Since the beginning of the Covid-19 outbreak in early 2020, FILIPINOS HAVE BEEN deprived of cons. Going to a place like Japan or the US would leave a huge hole in anyone’s wallet given the rising cost of airfare and the depreciating peso. After all, just the trip, con tickets, and housing would cost you at least $2,000 (about P109,000) to attend an international convention in the United States.

Thank goodness, this July 23 to 24, at the SMX Convention Center, comes CONQuest, a tech and esports startup event. They’re bringing some of the biggest internet stars to Manila for their biggest iteration yet.

CONQuest is back stronger than ever with its star-studded lineup of foreign and local guests after skipping last year due to the global pandemic. Lily “LilyPichu” Ki, Michael Reeves, and Kyedae Shymko are arguably the biggest celebrities attending CONQuest 2022.

Information on CONQuest ticket costs

CONQuest tickets will cost as little as P450 per day.

For P15,000, you can get a Premium Pass that gives you access to all of their panel discussions and private meetings. (However, this tier is now gone.)

Because CONQuest 2022 offers a top notch con to the Philippines, there is no need to fly far away to TwitchCon or other foreign events to meet these larger-than-life celebrities.

LilyPichu is a key player in the well-known streaming collective OfflineTV, and her broadcasters have a lot to offer. As Sayu from Genshin Impact, she also provides the voice. LilyPichu is undoubtedly one of the key draws of CONQuest 2022, whether it be for her music, voice work, or simply her infectiously endearing voice.

Also attending CONQuest 2022 is LilyPichu’s boyfriend Michael Reeves. With his outrageous attitude and inventive tech skills, Michael brings the fun to computer science. Michael, who is actually half-Pinoy and was born to a Filipino mother, is sort of returning home at this point.

Kyedae Shymko became well-known soon after she began streaming. While many people first became familiar with Kyedae as a result of her romance with VALORANT superstar Tyson ‘Tenz’ Ngo, she has demonstrated a wide range of skills.

Not all celebrities traveling to the Philippines in July are like them. Additional Filipino Genshin Impact voice actors being brought in by CONQuest include Christian Banas, Ratana, and Anne Yatco (Raiden Shogun, Yae Miko) (Thoma). Genshin Impact by Hoyoverse has a sizable Filipino player community, and for good reason — it’s a masterpiece of the gacha genre that anyone can enjoy.

The enormous 13,000 square meters of convention space at the SMX is also home to a range of events and exhibits in addition to these foreign visitors. A Cosplay Contest, a Tech and Gaming Expo, and Crafters Quarters will also be held. At CONQuest 2022, there will undoubtedly be something for you if you enjoy geek culture.