MANILA – AsiaPOP Comicon (APCC) Manila is taking a break this year.

In a statement, the organizers of the annual APCC said it is with deep regret that they are postponing the convention to next year.

“APCC Manila has always prided itself in bringing exclusive international content to the region that no other convention brings, but, unfortunately, our various content and strategic partners have not been able to commit completely due to their organizational restructuring and multiple conflicting events happening during the couple weeks before and at the same time as the original APCC Manila 2019 dates,” organizers said.

“The delay in this communication was purely in our intent to try our best to be able to secure the best of content for this year’s event, but the schedules of various partners did not match our dates,” they added.

The organizers said they did not want put up an event “by diluting the quality of the show, as we are aware the benchmark has been set and APCC fans expect the best from us that we promise to deliver in our next year’s event.”

In the previous years, the convention brought together fans of pop culture from comic followers, to artists, designers, animators, toy manufacturers, collectors, movie buffs, cosplayers and gamers, among others.

With its powerhouse lineup of guest celebrities, AsiaPOP Comicon Manila has built an international reputation being graced by Hollywood stars.

In 2015, it flew in Paul Bettany, Nathalie Emmanuel, Colton Haynes, and Adventure Time voiceover Jeremy Shada, while in 2016, the celebrity headliners included Millie Bobby Brown, Nicholas Hoult, Joe Dempsie and Claire Holt.

In 2017, pop culture fans got to see Ray Fisher, Tyler Hoechlin and Netflix stars Joe Keery, Noah Schnapp, Dacre Montgomery and Sadie Sink.

Last year, APCC flew in Canadian actor Osric Chau, of "Supernatural,” Finn Jones of "Iron Fist," Mike Colter of "Luke Cage," and Tye Sheridan of "Ready Player One."

This year was supposed to be the fifth time the APCC is to be held in Manila.