Little Coloured Bricks

Photo Courtesy of Philippine Bricksters

We all know the infamously nefarious toy that goes by the name of LEGO – it’s so hardcore, it can’t be destroyed by normal means, and especially not by time alone. In fact, LEGO products are so enduring that they can already be considered immortal. Their themes are established classics – may it be about wizards, space pirates, or any other fantasy, LEGO has it all. Their product design makes playing with it safe for people of all ages, whether you’re a young whippersnapper or a child merely at heart. The innovative blueprint also makes it a toy that’s so much more – it can be a part of robotic machines competing around the world, art displays at various galleries in different museums, or simply a treasured collection stored and displayed on the top shelf.

It may not seem this way, but unknown to many people, LEGO offers a wide selection of goods that have a varying price range, giving people the power of choice on what they want to buy regardless of the number in their bank accounts. And since May 2010 is the time of new beginnings with regards to the Philippine elections, then the final point about LEGO products will pertain to their simplistic colors being not only attractive but also timeless – it can appeal to anybody, regardless of their race, sex or even political affinity: yellow, the color of the heroic Ninoy-Cory Aquino couple, can be used by their son and possibly the newest president of the republic, Senator Noynoy Aquino, to spread the “yellow fever” in support of his would-be regime.

But LEGO is not limited to being a possible propaganda tool of some political agenda in the Philippines – it’s a paragon of virtue and good tidings, too. In December 2008, a fantastic Christmas city was built in Bonifacio High Street with mere LEGO bricks. Aptly dubbed “Lego Christmas Land”, it is the first Lego project of its kind in the Southeast Asian country, and solely aims to help the nation’s children “one block at a time”. Serving as a fundraiser not only for Filipinos but to the kids sponsored by UNICEF, the event’s proceeds will be used to purchase clothes, food, books and other things that these children need.

And if that’s not noble and patriotic enough, wait till you hear the next thing you can do with LEGO: mini figures that represent your nationality. Mini figures, commonly nown as minifigs, first appeared in 1978, and 3.7 billion products later they’re still very much in demand. One particular group in the Philippines took the minifig customization to a new level, featuring original and authentic minifig parts and pieces made in Denmark. This group that goes by the name “Philippine Bricksters” has produced customized LEGO minifigs that bear the Philippine flag’s colors and symbols across its minifigs’ chest, available in both male and female designs. They also have an upcoming project of creating custom Bahay Kubos or native nipa huts, vintas as well as jeepney minifigs, three objects inherently found in the Philippines’ popular culture.