WHETHER you’re getting them for nostalgia or profit, it’s clear that toys aren’t just for kids anymore. Surely you’ve seen posts online of adults collecting anime figurines, or Sanrio plushies. Or you’ve seen a branch of Filbar’s or that of the Big Boys Toy Store at the mall, selling Funko Pops, blind boxes, and comic books of shows that definitely aren’t meant for kids.

Toy collectors have always been around, but there hasn’t always been a community in the Philippines to cater to their needs. Often, others look at them as childish or immature, when in reality, what they do is a hobby just like anyone else’s.

I then started growing more and more curious: What does it take to be a toy collector? How does one fall into the hobby, and what is needed to maintain this hobby?

Getting into toyland

In the case of CK Cotaoco, her love for toys started because it was the family business; for 13 years, her family has been attending and selling at toy conventions. Her dad’s influence and being immersed in different toy events is why she grew to love toys herself.

She started her collection in 2010, when she and her family began joining toy conventions and some pieces caught her eye. 

“At the time, the events mostly combined anime and K-pop activities, so a lot of the merch sold were related to those. I took interest in different anime figures, some K-pop merch, and anything Harley Quinn,” she said. 

At present, she mainly just collects art toys, as well as merchandise related to anime, gaming, and Sanrio.

Many collectors’ interest in toys, not surprisingly, began as children. They carried the fascination into adulthood, and then started accumulating their favorites. 

Meg Morata, a 38-year-old accountant, first grew interested in toys as a child thanks to Disney movies. The interest has apparently not waned, as she decided to collect them as an adult. 

She started with small, hard collectibles and stuffed toys, but is now mostly interested in stuffed toys. 

Accountant and real estate property specialist Jose Lacsamana’s interest in toys also started as a child, when he would collect G.I. Joe and wrestling action figures from ages three to five years old. 

His collection continued to grow over the next 35 years.

This hobby has its ups and downs, like any other. Scoring a good piece gives collectors a high, while being unable to purchase one is definitely a downer. 

“My favorite part is enjoying the designs and completing a set; it’s like a goal that became successful. My least favorite part – is when it becomes an addiction to buy, and I have insufficient funds to purchase a toy,” Lacsamana said. 

Not child’s play

The world of toy collecting can also be a scary place, especially if you can’t control your spending. 

Cotaoco recounted how she became addicted to collecting plushies in 2022. She estimated that she managed to spend over P50,000 on them in a span of two months.

“I barely had any space in my room that time, and I was crying over plushies,” she said, recalling that dark moment in her life.

During that time, she’d often use credit just to be able to buy them. 

Now, she’s learned to let go of items before getting anything new, because it’s best to be in control of yourself and to be able to maintain stable finances.

“Now, I’ve calmed down, and started selling some before getting new ones,” she said.  

And aside from knowing when to set limits, you have to realize that toy collecting requires a lot of funds, too.

Anjiela Carlene Lopez, a 26-year-old business owner and media manager, said that she spends P3,500 to P5,000 on her toy collection. 

Lacsamana and Morata estimate that in the past, they spent around P10,000 per month on their collection.

Money well-spent

But for people like Morata, toy collecting has also become a form of investment and business. 

It has been the same for Lacsamana as well. Through his Facebook page Toyhub, he sells some of the toys he buys as a means of keeping up with the expenses needed to maintain his hobby. Usually, he only keeps the items that he’s interested in collecting. 

Lopez has a toy shop, AC’s Gift Shop, where she sells a variety of Sanrio-themed items. 

Toy collector and real estate broker Kevin Santiago also has a page called Kebs Collectibles, filled with figurines of different anime characters.

The dark side

While collectors enjoy their toys, they can’t escape people who will judge them because of their interest in these items. 

Lopez said her least favorite part about toy collecting is how some laugh at her, saying that what she’s collecting has no value.

Another one of her pet peeves in the community is when people fight over toys. 

“This happened to me before, and at the end of the day, you both have a common goal: to get that item you’ve been eyeing,” she said. 

In situations like these, good sportsmanship is always the key, she said. 

Tips on toys

So how can you become a successful toy collector?

Cotaoco suggests finding like-minded people to lead you to better purchases, and to be careful of those who just want to sell their items at a hefty price.

She also said that you should take your time hunting for items, especially if what you’re looking for is a newly released piece. And for the sake of your sanity, try to focus on one character or one certain line to collect.

Meanwhile, Lopez said that you should always check who you’re buying from, especially because of how rampant scammers are at present. 

She also recommends checking a toy’s quality, condition, tushtag, and manufacturing tag before purchasing it to see if it’s an original or just an imitation.  

Lacsamana has an important tip as well: Don’t go broke for this hobby. 

“Don’t collect if you don’t have funding for it,” he said. “It’s just a hobby that keeps us preoccupied during relaxation, but don’t make it a priority.” 

This is especially relevant, since toy collectors have noticed a recent price surge in the toy community. 

And most importantly, in the words of Lopez: “Always be inspired and motivated; collecting makes life worth living.”

There will always be things in life that people will judge you for, but as Santiago said, “If you think collecting toys will make you happy, go for it.”