Percival Lugue, who has the Guinness world record for the largest fast-food toy collection, poses with his toy collection in his home in Apalit, Pampanga province, Philippines, April 20, 2021. REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez
APALIT, Pampanga鈥擣rom the age of 5, Filipino graphic artist Percival Lugue has had a passion for collecting toys from fast-food restaurant chains like McDonald鈥檚, Burger King and home-country favorite Jollibee.
Now, nearly five decades later, the 50-year-old has about 20,000 toys packed from floor to ceiling in his home and holds a Guinness World Record from 2014, when his collection reached more than 10,000 items.
鈥淭he toy is like a storyteller in itself,鈥� said Lugue, explaining his hobby while sitting among an eclectic mix of toys in his three-story home.
鈥淔or example, it gives me a glimpse of that particular period when I got it, the story of what鈥檚 going on, what are the incidents that are attached in the acquisition,鈥� he said.
Lugue, who lives in Apalit in Pampanga, a province northwest of Manila, built his home especially to house his collection.
His dream now is to eventually put his collection on display for the public or even open a museum to 鈥済ive others a chance to revisit their own childhood memories.鈥�
He likens the excitement that getting new toys gives him to Christmas morning.
He has always played with the toys, but even as a child took good care of them and put them on display 鈥渦nlike the other kids, who would tear up their toys into smithereens.鈥�
While most of his toys were obtained through personal purchases, some were donated by friends and family.
鈥淚 would invite my friends to鈥� have lunch at McDonald鈥檚鈥� and in one sitting I would be able to complete the whole set,鈥� he said.
One of his most treasured pieces is a 鈥淗etty Spaghetti鈥� figurine, a mascot from the Jollibee chain that his mother gave him in 1988.