AFHub Handle: 1ringwdforce
Real Name: Earl Madriaga
Year of Birth: 1975
Location: Alabang

It’s been a while since I last posted a write-up on one of our AFHUB regulars. Work has really been relentless and I’ve only had enough spare time to post regular toy news/updates on the forum. Anyway, the next guy we’re featuring here is no stranger to our little community. I’m pretty sure many of you have seen him interviewed on several local television programs for having such an extensive Star Wars and other movie-based collection. He admits that he has been collecting for more than his lifetime. Man, that collection has gotta be huge.

Today, we feature movie buff and extreme collector Earl Madriaga.

1. Please tell us a little bit about you and your background. And why “1 Ring with the Force” as your nickname?

Ok, where should I start? I’m 31. I’m in the food business (Mister Donut, Old Yan Kee). I’m a movie buff. And I’m from the south where everything is steady. I chose “One Ring with The Force” as my nickname for 2 obvious reasons.. The Lord of the Rings and Star Wars. 2 of my favorite films of all time. I grew up watching both of them. The Hobbit cartoon by Rankin/Bass and the original trilogy of the Star Wars movies.

2. When did you start collecting action figures?

I had a few Star Wars toys before but during 1983.. the hype died down after Return of the Jedi. Then came Masters of the Universe and thats where I started collecting. My mom used to buy all the MOTU figures even though there were a lot of new toys like Transformers, G.I. Joe, Mask, Thundercats, Silver Hawks, etc.. mom only followed MOTU and I almost completed the entire line. Then I started reading comic books which also became an obssession and I ended up collecting it since 1986. And started collecting VHS movies during high school.. then moved to collecting Laser Discs… now DVDs. I’m also a videogame addict and had almost all the consoles that came out but thats another story.

3. What was it that brought you to collecting? And what is it that keeps you going?

I think collecting runs in the family. My mom collects Lladro statues. Dad collects Burago toy cars. My sister collects books and souvenirs. And my brother collects porn. What keeps me going??? I hate to say it but if I like what I see on the screen or comic books then later will be released in plastic form.. I just gotta have it.

4. What toy lines do you collect? And why? (please give a short reason for each toy line).

Star Wars: I grew up loving the saga. It’s where I started.

The Lord of the Rings: just like Star Wars.. I grew up with it and Peter Jackson’s film version was just amazing.

Movie based figures from MacFarlane, Neca, Sota, etc: my curse for being a movie nut!

Videogame based toys: ranges from Neca to Play Arts.

Masters of the Universe: Neca’s staction series is just too awesome to be ignored.

Marvel toys: been collecting marvel toys since I started reading them. I had a few Secret Wars figures when I was a kid. I also have a few Marvel figs from Toybiz during the 90’s. Also collected Marvel Legends but I stopped now because the line is getting ridiculous. Now I’m just into Marvel Select.

5. What’s the first thing people tell you when they see your collection?

That I’m “praning” (paranoid) and I need to get a life. Hahaha!

6. Tell us what you love most about this hobby, and what you like the least.

I love opening those toys and pose them and displaying them. I’m just a sucker for these things in plastic form. What I don’t like is that it’s getting expensive every year. Geez.. maybe thats why I still don’t have my own place.

7. What prompts you to purchase an item?

When I go see a movie and loved it.. I just gotta have it in plastic form. I don’t collect Transformers but when I saw the trailer for the film.. I knew that it would be an awesome film and I bought the toys before the movie opened.

8. Where do you do most of your toy purchases? Do you shop online?

Local toy stores like Toy Kingdom, Toy Town, KidStation etc. Specialty stores like Best, PToys and GT. I also get from Druid’s Keep. Online, it’s either Amazon or BBTS. And 40% of my collection came from the US and Hong Kong.

9. Have you ever purchased an item that you thought was cool at first but only to regret it later on?

Hell yeah! I regret collecting Spawn. Don’t get me wrong. The toys are incredible but I just don’t read the Spawn comic book series and I’m running out of room for my other collection so it had to go. Now I’m starting to feel the same way with Marvel Legends. I love Marvel comics but the toys are getting expensive and I have no more room for it.

10. If you had to choose only one, which item in your collection would you say is your absolute favorite and why?

Only one? Thats hard. I guess I would choose the Medicom RAH Darth Vader.

11. How do you display your collection?

Ive been collecting toys half my life so I had my display cabinet and shelves built inside my room.

12. How do you decide which items to open and which ones to keep mint-in-package?

If it’s rare, exclusive or the window box is just too cool to be ruined.. I’ll definitely keep it in the box. If the toy is everywhere and you can just get another one when it reaches clearance sale. Ill open it. But lately, I have no choice but to open most of my toys because I’m running out of room really fast. And other toys that require assembly like Lego, Camp Big Falcon, etc.. is easier to keep them inside the box. Or if you think a certain figure can’t stand the test of time when they are loose like Neca’s Balrog. I would prefer them mint in box.

13. You also have a huge collection of DVD. So are you more of a toy collector than a movie fan or the other way around?

Movie fan. No movies, no toys for me. The only reason that I prioritize my toy collection is because of the steep competition you’re getting from hoarders while buying them.

14. In the next 5-10 years, do you see your collection growing even bigger or would you have grown tired of all this?

Honestly? I hope that I would grow tired of it because in the next 5-10 years.. I might need a friggin’ warehouse for my collection.

-oOo-

Please check out more of Earl’s stuff by clicking on this link:
https://www.afhub.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=164

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