Business owner Arnold Fernandez Schmidt recently stepped into the vibrant world of trading card games (TCG) as an exhibitor at Geek+Pop’s inaugural Philippine International Card and Collectibles Show (PICCS), held August 23-24, 2025, at Space at One Ayala. Though new to the trading aspect, Arnold embraced the event as an opportunity to reconnect with his childhood passion and engage with fellow hobbyists and collectors.
“I lacked knowledge on trading, but I leaned on others to help me,” Arnold shared in an interview with ABS-CBN News. The event allowed him to make many new friends and connections, especially learning about card grading—a process that assesses a card’s condition to determine its value.
For Arnold, Pokémon was the gateway into this community. “I met so many Filipinos which I would never have met in my life if not because of Pokémon,” he said. This environment allowed him to shed his business persona and simply be himself: “It’s not business, it’s being me.”
A lifelong fan of Pokémon, Arnold grew up playing multiple generations of the franchise’s video games. Now managing several businesses including Smooth Cafe in Boracay and Pawikan Resort in Moalboal, he views his card collecting as a “hobby with benefits” rather than a business. “Being able to invest a lot means you need a job to sustain this hobby,” he explained. “I try to keep it as a hobby and always make it fun.”
Among his various investments, including cryptocurrency, Arnold noted that Pokémon cards have yielded the greatest returns. “In the last 3-4 months, most of our assets appreciated about 20 to 30 percent, which was a huge surprise. It really surpasses all the other investments I did.”
However, Arnold cautioned newcomers against treating card collecting as gambling. “It can be a very expensive hobby. We made the mistake of gambling a lot, opening many cards, so I don’t recommend that if you want to make money.”
Ultimately, Arnold emphasized passion as the key to enjoying the hobby: “Collect the cards you like. Appreciate the art, appreciate the whole thing. Don’t see cards just as money, otherwise you might go bankrupt.”
PICCS brought together enthusiasts of TCGs, board games, and pop culture memorabilia, creating a vibrant space for collectors like Arnold to share their passion and build community.
