THE Metrotent Convention Center in Pasig City was booming last October 29 with fans of thrift shops as well as hip-hop, all thanks to Good Old Days 3, the biggest installation of the convention so far, all made possible by Season Pass alongside TMP Industries.

Filled with over 116 local merchants, both newcomers and OG fans of the convention were able to enjoy what the event had to offer. Even though there were more booths, more food, more people, and more everything overall, there were many who’ve witnessed Good Old Days 1 and 2 and noted that the quality hasn’t changed. 

If anything, everything’s only ever gotten better.

An event that has everything

For 26-year-old Cara Lopez, a member of the band Cherry Society PH, this event is perfect for people like her who love everything nostalgic. 

She notes that compared to the last installation, everything was a lot more organized, wherein you could find everything as soon as you entered the doors.

“It’s basically like entering Instagram, or Carousell,” she said.

“Everything is here, and I love that each shop has a different theme; there’s shops that are catered to [the] 60s, 70s, 80s, [and] there are shops that have not just clothes, [but] toys [as well.] That’s why I keep coming back.

While 19-year-old Emilia Evangelista, a first-timer at the event, felt a little overwhelmed upon first entering, she immensely enjoyed the event regardless. 

“I like how it’s well-planned; I was able to speak to my tito who has a shop [here,] and I can see that everyone’s been preparing for it for the last couple of months, [and] I can say they were hands-on with the process,” she shared.

21-year-old Kenshin Cyryl Roja, a member of the popular Instagram page Filipino Fashion Talk, was invited to the event for the second time as a Media Partner, wherein they planned to make videos about the event, interviewing random people and asking them questions about Good Old Days.

What he’s noticed is that Good Old Days 3 has started to branch out a lot more in terms of fashion.

He stated: “Ang maganda sa Good Old Days 3, ‘di na siya more on vintage fashion; nage-explore sila [ng] iba’t ibang fashion genres.” 

Bringing communities together

For Lopez, events like these allow her and her friends to bond over their mutual interests. While she came for the clothes, her friends came for the music, more specifically to see Kartell’em live. 

She said: “You meet a lot of friends here, [and] everyone’s really nice. Everyone’s so friendly. If you’re just looking around, they suggest things they think you’d like.” 

Roja shared the same sentiments. For him, everyone at Good Old Days 3 was kind, and the whole thing was imbued with the energy of being one community – of being at home. 

And this feeling doesn’t just stop with the buyers; even the sellers feel this sense of community, too. 

36-year-old George Ries Cenco, a first-time seller at Good Old Days 3, notes that the thrifting culture in the Philippines has always been extremely strong, and has continued to grow in the past few years.

“Kakaiba din kasi yung thrifting; malaki din kita, naf-flip mo pa,” he said. 

“Malaki natutulong [sa’min] kasi kung ikaw, tambay ka, wala kang ginagawa, mag-thrifted ka, kikita ka. Nagkakaroon ng kita yung mga tulad ko.” 

Hopes for the future

While there have been no complaints given the installations of this event thus far, there are things that its eventgoers suggest that would perhaps elevate the experience even more for the future.

Evangelista, for example, hopes to see a tattoo or piercing area in the future. Meanwhile, Roja hopes that more activities and events will be added to the program, citing Fit Competitions as one thing they could do.

Lopez, who’s an avid enjoyer of older music like that of Fleetwood Mac or the Beatles, wants to see more old-school bands in the event lineup, which would help Season Pass reach an entirely new demographic in the country’s local music scene altogether.

One thing that definitely can’t be removed from any Good Old Days event is the sense of community you get, surrounded by people who you know love the same things you do. 

Whether you’re a seller or a buyer or just an observer, here, there’ll always be a place for you to feel at home.