Events: Filbar’s Free Comic Book Day celebrates release of “X-Men: Apocalypse”

Filbar’s, the country’s longest running pop culture store is holding Free Comic Book Day (FCBD) with an X-citing twist on Saturday, May 7 in SM Megamall. The geeks' hub is celebrating the release of “X-Men: Apocalypse” set to hit Philippine cinemas this month.

“At Filbar’s, we always want to do things comic-con style to bring fans of comics, movies and TV together. Much like when the X-Men animated series in the 90s was a starting point for people then to pick up a comic book, we see that the release of “X-Men: Apocalypse” as a latent mutant power that can ignite interest in reading comics,” said Jacob Cabochan, Filbar’s president.

Aside from two comics visitors will be getting for free, Filbar’s, with support from 20th Century Fox Philippines, will give away “X-Men: Apocalypse” posters to its first 100 customers. The poster puts Apocalypse looming high above the X-Men and his Four Horsemen, ready to bend the world to his will.

Filbar’s FCBD attendees will also enjoy discounts up to 20% on X-Men trade paperbacks and graphic novels. A set of three X-Men Funko Pop! Vinyl Figures can be bought for P1000 during FCBD.

Customers will also be saved from spending hours in long lines, thanks to the Filbar’s Flashpass, a virtual queuing system that allows their customers to reserve a time window at which they must return to Filbar’s to pick up their freebies.

“While you wait for your time window, you are free to roam the mall, watch a movie, or even visit another nearby comic store that is also celebrating FCBD. Just make sure to return at the indicated time,” said Ivan Guerrero, chief creative officer of Filbar’s.

Customers with single receipt purchase will also receive a free Filbar's Sketchbook Ashcan with an exclusive artwork from "X-Men: Apocalypse."  It also features works by talented Filipino artists such as Image Comics’ Heubert Khan Michael; Vampirella’s Eman Casallos; Homeycomb Comics’ Elbert Or; art director Renan Ramirez; indie comics artists Rafael Gumboc, Ron Hubbard, Gener Pedriña, Rustico Limosinero, Jomar Bulda and Myk Emmshin; and Saving Sally animator Jether Amar.  

Amar joins Hollowpoint Studios’ Bernce Llamo, Dave Quindoy Lowe Beltran; andPintura creators John Becaro, Chris Barcelona in the FCBD artist alley, where customers can have their favorite X-Men characters drawn on the sketchbook.

For updates, please join our event page:https://www.facebook.com/events/1736953319853172/

Join the conversation with #FilbarsFCBD #XMenApocalypsePH . Follow us on Instagram and Twitter @filbarsonline.

The Filbar’s Flashpass is a virtual queuing system that allows our customers to avoid waiting in long lines for their Free Comic Book Day (FCBD) freebies.

Here’s how it works:

1. Arrive at Filbar’s SM Megamall on May 7, 2016 and pick up a Filbar’s Flashpass at the store entrance. Each Flashpass entitles the bearer to two (2) free FCBD comics. The earlier you arrive, the earlier you will be able to get your freebies.

2. The Flashpass ticket will show the time window at which you must return to Filbar’s to pick up your freebies. Do not lose the ticket, as it also serves as your claiming stub.

3. While you wait for your time window, you are free to roam the mall, watch a movie, or even visit another nearby comic store that is also celebrating FCBD. Just make sure to return at the indicated time.

4. Return to Filbar’s at the indicated time. Don’t be late! Some of the best titles go out-of-stock quickly.

5. Surrender the Flashpass ticket to the Filbar’s staff member and select your two (2) free FCBD comics. While you’re in the store, make sure to check out all our best FCBD deals.

See you all on Saturday, Filbarbarians! 

For updates, please join our event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/1736953319853172/

Join the conversation with #FilbarsFCBD #XMenApocalypsePH . Follow us on Instagram and Twitter @filbarsonline.

Halloween Free Comic Book Day with the Kids!

SUPER late post! Sorry but we've been super busy with shoots and events but anyways better late than never right? 

This year's Halloween Comic Book Fest was extra special for Paul and I since this time we had our nephew and nieces tag along with us. Of course the place to be was at Fully Booked in BGC. 

9 year old - Jillian, Paul's goddaughter has been showing interest in reading, so we started giving her extra copies of our hauls from the past Free Comic Book Days - the ones for kids of course. 

Once Jillian had a comic book in her hands, you couldn't disturb her anymore! She could even read while the car was moving, which of course is something that we told her not to do.

A few months ago, Jillian's younger sister asked me for comic books and when I said that she could get them for Christmas, she asked to receive them earlier. So I thought why not bring the whole gand (consisting of  3 nieces and 1 nephew) to Halloween Comic Book Fest? 

It was perfect! There were less people during Halloween Comic Book Fest si we wouldn't have a hard time looking after the kids. 

I remember during the previous Free Comic Book Fests that we've attended I would always admire the parents who would bring their children along to pass on the love of comic books but this time we had our own bunch of 'next generation" comic book lovers. 

I would think that they were pretty much overwhelmed when they got to the table to choose their three free comic books. I had to urge for them to choose, I guess after the initial shock subsided they made their picks and were also equally happy to get freebies like balloons, snacks and candy - of course it's not Halloween with out these treats right? 

The kids were able to see some cosplayers - they weren't that many though since we arrived early, maybe next year we';; come later so the kids could see more cosplayers. Hopefullly next year the kids won't be shy about taking photos with the cosplayers. :) 

On the way home, Jillian couldn't keep her eyes off the free comic books she got. Aside from that we all sang out loud to songs the kids loved that were in my iTunes such as "My Songs Know What You Did In The Dark" from Fall Out Boy (the kids know it because of Pitch Perfect 2. 

All in all it was a great way for us to bond with our pamangkins. I know that they enjoyed it just as much as we did!   

Free Comic Book Day 2014

Sorry for the late post - work has been in the way :P 

I don't belong to this generation of hand held device-dependent kids who download and upload everything; from the movies that they watch, the music that they listen to, to the books that they read. I can't say that I don't do these as well since I do but I would  still say that I'm a bit old fashioned since I prefer books over e-books and such. I grew up leafing through pages of whatever reading material I could get my hands on and reading from the light a flashlight (when it's already past bedtime) or the light of a candle (when it was black out-there were a lot of those in the 90s). Whether the kids of today could find the image of a holding a book and reading by the light of a candle impossible next to horrifying I'm glad (and relived) to see that steps and feats are being done to preserve the love of reading from a book or a comic book.

Last year we braved the heat and the lines for Free Comic Day (see the blog post here) It is an annually celebrated event (all over the world!). When you look it up on Wikipedia, Free Comic Book Day or FCBD is a promotional event to get new readers into independent Comic Book Stores. It's also a good way to get readers interested in reading good old fashioned comics. 

Free Comic Book Day has also made a dent in the local scene since it is also a great way to celebrate the local artists that we have. FCBD is held in different branches of Fully Booked and this year - Filbar's had a go at it as well. Stores invited local artists who got to share their work as well as meet fans and make new ones as well. For the past two years we've been going to Fully Booked at The Fort to celebrate Free Comic Book Day :)