#Best Of Anime 2023

[twatkcox]

[The Keihancarl Diaries: September 16, 2023]

Hi everyone, Keihancarl here. This will be my second time at the Manila International Book Fair/MIBF post-pandemic (my fifth overall since 2017), plus my first time attending the Best Of Anime/BoA (if I manage to get there before the onsite tickets run out). And so, let’s begin!

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I’m wearing all-black with a splash of red. Well, except for the shirt, since I decided to wear the Kei Tsukishima shirt (a black shirt with an orange and white print) that I bought online more than a month ago. I decided to wear the black fleece coat and black fingerless gloves as well, hoping that I wouldn’t be mistaken as a cosplayer (as was the case back in 2018, during Pinoy Otaku Festival: Ai, though it only happened once). I was initially planning to wear my red plaid scarf, but I decided to ditch it at the last minute.

I decided to leave the house around 9:45 AM (supposedly 9:00 AM), knowing that I’d be dealing with heavy traffic (particularly along Commonwealth Avenue) later.

I reached the MRT North Avenue station within an hour from SM Fairview. Surprisingly, the travel time was a bit faster than expected. Traffic was incredibly light in most parts of Commonwealth Avenue. Along the way, some of the MRT-7 stations are being constructed, with a few of them nearing completion.

The entire MRT ride took me 45 minutes. Getting off at Taft Avenue station, I rode the EDSA Bus Carousel to the Mall Of Asia Complex. Reaching the area, I immediately head to SMX Convention Center (via the elevated bridgeway, coming from MOA Square/IKEA area) to check out Best Of Anime 2023: The Reunion (the event is only for one day, as opposed to two days). It took me 20 minutes to buy the ticket and get inside the venue.

Inside, it feels different. The venue is quite large and there are awesome stalls selling various anime merch. There are food stalls on the side, offering a variety of snacks and meals.

And speaking of which, I treat myself to a serving of gyoza (4 pieces). I didn't buy any drinks, though.

I get to see performances by Starmarie and Chicken Blow The Idol, plus a cosplay talk with AC Hernandez. There was also the official launch of Ani-One Philippines, but I never got to witness it as I already left the venue by then.

I stayed inside the venue for about two hours and bought a couple of souvenirs: a small Domo plushie from Splat.MNL (I used to see their store at Trinoma several years back) and a couple of magnetic bookmarks from Khel_Gotcha (I couldn't remember which stall). I also had a couple of selfies with the cosplayers as well outside the venue.

I head down to the ground floor where the Manila International Book Fair was held. As soon as I got in, I checked some of the booths, including Tuttle, Black Ink Comics, Tankobonbon, and Psicom, among others.

Fully Booked made a comeback at this year's MIBF. National Book Store is notably absent in this event.

There were long lines in some of the booths. Also, there are numerous book signings as well.

As with the previous MIBF visits (except 2018), I never bought anything. I was actually interested in the book No Longer Human by Osamu Dazai (the one I saw at the Tuttle booth), which also had a manga version. Both the novel and the manga are not available in the country yet, the one managing the booth told me. That would've been an awesome souvenir from the event, but… oh well.

At this point, I was starting to get hungry so I decided to leave SMX and head directly to the Mall Of Asia. It took me a while to find a restaurant. Fast food chains are always full of diners and with long lines at the counter.

I initially chose Greenwich, but the long line to the counter made me decide against it. And then there's Pepper Lunch, but I changed my mind at the last minute. I finally decided on Classic Savory.

I chose a solo meal with buttered fried chicken and salt-and-peppered ribs. The buttered fried chicken is okay, but five pieces? I almost had to take out the remaining chicken since I couldn't eat anymore, but I managed to consume them anyway.

Moving on, I checked some of the shops inside the mall, including Muji and Fully Booked. I even passed by ChaTraMue, an original Thai tea shop, but I never got to try any of their drinks.

The heavy rainfall that afternoon made it impossible for me to go to the Esplanade. Instead, the rooftop garden, with the view of Manila Bay and the MOA Eye, became my outdoor setting for some selfies. It was already dark when I got there, though, and the rain had already stopped by then.

The two sculptures are yet to be revealed.

Oh look, there’s a nun by the stairs.

Afterward, it's time for IKEA. Well, I could've visited it right after the MIBF, but I was starting to get hungry at that point, hence the need for a late lunch (more like an early dinner).

Anyway, it was already quarter to seven when I got there, so I had to check much of the area as fast as I could. It took me almost an hour to check out some of the furniture and some home furnishings and even took some wacky selfies.

I could've bought something there, but I hold off for now.

These would make awesome containers, especially for fruit salads.

The LED screen at the MOA Arena was finally fixed. The last time I checked, it looked kind of glitchy. Also, the MOA Globe is lit. Too bad I never get to take a pic.

And it's time to go home. It didn't take me long enough to catch the UV Express ride to SM Fairview. Traffic is light in most parts of the route, but there's heavy traffic past the Batasan portion of Commonwealth Avenue northbound. I even witnessed a traffic accident in that area.

I reached SM Fairview around 9:20 PM. The mall was still open so I took some time to check the area. I couldn't check Booksale though, as they are already closed for the day (though the lights were still on). I got home about 30 minutes later.

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Two events in one awesome Saturday afternoon. An anime convention and a book fair? That was an awesome match. I thought I wouldn't be able to check out the first one since there'll be a potential amount of visitors coming from the book fair. And it's a one-day event too. But the event wasn't jampacked, unlike the book fair below.

I'm so glad I finally get to see another anime convention, and the second for this year after Pinoy Otaku Festival 2023: Shizen (I never got to attend Coshabatsu last July, so that obviously didn't count). Next month, there's the Ozine event at the Fairview Terraces, which will happen a few days after my birthday. My next mall-hopping trip should take me to the BGC and Makati areas, and I'm already planning it. Looking forward to visiting Mitsukoshi BGC, perhaps?

And that concludes everything that happened on that awesome day. Arigato and sayonara! Until next time!

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Most of the pics featured in this post are from my Instagram account, @kcox_105. The first and last photos are from my private Instagram account, @kcox105.

[niyana-the-ambiguous-mobian]

May I have your attention, please?

Just take a look at these guys,

Love all of this to pieces.

[royalarchivist]

Bad: Have you tried melatonin, Slime?

Jaiden: Oh yeah, I've heard it's naturally–

Slimecicle: No, I'm like- I'm like, super white.

Jaiden: ...What? [Laughs] You mean melanin???

Slimecicle: [Wheezes]

Bad: Wait, no– I'm s– melatonin? Isn't that...?

Slimecicle: Yeah, that's correct.

Bad: Am I saying the wrong word???

Jaiden: No, I think– I think there's just a mistake from– [Trying not to laugh] –from Slime.

[makenna-made-this]

BAWKtober Day 27 - Familiar

A thoroughly modern familiar!

Shhh if you see it's november now, no you don't. I'm hangin' in there til the end, even if we're a little late (ง •̀_•́)ง

If you wanna support my october doodles (or buy a treat for my spoiled, spoiled chickens) my kofi and commission links are in pinned post~

[sayxit]

AKIRA

[punster-2319]

Has this been done yet?

[scraftyisthebest]

Travelling squads over the years.

As Liko, Roy, and Dot make their Terastal Debut, they are truly growing into a great squad of travelling friends of their own now, making their big debuts as Trainers on their own two feet.

Welcome to the club, you three, and do your best!

[skitskatdacat63]

2023 Qatar Grand Prix - Sprint - Oscar Piastri

[mickeyeyesarts]

Found Family. Nimona wanted a friend, found a boss, and ended up with a dad.

Even though this movie didn't win the Oscar's, it's definitely still one of the best animated movies of all time (this is not my opinion this is a fact). The reason I love this movie so much is because it has paved the way for animated movies to come, for them to have more positive queer representation in kids media.

This movie deserves more recognition than it currently has. Thank you team Nimona for making one of my favourite movies of all time.

[x-heesy]

/beprepared ⛄️

[segasonic-popcorn-shop]

[chilledagridolce27]

"honey! she's hyperfixating again!"

[cerealbishh]

If the time is right and the time is tonight

Go on and kiss the girl

[royalarchivist]

Speaker: How are you feeling heading into this first game?

Baghera: Very tired, but I can't wait, I'm very happy with the team, it's a crazy international team it's very- [Crowd screams]

[makenna-made-this]

BAWKtober Day 9 - Mushrooms

Chicken of the woods

[sixofclovers]

new year new me (?)