, 5:30 a.m. for 5K, 6:00 a.m. for 3K, and 6:30 a.m. for 1K.
Participants will be given a medal as well as a few exclusive items such as a race shirt, a lootbag, and more.
After SM North Edsa, Pokémon Fun Day will continue in other SM branches up until October. Below are the dates and venues you should keep in mind if you’re keen on continuing your Pokémon adventure:
- SM Mall of Asia- Feb. 18 to March 2
- SM Southmall- March 9 to March 23
- SM East Ortigas- March 28 to April 11
- SM Taytay- April 16 to April 30
- SM Angono- May 5 to May 19
- SM Marikina- May 24 to June 7
- SM San Mateo- June 11 to June 25
- SM Caloocan- June 30 to July 14
- SM Fairview- July 19 to Aug. 2
- SM San Jose Del Monte- Aug. 11 to Aug. 25
- SM Davao- Sept. 1 to Sep. 15
- SM Iloilo- Sept. 22 to Oct. 6
