How it all began: New Worlds: The 1st Philippine Science Fiction and Fantasy Convention
By Chiqui Perez
This article was written in 2006, as the NWA was preparing for New Worlds 4. Chiqui Perez is a member of many NWA member groups, including the Philippine Tolkien Society, Pinoy Harry Potter and Black Pearl Philippines. She is also a cosplayer, writer and artist.
March 12, 2003 marked the beginning of a growing tradition among hundreds, perhaps thousands of Filipino science fiction and fantasy aficionados. Every new endeavor comes with its hopes and fears, but who would have thought that this particular one would lay the foundation for what is currently the most awaited for event of Filipino geeks every year?
Paolo Jalbuena, New Worlds Alliance (NWA) vice chairperson, secretariat chief and president of Via Astris, Inc. (VA), recounts the roots of science fiction and fantasy conventions—or “cons”—in the Philippines:
“It was late in the year 2002 when VA, the Star Trek Club of the Philippines, was contemplating with holding an advance screening of the upcoming movie, Star Trek X: Nemesis,” Paolo begins. “Our membership was quite small then, about 20 active members, so we weren't really sure if we could fill up a whole theatre on our own power, so the ‘advance screening’ idea was scrapped. Instead, we opted to buy a block on the first day of the regular screening. That first mission would have made us happy already, but it felt like we needed to do more as a community.”
He then explains that it was during one brainstorming session that gave birth to the idea of a science fiction and fantasy convention. VA at that time had already held successful joint activities with the PinoySlayers—the local Buffy and Angel fan organization—so the prospect of cooperating with more groups gave them the encouragement to hold what was to be “New Worlds: The 1st Philippine Science Fiction and Fantasy Convention.”
“Our first obstacle would be to contact and forge an alliance with our traditional rivals, Star Wars Philippines (SWP),” he continues. “We didn't know how to approach them at first, but luck was on our side. The very next day, SWP announced that they were going to hold their Christmas Party at the same place we held our weekly meetings [at Brash Young Cinema]. We immediately asked for an audience with the Jedi Council, which they then agreed to give us. Talks went smoothly as both our parties exchanged stories of struggling to get projects off the ground, as well as sharing the same dream of having a full-scale convention.”
The quest of fulfilling that dream led to the discovery of more fan organizations, which, after being oriented with the proposal to hold such a convention, offered and pledged their full support and collaboration. These groups were The Philippine Tolkien Society (TPTS), Pinoy Harry Potter a.k.a. Hogwarts Philippines (PHP), Pinoy X-Philes (PXP), and the Alliance of Eclectic Gamers and Interactive Storytellers (AEGIS). “It was then when I would say The New Worlds Alliance was born,” Paolo recalls. “Having come out of nowhere, we had a hard time convincing sponsors to support the event. Everything else came into place as soon as we had the funding.”
The process of bringing to life the first convention—and all conventions thereafter—formed a bond and a language that only its organizers and volunteers can understand, and this is popularly known as “convention-itis.” This is defined as any form of sickness that befalls everyone immediately after the con, as well as the few sleepless days and nights prior to it. “A simple cold can become a bad case of the flu because of the non-existent resistance in our over-extended bodies,” Paolo expounds. He then adds, “Having hosted it (the convention) successfully was the most unforgettable feeling I've ever had. A pity I only felt it after three days of recuperating from convention-itis. Hearing people say ‘Oh my God! A Trek Club!’ ‘I'm not alone anymore!’ or ‘Is that a real light saber?’ comes close too. I heard about a million phrases like this, but couldn't stop for a second because I had a con to run. When I took a break, I'd look at the smiles that people had on their faces. That just makes my day. I think the same goes for the collective VA. It was the first convention and it happened more than 4 years ago already. We improve every year, so I will just assume that we must have done something right.”
“New Worlds: The 1st Philippine Science Fiction and Fantasy Convention”was held at the Premiere THX Theater Complex in Makati on March 12, 2003, from 3pm to 12 midnight. Activities included trivia games, choreographed combat demos (one of the event’s “obscure activities” as Paolo jokingly states, owing to the fact that there were a number of impromptu goings-on spurred by everyone’s excitement), and the highly anticipated Cosplay parade and contest. In this particular activity, fans dress up as characters from science fiction and fantasy films and television series, which resulted in sightings of Elves, Jedi, and Star Fleet officers populating the convention premises. There were also characters from X-men, Aliens, Terminator, and Interview with the Vampire, among others.
Another of the convention’s attractions (or aversions, if you will) initiated their debut performance to the delight, or rather, dismay—or delightful dismay to describe it in its most truthful contradictory sense—of their audience. This performance was done by the infamous Stormballs, which instantly became a con highlight. Commotion ensued when a “dance group” of young men in spandex whose identities were shrouded by Stormtrooper helmets took to the stage. Of course, this happened late at night when the young’uns have gone home, safely snug in their beds.
Finally, the movie premiere of Star Trek X: Nemesis brought “New Worlds: The 1st Philippine Science Fiction and Fantasy Convention” to a satisfying close. Visit www.via-astris.ph/scificon/index.html for a glimpse of the past.