August gave a lot of fans and enthusiasts a wild ride with a ton of conventions and events. Tensions remain high as convention season maintains an exciting environment for a lot of fans and hobbyists this year. If you only managed to get a breather from your workload or schoolwork now, September 2018 events and happenings await with a ton of surprises. We’re just about to enter the Ber months, and the year remains just as exciting as ever. Our crew from What’s A Geek! has this September 2018 events and happenings calendar for you!

September 2018 Events and Happenings

This September will definitely bring in quite a unique mix of events and happenings for all sorts of enthusiasts. We have our usual conventions coupled with quite the unique festivities sure to tickle your curiosity. You can go visit the National Museum to see the evolution of Japanese martial arts. Or you can test your fighting game prowess in a tournament about games about martial arts. You can also attend a couple of J-Culture conventions!

Week 1 (Sept. 1 to Sept. 8, Part 1)

The Spirit of Budo: The History of Japan’s Martial Arts Exhibit (Whole September)

It’s not every day do we get to see an exhibit that lasted for more than two months. That’s right, this event will last the entirety of our September events and happenings! If you’ve ever been a fan of Japanese martial arts, you ought to go the National Museum of Fine Arts in the National Museum. The Spirit of Budo: The History of Japan’s Martial Arts contains an exhibition where audiences may learn about Japanese martial arts. Moreover, knowledge to acquire include battlefield combative techniques (bujutsu) to physical exercises that temper the body and spirit (budo). Also, enthusiasts may also see things such as reproductions and originals of weapons throughout history such as helmets, suits of armor, and even arrows.

Idol Matsuri 2018: Dawn (Sept. 1)

You’ve heard about MNL48. However, did you know the Philippines has its own fair share of Japanse Aidoru (idol) inspired groups as well? Additionally, this first Idol Matsuri will be gathering the most popular of these groups to do cover songs of j-idol and j-pop music, to their own sets of original compositions. Moreover, this seven-hour event will be something fans themselves won’t forget. The venue will be at TIU Theather in Makati. Performers include Aidoru Sozai, AOS, Y-Aidoru, Seishun Kakumei, Poly-V, CH4U?, Ivy! Musume, Twinkle, Pastel Mix, Next Bomb, Alice Project, Project Urodia.

Week 1 (Sept. 1 to Sept. 8, Part 2)

MWF 4: Road To Fate (Sept. 8)

If you head over to the UPAA, Ang Bahay ng Alumni, at UP Diliman – you might witness yet another chapter of Philippine Wrestling history. MWF 4: Road To Fate serves as the next chapter in the MWF’s #AksyoNovela Saga. Moreover, it will also be bringing Round 2 matches for the MWF Championship Tournament, which features battles such as Robin Sane v. Ninja Ryujin, “Danger” Rex Lawin v. Frankie Thurteen, Fabio Makisig vs. Bro. Jomar Liwanag, and Morgan Vaugh v. Aldrin Richards.

WordCamp Manila 2018 (Sept. 8)

Folks from WordPress User Group Philippines will be hosting this year’s WordCamp at i-ACADEMY in Makati. WordCamp allows WordPress users, educators, entrepreneurs, small business owners, designers, bloggers, and web developers from all over the country (and other countries!) to talk about WordPress. Moreover, the event this year will focus on Gutenberg, the new WordPress editor, and to explore ideas on improving content, security, and speed.

Week 2 (Sept. 9 to Sept. 15)

39th Manila International Book Fair (Sept. 12 to Sept. 16)

Pasay’s SMX Convention Center generally touts itself as the go-to place for a lot of conventions and conferences. However, this month proves to be the month for book geeks, as National Book Store will be hosting this year’s Manila International Book Fair. The 39th iteration of the week-long celebration will be bringing in extremely cheap deals on books and other literary materials. Moreover, when we say cheap, as in, there are books you could buy for as low as P300!

REV Major Philippines 2018 (Sept. 15)

Do you consider yourself a fighting game fan? Do you want to prove your place on top of the food chain? If you’re itching to get that combo right, you might want to test your skills at REV Major Philippines 2018. Head over to SMX Convention Center this Sept. 15 to 16 to prove your superiority in the fighting game genre. REV Major touts itself as the biggest fighting game tournament in the country, and it does feature its slate of awesome games. Moreover, you can choose from a selection of games such as Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3, BlazBlue, Dragonball FighterZ, Tekken 7, Street Fighter 5, and Super Smash Bros.

Week 3 (Sept. 16 to Sept. 22)

POP HUB: Comic Splash X Fandom Fest Vol. 1 (Sept. 15 to Sept. 16)

What happens if you smash comics and fandom together? An awesome gathering! POP HUB: Comic Splash X Fandom Fest Vol. 1 appears to be the first iteration of an event series organized by The Best of Anime (BOA) crew and the Manila International Book Fair (MIBF). Head to the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City to meet fans and figures from both the comics and J-Culture scene. Moreover, these will include renowned academe members, publishers, collectors, dealers, illustrators, animators, editors, directors, writers, artists, and creators. Additionally, it appears POP HUB became the result of last year’s Fandom Fest, which promoted Pinoy geek culture.

Otaku Musica (Sept. 22 to Sept. 23)

Otaku Musica invites J-Culture fans to gather ’round and enjoy the sounds of the Japanese pop culture scene. Folks at Tiendesitas, Naruto Cosplays PH, and Red Cloud Interactive will be hosting the two-day festivities – which is free, by the way! Head over to Tiendesitas in Pasig for the first-ever music-themed two-day event in Metro Manila. Moreover, events will include singing contests (Ultimate Singing Idol), dance contests (Groove It), band competitions (Battle of the Bands), a cosplay showdown (Cosplay Runaway), and a lip sync battle!

Week 4 (Sept. 23 to Sept. 30)

Philippine Intercultural Youth Convention 2018 (Sept. 22 to Sept. 23)

This year’s #PIYC2018 places the issues of today’s youth front and center, but this time also allowing children themselves to take the lead in the discussions. Moreover, the event touts itself more than just an avenue for cultural exchange. Rather, they want this to be the platform for attendees to immerse, understand, and discuss on different issues and developmental priorities in the country. Additionally, topics of discussion include access to adequate food, poverty reduction, sustainable livelihood, decent jobs, social welfare, health, quality education, diversity, peace, environmental action, and climate action.

Cosplay Mania 2018 (Sept. 29 to Sept. 30)

Who said convention season is over? Pasay’s SMX Convention Center will be holding the 10th Anniversary of the hit Cosplay Mania series. Cosplay Mania 2018 touts itself to be the year’s “Ultimate Cosplay Convention.” This means bringing J-Music stars, anime industry guests, and cosplay personalities to spearhead perhaps the country’s leading J-Culture Festival series.

Verdict: September Begins -Ber Months With New Thrills

Get yourself a dose of awesome September 2018 events and happenings with some of the conventions and gatherings we’ve discovered! Convention season just started a few months back, and the fun seems to have no plans packing their bags yet. Moreover, if you’ve ever stumbled upon something awesome, just tag us and share your story! Also, if you see us doing coverage in any of these events, feel free to say hi!

Remember, with 2019 just a few months away, it doesn’t necessarily mean the fun will be over. If anything, news programs will just end with “X Days Before Christmas.” Stay tuned for our October 2018 events and happenings, all fresh from What’s A Geek!