Celebrating then & now

Back even bigger, over 400 exhibitors signed up this year, all with something exciting for enthusiasts or anyone who has a knack for all things old and thrilling

LIMITED edition of Coco Cola Barbie collection.

I started from someone who would never sign up for these things. Like I would look at these people and think ‘why would they pay money to torture themselves?’

The old saying, “history repeats itself,” perfectly applies to History Con Manila, specifically pertaining to its success as one of the country’s biggest entertainment conventions.

Made possible by History Channel and A+E Networks Asia, the massive three-day event again rocked the halls of World Trade Center last 10 to 12 August 2018 for the third time with exciting programs, exhibits and up-close encounters with flagship stars of the cable channel’s award-winning series.

Last year, History Con Manila garnered a record-breaking attendance of 68,800 people. Back even bigger, over 400 exhibitors signed up this year, all with something exciting for enthusiasts or anyone who has a knack for all things old and thrilling.

The Philippine Postal Corporation unveiled a commemorative stamp dedicated to History Con 2018. The design bears the presidential cars used by the Philippine presidents throughout the years and a near replica of the historic Manila Central Post Office Building.

“Stamps are windows of our rich culture and history and it is important to preserve and present this to the public,” Postmaster General Joel Otarra said during the opening ceremony.

Upon reaching the hall entrance, large displays of vintage cars and the logo of History Channel awaited convention goers. Such pieces were made by Ram Mallari, an artist-metalsmith who is fascinated with the relationship of man, nature and machine.

ARTIST and metalsmith Ram Mallari’s vision of a robot. Inside the hall, different collectors’ items wowed onlookers. Cassette tapes of the music industry’s celebrated artists, taking for example Queen, Spandau Ballet, Aerosmith and our very own, The Dawn, were featured.

Vintage car plates, postage stamps, LPs, limited edition comic books, old bourbon and whiskey bottles, large Coca Cola collectibles (from old bottle designs, enamel pins to a Barbie inspired line), a car full of Harley Davidson and The Beatles merchandise were on display, too. As if nothing could be older than that, a vintage sewing machine circa 1916, by a British manufacturing company founded in 1860, was featured, as well as a sweepstakes ticket, probably the oldest one you’ll ever see.

OLD toy cars on display. On the convention’s second day, Filipino artists and personalities – Albert Martinez, Sharon Cuneta, Aga Muhlach, Nora Aunor, Christopher De Leon, Vilma Santos, Jessica Soho, triathlete Victor Consunji and Broadway diva Lea Salonga – were honored as this year’s recipients of the History Maker Awards.

The downpour and floods did nothing to deter History enthusiasts from flocking to the World Trade Center to experience history coming alive once more. And for History Channel’s stars, no gloomy skies could dampen the fun and enthusiasm of meeting and mingling with their fans.

Returning to the convention was Giorgio Tsoukalos from Ancient Aliens. Called “a hybrid of Carl Sagan and Indiana Jones,” Giorgio shed light on the mysteries regarding aliens and the Ancient Astronaut field.

A History Con guest for the second year was Jaime Dempsey from Ride N’ Seek. Traveling all over the world and capturing global sights while riding her motorcycle, Jaime is quite familiar with the Philippines, having visited the country’s many alluring destinations.

A rolling wagon shop selling all things vintage, whimsical and bohemian. Simon Yin, from the shows History Hustle and Hidden Cities Extreme, is also a frequent visitor to the country. As he explores different cultures, he becomes part of them, celebrating their uniqueness and embracing their eccentricities.

This year, there were History Con newbies, too. And for the first time, they were able to experience Filipino fans who simply love history.

Who would think that a frail-looking beauty blogger from Singapore would get really down and dirty in pursuit of thrilling adventures?

Well, that’s Yeoh Mong Chin for you. In her History Channel show Who Runs the World with Mong Chin, this young lady can be seen climbing mountains, bouncing up and down in water parks, crawling under fire, mud and barbed wire to finish Cebu’s Spartan Race, walking 38 stories high atop a hotel and joining runs at the break of dawn.

Vintage Kodak cameras and film. Nothing is scripted in her show. No stunt guys either. She does all the challenges herself, a fact that she is quite happy about. Mong Chin says, “Everything is just really me, me telling people what I feel, what I taste, what I smell…I try my best to portray it so that you guys watching at home can feel it as well.”

This 25-year-old is not scared of anything. She’s up for everything, including portraying a ghost in a haunted house. She’s not afraid of ghosts, and that segment “was actually really fun because I got to be a ghost to scare people…I wouldn’t say it was scary, more like fun.”

In the eight weeks of filming the show, Mong Chin realized that she had grown so much. She confesses, “I started from someone who would never sign up for these things. Like I would look at these people and think ‘why would they pay money to torture themselves?’ That was me. Then after doing it, I had so much respect for these people who do it, and now I understand why. Like I would love to join these things from now on because the satisfaction is really real and like, you have a goal, you know. We often get so caught up in doing work, with life, with family, that we neglect ourselves and our health, and like actually having something to fight for.”

In the future, Mong Chin would love to go to the United States, a country that she has visited. And when she gets there, she is looking forward to climbing mountains, swimming in the ocean and joining runs and races. “I don’t think I will lack for anything to do there,” she smiles in anticipation.

And for History Channel’s stars, no gloomy skies could dampen the fun and enthusiasm of meeting and mingling with their fans.

To survive the challenges of her show, Mong Chin says she kept an open mind, fearlessly facing just whatever comes. She shares how some people may think that she cannot shower in the dark or cringe at the sight of mud and dirt. But she is actually the opposite of that. At one point, she had volunteered for three weeks in Iloilo to help build a library for kids. During those three weeks, she had no water, had to cook over charcoal, didn’t wear a single bit of makeup, and had no internet connection. Yet, she really enjoyed the experience of living the way the community lived. “You can get used to being uncomfortable,” she adds. “And you actually find a lot of joy out of doing it…Just keep an open mind. And if people have been doing it for years, decades and centuries, why can’t you? Just get down and dirty, you’ll have lots of fun.”

When they were invited to represent the Philippines in the second season of the History Channel show, Celebrity Car Wars, Xian Lim and Diego Loyzaga did not hesitate.

Well, okay, maybe Xian was a little nervous as he had never competed in anything before, least of all, a car race. But the challenges that the show presented were too compelling to pass up.

“They gave us challenges, but they did not reveal the mechanics to us immediately,” Xian recalls. “But I was up for that challenge, not knowing what they were, so I said yes. And also, we were going to be locked in for about 10 to 14 days, and it was like a semi vacation with a couple of guys from other countries like Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. So I said, ‘Go! Let’s do it!’”

On the other hand, racing champion Diego was raring to showcase his skills at Celebrity Car Wars, especially after his resounding victory at the Vios Cup 2018. But perhaps also because of that, he came across as arrogant and overconfident.

“I was pegged as the egoistic know-it-all, parang ang yabang ng dating kasi I know this, I’ve done this before,” Diego confesses. Then, at a brake test, he literally crashed into a brick wall. Much chiding was heard from someone yelling from afar. That was Diego’s turning point.

He decided to change his mindset, began watching a little bit more, observing mistakes and learning from them. The humbler road allowed him to see where he could excel and where he needed to improve.

For his part, Xian discovered that he had a competitive fire burning within him after all. He actually liked winning. And that losing a challenge was quite emotional for him. Yet, he is open to joining another show like this in the future, especially when there’s drifting or a roll. But no donuts yet please, as motion sickness can take its toll.

Joining the next season of Celebrity Car Wars is not a problem for Diego either. In fact, he has already sounded off History Channel about a possible guesting, where he promises to be there. Taking it a step further, he says, “If I get the opportunity to be a real race car driver, yes, definitely I would do it!”

Katheryn Winnick, the Canadian actress who portrays Lagertha, queen of Kattegat, in the History Channel show Vikings, is even more beautiful in person. When she was introduced at the opening ceremonies of History con, there was a collective gasp from the audience; she was as regal and exquisite as her alter ego.

Yet Katheryn can be friendly, funny and wacky, too, as she mingled among her fans at the exhibit halls, taking selfies and chatting them up.

Katheryn can be friendly, funny and wacky too.

The Queen was warm at the convention; though on screen, she had to have nerves of steel. After all, enemies surrounded her, all intent on relieving her of her kingdom. One, in particular, is Ivar the Boneless, who was out for revenge. But for Katheryn, the mere mention of Ivar’s name elicited a snort: “Oh, are you kidding me? Lagertha can handle that little pipsqueak. She’s going to survive. Ivar is a challenge because he’s very manipulative and very intelligent. But Lagertha is a survivor.”

So, where does Lagertha draw the strength to defeat Ivar and all who come against her? Katheryn explains: “The fact that she has to overcome so many different challenges in her life. The fact that Lagertha has had to stick up for herself, against her husband, from Season 1 who didn’t want her to go raiding and she wanted to go raiding and pillaging. The fact that she always wants the best for her people, and won’t stop at anything till she gets it. She has very strong morals and she’s a character that people relate to from around the world.”

Katheryn says that she has a very strong affiliation with Lagertha, a strong love for her character, and that she was also able to get a chance to learn from her. They have similarities, particularly when it comes to being extremely stubborn and having a strong sense of will. Yet they are also different. Katheryn smiles when she points to her attire at the event. “These clothes are much more comfortable than armor, which is a pain in the butt to put on. And the hair is less maintenance.”

By November 2018, Katheryn will return as Lagertha in Vikings. But not just as an accomplished actress; she has actually directed the eighth episode of Season Six.