54. A Nostalgic Journey: Super Robot Stickers of the Past (Voltes V, Mazinger Z, and Daimos)

During the late 1970s and early 1980s, Super Robot stickers were all the rage among children in the Philippines. These stickers depicted iconic robots from popular anime series that were televised after school hours, captivating the imaginations of kids across the country. Shows like Voltes V, Mazinger Z, Mekanda, Grendizer, Dangard Ace, Star Rangers, Balatak, and G-Force became household names, and it was hard to find a child who didn't know about these heroic machines. 

As a child, collecting Super Robot stickers was a favorite pastime of mine, and I remember buying them from Mang Ruben, a vendor who sold them near the front gates of my school in St. James Academy, Malabon. The stickers were sold in pieces, with the smaller ones priced at 20-35 centavos, the average-sized ones at 50-90 centavos, and a whole page of stickers at 3-4 pesos. The more popular stickers, like Voltes V and Mazinger Z, commanded a higher price than the lesser-known robot stickers.

Collecting these stickers was much more than just acquiring them; it created a strong sense of community among my friends and me. We would eagerly compare and trade stickers, excitedly discussing the latest episodes of our favorite robot anime series. As we proudly displayed our collections in our favorite notebooks or stuck them onto cabinets, we sometimes caused our parents to become a bit angry. But to us, the joy and camaraderie of collecting Super Robot stickers was worth it.

Voltes V Sticker

As I collected these stickers, I encountered many strange-looking robots and characters that were new to me, as they were not featured on TV.  I often found myself wondering about the relationships between different robots, like Great Mazinger and Mazinger Z, or the similarities between Voltes V and Combattler V. The stickers provided a window into a larger world of robots and their adventures, sparking my curiosity and imagination.

Unfortunately, the shows were eventually canceled by President Marcos,  leaving many of my questions unanswered. Nevertheless, my memories and experiences of collecting Super Robot stickers have stayed with me throughout my life, serving as a nostalgic reminder of a time when robots ruled our lives and the TV time slots. 

These stickers were more than just pieces of paper with pictures on them. They symbolized a shared experience that brought children together, fostering a sense of community and sparking their love for their favorite robots. They provided a gateway to a world of imagination and adventure, where heroic robots fought to save the world and captured our hearts. Looking back, these stickers were not just a simple hobby, but a way of connecting with others, and discovering our own interests and passions, and they hold a special place in our hearts as a representation of our childhoods and cherished memories.