No NerdFest this year, but get ready for NERDFEST ONLINE!

NerdFest may have gotten cancelled this year, but in its place is NERDFEST ONLINE!

Yes, we’re going virtual. No lines, no long crummy commutes! Sadly none of the staycation aspect of the event…but it’s alright! Happening on May 9 and 10, we will be talking to filmmakers, creators, fellow geek events folk, and science communicators. We’ll also have today’s esports athletes…and their moms! Check out our lineup for this massive online geek event!

On 11AM of May 9, we will feature the members of the Star Wars fan communities in the country. Being one of the oldest organized pop culture fan groups in recent memory, Star Wars continues to inspire more and more people as its creators churn out more content. Joining the panel are Macy Añonuevo-Arcega (Rebel Legion), Tristan Lazo (501st Legion), Paolo Bragais (Fightsaber Philippines), and Oneal Rosero (Star Wars Philippines).

1PM will be “Adventures in Pinoy Sci-Fi Cinema,” the roundtable reunion of the creators of the science fiction film Alimuom, featuring director Keith Sicat, producer Sari Dalena, actor Ina Feleo, production designer Leeroy New, and VFX supervisor Dennis Rejoy.

At 3PM we will be features emerging and fringe fandoms, featuring the members of Ineffable MNL (representing Good Omens) and Whovian Philippines. Moderating the panel is Mark Poa, also of said groups.

At 5pm Esports AcadArena takes over the Nerd Rage PH stream as they discuss Campus ESports in Education, featuring Kenneth Alog (LG Esports Manager), Justin Banusing (University of Washington ESports coordinator), and Mikey “Ferzerk” Alberto (Coach of OneSnap Esports and LG Esports).

At 6pm we do a virtual hangout at the convention media room with “The Bards of Geek” panel, with Khan of What’s A Geek, Tim Villasor of Pop Culture Crusader, and writers Karen Kunawicz and Karen Mae de Vera.

Day 2 of NERDFEST ONLINE starts at 1pm with the unprecedented gathering of the country’s three biggest pop culture event organizers, as we discuss the pandemic-hit geek event industry. Joining us are Cholo Mallillin of Toycon, Robert Wong of CosplayPH, and Lyndon Gregorio of Komikon. Co-moderating the event is comeback host Valine Aquino.

At 3pm we COMMUNICATE! COMMUNICATE! with science communicators Mikael Angelo Francisco of Flipscience, and DOST-ASTI’s Jo Brianne Briones as they talk about the much-overlooked field of science communication. Moderating the panel is sustainability specialist and science writer Macy Añonuevo-Arcega.

At 5pm Esports AcadArena returns for more gamer talk…but this time with the moms. As part of our Mother’s Day celebration, we will have the “Raising a Gamer Kid” panel featuring Joana Alberto (mother of Mikey “Ferzerk” Alberto) and streamer, pro player,caster, game developer, content creator, and mom Em “Kaisaya” Dangla.

We cap off the event at 7pm with the “Cosplayers in the Time of COVID-19” panel, which features cosplayers who have been in the frontlines of the ongoing pandemic. Featured guests are CT Bacus and Bong Espenido of the 501st Cebu Scarif Garrison, ‘Spider-Dan’ Geromo, and cosplayer Dranzer Dice (who also works as a nurse for COVID-19 patients at the San Juan Medical Hospital).

NERDFEST ONLINE happens over at the Nerd Rage PH Facebook page, and is also brought to you by It’s Happening Events, and Esports AcadArena. This online event is for the benefit of the medical frontliners based outside of Metro Manila which are supported by Project Suit Up.