Iwas sabit! CONQuest organizers offer refund but require signing of quitclaim

Organizers of #CONQuest2023, dubbed as the country’s biggest event for anime and pop culture fans, have vowed to refund ticketholders who were unable to enter SMX due to overcrowding.

The event from June 2-4 was marred by controversy after fans were forced to line up for hours just to get into the venue owned by the bilyonaryo Sy-blings.

Many chose to go home instead, fearing for their safety in the jampacked conference hall. Days later, event founder Justin Banusing and company announced refunds will be given, alongside an apology.
Overselling of tickets was one of the reasons cited by fans for the gargantuan crowd at the venue.

Refunds for ticket holders who did not get into the venue on days 2 and 3 will get anywhere between P666.65 or P1333.33, coming from the full ticket price of P2,000. Premium passes, which provide priority access and meet-and-greet opportunities, werr sold for P20,000 each.

“One of our critical oversights was the overwhelming response to the event despite the tireless efforts made by the City of Pasay and our venue partners,” it said. “Our objective is to do right by our community and enact sweeping changes and remedies to deliver the convention experience you deserve.”

Some ticketholders are wary of getting refunds due to the requirement of signing a quitclaim, which absolves the organizers of any liability for the event.

https://twitter.com/firelordtine/status/1666396207873413120/photo/1

Another said the refund portal wasn’t working.

Hans Sy: Ultimate green warrior

Hans Sy, the 4th of the Sy-blings, as Bilyonaryo calls them, sat down with me to explain his green initiatives in the SM Group, a chat that turned into an interesting look into how he became a sustainability champion, the lessons he learnt from his father, Henry Sy Sr., and legacy-building.

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